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Farnes East Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Monitoring Report 2018 2024

Abstract

Farnes East Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) is a joint inshore and offshore site located off the northeast of England, approximately 11 km from the Northumberland coast. The site has a total area of 945 km2 and ranges in depth from 30 m to 100 m. The site was designated due to the composition of the seabed, which predominantly comprises subtidal sediments with small patches of moderate energy circalittoral rock. Additionally, the site was designated for the presence of the ‘Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities’ (SPBMC) habitat Feature of Conservation Importance (FOCI) in the southeast corner of the site (a section of the Farne Deeps trench), and the presence of the species FOCI ocean quahog (Arctica islandica).

The primary aim of this report is to explore and describe the attributes of the designated features within Farnes East MCZ, based on a dedicated monitoring survey conducted between April and May 2018, to inform future assessment and monitoring of feature condition. The two main objectives of the 2018 survey were:

    1. to further characterise and map the extent of the SPBMC habitat FOCI feature, which was under-represented in previously acquired data and consequently not well defined; and
    1. to acquire quantitative data to enable sentinel (Type 1) monitoring of the designated Broadscale Habitat (BSH) features ‘Subtidal coarse sediment’, ‘Subtidal sand’, ‘Subtidal mud’, and ‘Subtidal mixed sediments’.

Whilst ‘Moderate energy circalittoral rock’ is designated for the site, its spatial extent is limited rendering its characterisation beyond the scope of the 2018 survey. This report therefore focuses on the sediment BSHs and the SPBMC and Ocean Quahog FOCI.

This report may not be fully accessible for all users. If you need a copy in a different or more accessible format, please contact Communications@jncc.gov.uk.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2024·09·01

Citation
Downie, A., Clare, D. & McCabe, C. 2024. Farnes East Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Monitoring Report 2018. JNCC/Cefas Partnership Report 42. Peterborough, ISSN 2051-6711.

Lineage
This work was delivered by Cefas and JNCC on behalf of the Marine Protected Areas Survey Coordination & Evidence Delivery Group (MPAG) and sponsored by Defra.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2024·09·26

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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