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Analysis of video and still images to characterise habitats and macrobenthos of the Wyville Thomson Ridge SCI and Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt Scottish Nature Conservation MPA Proposal (1512S) 2014

Abstract

Survey 1512S was undertaken by JNCC and Marine Scotland Science on FRV Scotia in the area West of Shetland in October and November 2012. Biological data were collected using Hamon grab, rock dredge and camera drop-frame, with video and stills cameras, in order to develop an understanding of habitat distribution within the site and to facilitate SCI site management discussions. The Wyville Thomson Ridge is a rock ridge at the northern end of Rockall Trough rising from over 1000 metres at its deepest point to 400 metres at the summit. Bedrock reef is present on the flanks of the ridge and, due to the differences in water masses, there are different species compositions on either side.

The survey also gathered additional data from nearby Scottish Nature Conservation MPA Proposal search locations for deep-sea sponge aggregations in the Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt. Survey areas are displayed in Figure 1 of the report. The current report only presents findings of the seabed imagery aspect of the biological data.

The MPA proposal part of the survey aims to provide advice to Scottish Ministers on the selection of MPAs under the Marine (Scotland) Act and the Marine and Coastal Access Act in the seas around Scotland.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2014·08·01

Citation
Morris, L., Stamp, T. & Goudge, H. 2014. Analysis of video and still images to characterise habitats and macrobenthos of the Wyville Thomson Ridge SCI and Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt Scottish Nature Conservation MPA Proposal (1512S), JNCC Report No. 532. JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 0963-8091.

Lineage
The survey was undertaken by JNCC and Marine Scotland Science, on the MRV Scotia, in the area West of Shetland, during October and November 2012.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2019·11·01

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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