2004 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Moray Firth SAC sublittoral biotope mapping survey
The purpose of this benthic survey in the Moray Firth was to map the main sediment features and biota of the subtidal areas of the SAC, to provide a broadscale biotope distribution map of the area, between 3m and 30m below CD. To collect detailed biological information on the seabed species and habitat features present, acoustic remote sensing techniques combined with ground-truthing by drop down video sampling at 228 sites and quantitative infaunal sampling using a Van Veen grab at a subset of 30 sites. This work was conducted by Envision Mapping Ltd for SNH between the 24th July and 12th August 2004. The images, analysed under SNH contract by Dr Colin Moore, were used to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages.
dataset
GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000095-MRSNH0300000001B-MF
http://www.nature.scot
eng
urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326
Moore, C.G. 2016. Biological analysis of underwater video and infaunal data from surveys of the Moray Firth SAC. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 940; Foster-Smith, R., Sotheran, I. & Foster-Smith, D. 2009. Sublittoral biotope mapping of the Moray Firth SAC. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 378
biota
biota
revision
2008-01-06
revision
2009-11-16
creation
2011-02-16
creation
2011-07-06
creation
2012-03-16
creation
2006-08-31
creation
2017-05-12
-4.4110
-3.2450
58.1470
57.4520
creation
2009-06-18
Northern North Sea
creation
2009-05-01
44E6
revision
2010-01-01
circalittoral
revision
2010-01-01
infralittoral
2004-07-24
2004-08-08
publication
2016-12-31
creation
2004-08-08
revision
2016-12-31
notPlanned
This subtidal seabed data from Moray Firth was collected by Envision Mapping Ltd. between the 24th July and 12th August 2004. Video images were obtained from 228 drop-down video drift tows deployed just above the seabed. These sites were surveyed using acoustic remote sensing techniques combined with drop-down video sampling. The video samples consisted largely of brief drifts of 1 - 2 minutes duration, with the depth recorded at the start of the run and the positional information and time displayed as a video overlay. Analyses of the video footage was undertaken by Dr Colin Moore, contracted by SNH, to describe the physical structure and species assemblages present. Based on the physical and biological attributes, biotopes were allocated. Species present were identified and quantified using the semi-quantitative MNCR SACFOR scale, as far as possible. Quantitative infaunal sampling was also undertaken at a subset of 30 sites, where single 0.1 m2 Van Veen grab samples were taken and sub-sampled for particle size analysis. The 2004 survey particle size analysis data and the infaunal data provided in the original survey report for 30 of the 228 sites was employed to aid biotope identification in the 2015 analysis. Note: the video obtained in this 2004 survey was re-analysed by Colin Moore under SNH contract in combination with video data collected in the same area during 2015. The original video and infaunal analysis is reported in Foster-Smith et al., 2009.
publication
2011-02-02
true
See the referenced specification
publication
2018-01-23
true
See the referenced specification
Not for navigational use; This survey recorded no species or biotope occurrences that SNH consider as sensitive; all records may therefore be released in response to requests covered by Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information Regulations; additionally its re-use and dissemination is permissible under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner.
No restrictions on public access
Director
Envision Mapping Ltd
originator
Data Manager
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters
Great Glen House, Leachkin Road
Inverness
IV3 8NW
01463 725000
custodian
Data Manager
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters
Great Glen House, Leachkin Road
Inverness
IV3 8NW
01463 725000
pointOfContact
2021-05-28