Marine Offshore Seabed Survey data held by JNCC

doi:10.15468/skvdld

Marine Offshore Seabed Survey data held by JNCC

Citation

Joint Nature Conservation Committee (2022). Marine Offshore Seabed Survey data held by JNCC. Occurrence dataset https://doi.org/10.15468/skvdld accessed via GBIF.org on 2024-12-13.

Description

Dataset containing information about offshore benthic species and habitats, and their location within the UK's marine area. Data have been collected by, or for, JNCC in order to improve evidence holdings. This helps to facilitate the provision of accurate advice to the UK government on the conservation of these species and habitats.

Purpose

Data collected in order to improve JNCC's data holdings for areas of the seabed being assessed as potential Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and also surveys conducted for monitoring and managing MPAs and the wider marine environment.

Sampling Description

Quality Control

Taxonomic identification is undertaken by experts and the Marine Species of the British Isles and Adjacent Seas (MSBIAS) species dictionary is used to validate species names. The database is maintained and updated as new survey data become available. All records have been validated using the NBN record cleaner.

Method steps

Data collected from a variety of reaserch vessels using a range of survey equipment including grabs, underwater video and still images, and benthic trawls. Post survey analysis has been conducted by various contractors to identify species and their abundances. Abundace is recorded as count, SACFORN, or presence/absence.

Taxonomic Coverages

Geographic Coverages

Surveys focus on gathering data from the UK's benthic habitats, on existing MPAs, sites being assessed for there potential as MPAs and fisheries management areas. All sites are within the UK marine area, however some surveys have additionally collected samples from beyond the limit of the UK continental shelf. Due to the nature of the surveys, datasets tend to cluster on particular areas of interest.

Bibliographic Citations

Contacts

originator
Joint Nature Conservation Committee

metadata author
Joint Nature Conservation Committee

distributor
NBN Atlas
27 Old Gloucester St, Holborn
London
WC1N 3AX
London
GB
email: admin@nbnatlas.org

JNCC Data
administrative point of contact
email: data@jncc.gov.uk