2015 JNCC/Marine Directorate Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain Sublittoral Survey 1515S RV Scotia

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Marine Scotland Science (MSS) undertook an offshore seabed survey of the Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain (NSP) Scottish Marine Protected Area (MPA) on the Research Vessel Scotia (survey code 1515S) from 24th October 2015 to 31st October 2015. The aim of the survey was to gather the initial dataset of a site monitoring time-series for the MPA. The data collected will be used to inform appropriate future monitoring at the site to enable assessment of change (e.g. in distribution, extent and/or condition of features) and to contribute information on the habitats found at the site for more general habitat-specific assessments. 120 Hamon grab (0.25m2 surface area) samples the site were successfully completed and analysed for PSA and infauna.