0ab20f63-370e-4fd2-a454-527e94777cfd English George Perry Natural England +44 (0)300 060 3900 +44 (0)300 060 2356 Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk 2021-03-08T12:57:01 MEDIN Discovery metadata standard 2.3.8 urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::32631 2012 Natural England (NE) The Wash and North Norfolk Coast SAC - Baseline Monitoring Survey of Large Shallow Inlet and Bay GB100249 2012-03-22 NE_0369 http://www.naturalengland.org.uk This report describes the results from an interdisciplinary field survey aimed at identifying the location, extent and condition of Annex I habitat features in the Large Shallow Inlet and Bay of The Wash and North Norfolk Coast SAC. The habitat features of interest are (i) subtidal boulder and cobble communities, and (ii) Sabellaria spinulosa reefs. Information presented is intended to serve as a baseline for future monitoring of the identified features. Acoustic sidescan data were acquired from selected areas within the broader SAC area, together with grountruthing samples representative of distinct acoustic signatures. Groundtruthing techniques included the acquisition of video and still images of the seabed and of sediment and faunal sample. Of particular interest was an area to the north of the eastern Well survey area between 10 and 47 m deep which exhibited a high density of hard and rugged features, confirmed as boulder and cobble reef on chalk bedrock by the photographic record. This area also harboured a high number of epifaunal taxa not observed in the surrounding sediments. The area has been delimited and covers approximately 470 ha. The acoustic record did not reveal the occurrence of areas of Sabellaria spinulosa reef. Infaunal samples did collect representatives of this species but in densities too small to be considered as reef. At most sites where S. spinulosa was observed, the abundance and diversity of the whole infaunal assemblage was higher than in areas where S. spinulosa was absent. Analysis of both infaunal and epifaunal assemblages revealed several distinct communities throughout the survey area. Christopher Barrio Frojan Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory +44 (0)1502 562244 +44 (0)1502 513865 Pakefield Road Lowestoft NR33 OHT dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk Bill Meadows Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft Laboratory +44 (0)1502 562244 +44 (0)1502 513865 Pakefield Road Lowestoft NR33 OHT bill.meadows@cefas.co.uk Peter Walker Natural England +44 (0)300 060 3900 +44 (0)300 060 2356 Foss House, Kings Pool, 1-2 Peasholme Green York YO1 7PX enquiries@naturalengland.org.uk Marine Environmental Data and Information Network Geology Habitats and biotopes Land cover GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2008-06-01 geonetwork.thesaurus.external.theme.httpinspireeceuropaeutheme-theme Habitat extent Habitat characterisation Side-scan sonar SeaDataNet P021 parameter discovery vocabulary 2009-11-16 Data is freely available for research and commercial use providing that the originators are acknowledged in any publications produced No restrictions to public access English geoscientificInformation biota imageryBaseMapsEarthCover Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2009-06-18 Southern North Sea 0.228 0.5011 52.9351 53.0421 2011-01-01 2021-02-10 https://ows.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/geoserver/emodnet_view_maplibrary/wms? OGC:WMS gb100249 Access data from map "GB100249" through the EMODnet Seabed Habitats "Map Library" Web Map Service https://ows.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/geoserver/emodnet_open_maplibrary/wfs? OGC:WFS gb100249 Access data from map "GB100249" through the EMODnet Seabed Habitats "Map Library" Web Feature Service https://files.emodnet-seabedhabitats.eu/data/EMODnetSBHsurvey_GB100249.zip WWW:LINK-1.0-http--link EMODnet Seabed Habitats download This report describes the results from an interdisciplinary field survey aimed at identifying the  location, extent and condition of Annex I habitat features in the Large Shallow Inlet and Bay of The  Wash and North Norfolk Coast SAC.  The habitat features of interest are (i) subtidal boulder and  cobble communities, and (ii) Sabellaria spinulosa reefs.  Information presented is intended to serve  as a baseline for future monitoring of the identified features.  Acoustic sidescan data were acquired from selected areas within the broader SAC area, together  with grountruthing samples representative of distinct acoustic signatures.  Groundtruthing  techniques included the acquisition of video and still images of the seabed and of sediment and  faunal samples.  All samples were processed according to common standards and protocols.  Analysis of acoustic data revealed several distinct acoustic signatures, which have been catalogued,  described and matched with the observed sedimentary conditions.  Of particular interest was an  area to the north of the eastern Well survey area between 10 and 47 m deep which exhibited a high  density of hard and rugged features, confirmed as boulder and cobble reef on chalk bedrock by the  photographic record.  This area also harboured a high number of epifaunal taxa not observed in the  surrounding sediments.  The area has been delimited and covers approximately 470 ha.  The acoustic record did not reveal the occurrence of areas of Sabellaria spinulosa reef.  Infaunal  samples did collect representatives of this species but in densities too small to be considered as reef.   At most sites where S. spinulosa was observed, the abundance and diversity of the whole infaunal  assemblage was higher than in areas where S. spinulosa was absent.   Analysis of both infaunal and  epifaunal assemblages revealed several distinct communities throughout the survey area.  Recommendations are made on the possible alternatives for future monitoring of the area given the  limitations in survey techniques that are suitable for each habitat type.