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Broadscale mapping of hard substrates in the central English Channel: providing an evidence base to support regional management of aggregate resources and the designation of SACs relating to Annex 1 reef habitats - ME1102

Description

Objectives
1. To provide information on the distribution, extent and character of potential Habitats Directive Annex I reef habitat within the central English Channel region to facilitate the selection of SACs.
2. To compare and contrast communities of gravel habitats across the central and eastern Channel to underpin regulatory decisions relating to gravel regions likely to be affected by dredging.
3. To facilitate the development of adaptive survey strategies and provide guidance on best practice for surveying hard-substrate reef habitats.

Key Customer Purpose
There is a pressing need to identify and locate Annex I ‘reef’ habitats in UK offshore waters so they can be assessed against the SAC selection criteria in time to meet the UK’s commitments under the EU Habitats Directive in 2010, which cannot readily be achieved using existing data.

Project Documents

• Final Report : ME1102: Final Report Broadscale mapping of hard substrates in the central English Channel: providing an evidence base to support regional management of aggregate resources (13253k)
• Information Leaflet : Rocky reef systems and gravel habitats in the eastern and central English Channel – where are they? (366k)
• Technical Report : ME1102 Habitat Mapping Technical Report - LOW resolution (13207k)

Time-Scale and Cost

From: 2006

To: 2009

Cost: £500,733

Contractor / Funded Organisations

CEFAS

Keywords

Marine Monitoring
Science Policy

Fields of Study

Environmental Protection - Marine