2015 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Moray Firth SAC benthic camera survey

The primary aim of this benthic survey in Moray Firth, run by Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS) for SNH on the 5th - 6th December 2015 using CEFAS vessel RV CEFAS Endeavour, was to improve understanding of the distribution of benthic habitats within the SAC. Beyond the 30m depth contour was of particular interest and identification of the distribution of the feature 'Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time'. Dropdown video drifts were undertaken at 30 stations. Through the analysis of seabed video, the images were used to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages. Runs and run segments were assessed for the presence of protected features and other PMFs, as well as for the presence of species and habitats of recognised conservation importance. Runs traversing a sequence of habitats were split into corresponding segments. Species present were, as far as possible, identified and quantified using the semi-quantitative MNCR SACFOR scale and biotopes were allocated based on the physical and biological attributes.

此次由环境、渔业与水产科学中心（CEFAS）为苏格兰自然遗产局（SNH）于2015年12月5日至6日在莫雷湾进行的底栖调查，旨在利用CEFAS船只RV CEFAS Endeavour，提升对保护区域（SAC）内底栖生境分布的理解。超过30米深度等深线区域以及始终被海水轻微覆盖的沙洲特征分布尤为引人注目。在30个站位进行了下拉式视频漂流作业。通过海床视频的分析，图像被用来描述海底的物理结构和物种群落的性质。对河流和河段进行了评估，以确定保护特征和其他重要管理因素的分布，以及被认可具有保护重要性的物种和生境的存在。跨越一系列生境的河流运行被分割成相应的河段。尽可能地对存在的物种进行了识别和定量分析，使用的是半定量MNCR SACFOR尺度，并根据物理和生物属性分配生境。