1984 Farnham and Bishop St Mawes Fal Estuary Cornwall Maerl dive transect survey

A voluntary marine conservation area has been declared in the Roseland district, which includes a maerl bed (St Mawes Bank) of considerable scientific interest because it is the only significantly sized bed of live maerl in southern England. This report provides a baseline survey of this conservation area. Starting in 1982, initial spot dives were carried out at different times of the year in order to obtain information on the distribution of maerl. Subsequently two transect lines were laid from a boat across the width of the bed (800m) from the shore towards the Vilt Buoy.