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.本次马里湾底栖调查由环境、渔业与水产养殖科学中心（Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, CEFAS）受苏格兰自然遗产署（Scottish Natural Heritage, SNH）委托，于2015年12月5日至6日搭乘CEFAS旗下科考船"RV CEFAS Endeavour"开展，核心目标是加深对特别保育区（Special Area of Conservation, SAC）内底栖生境分布情况的认知。本次调查重点关注30米等深线以外的海域，同时需识别"常年被少量海水覆盖的沙洲"这一海洋地物的分布特征。 调查共设置30个站位开展投放式视频拖曳观测。通过对海底视频资料的分析，研究人员依托观测影像从物理结构与物种组合两方面描述海底环境特征。对调查测线及其分段进行评估，核查是否存在保护地物及其他PMFs，同时记录具有公认保育价值的物种与生境分布情况。对于跨越多种生境类型的调查测线，将其拆分为对应的分段单元。研究人员尽可能对观测到的物种进行鉴定与半定量统计，统计采用半定量MNCR SACFOR分级法；同时依据物理与生物学属性对生物群落生境进行划分。