2013 Natural England Verification Survey of Padstow Bay and Surrounds rMCZ

A Natural England commissioned verification survey of both intertidal sediments and intertidal rocky reef within the Padstow Bay and Surrounds rMCZ. Phase I Biotope mapping was carried out across the rMCZ for broad scale habitats. Phase II infaunal sediment sampling was carried out to provide information on the benthic infaunal assemblages and particle size distribution of the study sites by means of core sampling. Sediment surface scrapes were obtained for heavy metals and organic contaminants analysis. Phase II quantitative survey of intertidal rocky reefs comprised of a quadrat survey with percentage cover of species present within each quadrat being recorded. The data was used to produce a EUNIS Level 3 boradscale habitat map of the Padstow Bay and Surrounds rMCZ.