35a9fa3d85c1571e97b89ea2e8a599ec English dataset 85e5f4e4-9081-495e-a4d1-93d5c9e2c43f NatureScot (HQ Inverness) data_supply@nature.scot pointOfContact 2025-06-12 MEDIN 3.1.2 EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2021-01-06 revision WGS 84 2015 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and CEFAS Moray Firth SAC benthic camera survey 2016-12-31 publication GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000308-MRSNH0300000001C-MF Marine Recorder NS-000308 NatureScot project ID MRSNH03000000026 Marine Recorder MRSNH0160000000C Marine Recorder 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 - 7th 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. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters Data Manager 01463 725000 data_supply@nature.scot owner NatureScot (HQ Inverness) NatureScot Data Manager data_supply@nature.scot custodian Colin Moore Colin Moore Consultant c.g.moore84@gmail.com originator Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters Data Manager 01463 725000 data_supply@nature.scot originator Esther Hughes Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH) Data Manager 01752 633102 dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk distributor notPlanned Marine Environmental Data and Information Network MEDIN metadata record availability 2025-06-12 revision NDGO0005 NDGO0005 2025-06-12 revision Habitats and biotopes Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2021-09-28 revision Habitat characterisation Habitat extent Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2021-09-28 revision otherRestrictions Not to be used for navigation. This survey recorded no species or biotope occurrences that SNH consider as sensitive; all records may therefore be released in response to requests covered by Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information Regulations; additionally its re-use and dissemination is permissible under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner otherRestrictions No restrictions on public access 5000 English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment oceans -3.9610 -3.2870 57.6280 58.0810 SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation North Sea Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2021-01-06 creation Northern North Sea ICES Rectangles 2021-01-06 creation 44E6 2015-12-05 2015-12-06 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision circalittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision infralittoral Moore, C.G. 2016. Biological analysis of underwater video and infaunal data from surveys of the Moray Firth SAC. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 940. Database Marine Recorder Documents Published report Geographic Information System shapefiles Image dataset MEDIN data guideline for video surveys of species and benthos 2018-01-23 publication See the referenced specification true Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 publication This subtidal seabed data from the Moray Firth SAC was collected during a research cruise run for SNH on board the CEFAS vessel RV CEFAS Endeavour by CEFAS on the 5th and 6th December 2015. A total of 30 stations were surveyed within the SAC of approximately 10 minutes duration. Images were obtained using a vertically orientated camera with a laser scaling system comprising an array of four lasers located at the corners of a rectangle of side 17cm. Digital still photographs were taken at intervals throughout the video to aid identification of biota and habitat characterisation. Track position, time and depth information were at 5 second intervals are available from the vessels track data. Analyses of the video footage was undertaken by SNH contractor Dr Colin Moore to describe the physical structure and species assemblages present. Species present were identified and quantified using the semi-quantitative MNCR SACFOR scale, as far as possible. Biotopes were allocated based on the biological and physical attributes. Where the video run traversed a sequence of biotopes, the run is split into corresponding segments with the transition points recorded using the time, position and depth. This 2015 video survey builds upon ground-truthing data collected in 2004 by drop-down video at 228 sites and infaunal sampling at 30 sites undertaken by Envision Mapping Ltd.