63604f65-0134-410e-934a-419bc007eacc English dataset 52991d36-eb97-436a-a1c5-70e44253b144 Marine Data JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough Office marinedata@jncc.gov.uk pointOfContact 2025-07-29 MEDIN 3.1.2 EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2021-01-06 revision WGS 84 2024 Marine Natural Capital and Ecosystem Assessment programme (mNCEA) St Kilda survey: Grab sample data COR0924 2025-07-29 publication COR0924 The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), in collaboration with the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), conducted an offshore seabed survey on the Scottish Continental Shelf (OSPAR Region III - Celtic Seas) in September / October 2024, under the marine Natural Capital and Ecosystems Assessment (mNCEA) programme, Sites south of St Kilda, Stanton banks MPA and South Rigg MPA were sampled using 0.1m2 Day grab to collect infauna and particle size analysis (PSA) samples. The grab data has been analysed for infauna and PSA and is undergoing QA/QC. This data will be made available via the DASSH and BGS data archive centres in due course. Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk owner Marine Data JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough Office Data manager marinedata@jncc.gov.uk custodian Marine Data JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough Office Data manager marinedata@jncc.gov.uk originator Marine Data JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough Office Data manager marinedata@jncc.gov.uk distributor unknown Marine Environmental Data and Information Network MEDIN metadata record availability 2025-07-29 revision Habitats and biotopes Protected sites Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2021-09-28 revision Sediment grain size parameters Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2021-09-28 revision otherRestrictions Data is made available under Open Government Licence v3 (https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/) otherRestrictions Data is freely available provided appropriate attribution statements are used to acknowledge the data providers in onward publications. English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota geoscientificInformation oceans -8.900000 -4.860839 54.250980 57.740378 SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation Irish Sea SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation Northeast Atlantic Ocean (40W) Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2021-01-06 creation Irish Sea Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2021-01-06 creation Minches and Western Scotland Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2021-01-06 creation Scottish Continental Shelf ICES Statistical Areas 2021-01-06 creation VIa ICES Statistical Areas 2021-01-06 creation VIIa 2024-09-27 2024-10-11 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision unknown Delimited dataset MEDIN data guideline for sediment sampling by grab or core for benthos 2011-01-28 publication MEDIN compliant proformas used when recording results of analyses 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 should mostly comply but not fully assessed A single 0.1 m2 Day grab was collected from each survey station, following guidance in Section 7.2 of the monitoring guidance for marine benthic habitats (Noble James et al., 2018). Up to three attempts, where the grab fired correctly, were made at each station. If a successful grab was not acquired after three attempts, the station was abandoned. Each grab was used to collect an infauna sample and a sediment sub-sample for Particle Size Analysis (PSA). PSA sub-sample: NMBAQC guidelines (Mason, 2016) were followed for acquiring a PSA sub-sample. It should be noted that separate grabs for PSA and infauna were not collected. Once the grab was recovered the viewing door was opened, a visual sediment description was recorded, and a photograph of the sediment surface within the grab was taken. The depth of the sediment in the grab was measured with a stainless-steel ruler and rejected if less than 5 cm. Samples suffering from washout or unequal bite were also rejected. To collect the sub-sample, a scoop was inserted vertically into the sediment as far as the grab base and rotated to create a core-like plug. A minimum on 100 ml of sediment was retained for the sub-sample. Any large/conspicuous (>2 cm) live marine fauna were removed from the PSA sub sample, but shell debris were left. All PSA sample containers were labelled internally and externally. The samples were stored in a freezer. Infauna sample: The grab was emptied and washed into a fish box with seawater and a photograph was taken. The volume of the sample was measured and recorded to the nearest 0.5 L. A minimum size of 4 L was preferred, however the sample with the greatest volume was kept if a 4 L sample was not acquired after three attempts. The infauna sample was passed through a 1 mm sieve. A photograph was taken of everything retained on the sieve. The sieve was then decanted into a sample pot, the mesh picked through with forceps, and the sample fixed in buffered 4% formaldehyde solution. All sample pots were labelled internally and externally. PSA (half phi) analysis was undertaken by Kenneth Pye Associates Ltd. External QA of the Particle Size analysis complied with NMBAQC guidelines for completing analysis for biological reasons. Additionally the internal Particle Size analysis QA consisted of a 5% reanalysis of the processed samples, in line with the NMBAQC Own Sample scheme. Infaunal analysis was completed by Thomson Environmental Consultants and included abundance and biomass enumeration. External QA of the infaunal taxonomic analysis followed the Own Sample NMBAQC Processing Requirement Protocol and Taxonomic Discrimination Protocol