Seabed Sediment Sampling and Underwater Imagery Survey at Albert Field MCZ

About

Defra Network eTendering Portal awarded a contract to Envision Marine Ltd.

for ecological survey work at the Albert Field MCZ on behalf of Natural England.

The contract, valued at AUD 38,825, involved collecting habitat validation data through grab sampling and underwater video (video and still images) at 44 stations.

Sediment samples were collected using a 0.1m2 mini Hamon grab and processed for particle size analysis (PSA) and macrofauna (sieved to 1 mm).

At 36 stations, single replicate sediment samples were collected, and at eight stations, three replicate samples were collected.

PSA samples were frozen upon collection and transferred to Cefas laboratories upon survey demobilization, while fauna samples were preserved in 4% seawater buffered formaldehyde solution and also transferred to Cefas laboratories.