Natural England - Echoes from the deep
Echoes from the deep
9 February 2010
Marine survey work starting this week by Natural England and partners will give a new vision of South Wight waters
Starting this week, (weather permitting), Natural England and its partners are surveying the waters off the southern coast of the Isle of Wight, an area which is recognised as an important European marine site to help protect the species and habitats.
Chris McMullon, coastal and marine specialist for Natural England in the South East, says: “This work will help us plot the reefs, gullies and boulder fields which characterise this dynamic environment, and, in due course, will help scientists understand the marine communities in these tide swept areas. The more we know about our marine environment, the better we can protect the future health of the seas around Britain and the species which live in them.”
The South Wight Maritime European marine site will be surveyed for the first time using a multibeam echo sounder. This will enable Natural England staff to collect data to map the seafloor. Once analysed this data, alongside video and diver records, will allow scientists to determine the different communities which thrive in the tide swept environments, a technique known as habitat mapping. The waters off South Wight are a vital transition zone between the warmer south-western and the colder North Sea water bodies. Many of the plants and animals found here are at the eastern limit of their range. The South Wight European marine site is also important for its chalk, limestone and boulder reefs which support a diverse range of marine species. Colourful sponges, crustaceans and soft corals carpet the walls of the numerous deep gullies and raised surfaces of often spectacularly large boulders. Forests of kelp can be seen closer to shore undulating in the sun illuminated waters. These kelp forests, which cling tightly to the chalk and sandstone rocks that dominate much of the coastline, are a haven for many other marine animals. Extensive populations of red algae, including species which are rarely found in Britain, lie amongst encrusting turfs of plant-like animals known as hydroids and moss-like bryozoans.
Natural England will be working with a number of partners including The Channel Coastal Observatory which is undertaking a survey campaign to generate seafloor mapping of the inshore 1km round the Isle of Wight. We are also working closely with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, who provided assistance in developing the survey specification and arranging for quality assurance of the data. Data collected will be exchanged through a pan-government memorandum of understanding in order to increase efficiency and avoid duplication of effort. This project will provide Natural England with an updated baseline of knowledge for the entire site, helping in planning for more targeted surveys in the future.
ENDS
For further information please contact John Rennie from the Natural England communications team on 07500 990874 or on john.rennie@naturalengland.org.uk
Notes for Editors
Natural England is the government’s independent advisor on the natural environment. Established in 2006 our work is focused on enhancing England’s wildlife and landscapes and maximising the benefits they bring to the public.
We work to ensure that England’s landscapes are effectively protected, designating England’s National Parks, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and working with partners on recommending Marine Conservation Zones.
We establish and care for England’s main wildlife and geological sites, ensuring that over 4,000 Sites of Special Scientific Interest and National Nature Reserves are looked after and improved.
We run England’s Environmental Stewardship green farming schemes that deliver over £400 million a year to farmers and landowners, enabling them to enhance the natural environment across two thirds of England’s farmland.
We fund, manage, and provide scientific expertise for hundreds of conservation projects each year, improving the prospects for thousands of England’s species and habitats.
We promote access to the wider countryside, helping establish National Trails and coastal trails and ensuring that the public can enjoy and benefit from them.
