Regional Environmental Characterisation Surveys 2007
The survey reports are now available:
- Thames (.pdf 29.96MB)
- South coast (.pdf 27.65MB)
Two major Regional Environmental Characterisation Surveys are taking place this summer in the Outer Thames and Isle of Wight/South Coast regions. These surveys have been commissioned by Defra under the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund and involve a large-scale geophysical survey followed by a benthic sampling survey. The primary aim of the projects is to acquire high quality data to describe broadscale seabed habitats and potential historic environment assets to provide a broader regional environmental context for marine aggregate extraction issues.
The Marine ALSF Steering Group are grateful for all sea users’ co-operation and appreciated this information being disseminated to as many interested parties as possible.
The Outer Thames geophysical survey ran from 10 July to 13 August 2007, and the environmental survey work was completed in September 2007.
The South Coast geophysical survey ran from 1 June to 25 July 2007, and the environmental survey work was completed in September 2007.
The extremely poor weather conditions of the early summer period impacted the geophysical work to a large extent in the South Coast and to a lesser extent in the Outer Thames region, but both surveys achieved 100% of their original environmental sampling plans.
Full outputs from the surveys are due on 28 February 2008 and will be reported at the February Marine ALSF Conference
- News release 24 May 2007.
- South Coast Fishermen's Association notification.
Copies of this notification were sent to more than 65 Chairmen and Secretaries of Fishermen’s Associations and copied to the MFA regional offices. - Information has also been published via the Kingfisher Bulletin.
- New: Additional clarification on the areas to be surveyed, including explanation of line orientation
- South Coast sea users notification.
Copies of these notifications were sent to over 40 marinas, harbours and sea user groups. - Outer Thames sea users notification.
Copies of these notifications were sent to approximately 30 marinas, harbours and sea user groups.