1517S Survey Benthic Infaunal Sample Analysis

The aim of this project is to undertake the taxonomic analysis of benthic infaunal samples collected on a recent offshore seabed survey of North-east Faroe Shetland Channel and West Shetland Shelf Scottish Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (NCMPAs).

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Marine Scotland Science (MSS) have recently undertaken an offshore seabed survey visiting the North-east Faroe Shetland Channel Scottish Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (NCMPA) and the West Shetland Shelf Scottish Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (NCMPA) onboard the Marine Research Vessel (MRV) Scotia (survey code 1517S).

The North-east Faroe Shetland Channel (hereafter NEF) NCMPA follows the descent of the Faroe Shetland Channel from depths of 330m to 2420m. The site has been designated to protect deep-sea sponge aggregations, which were the focus of the recent survey, as well as offshore deep-sea muds and offshore subtidal sands and gravels.

West Shetland Shelf (hereafter WSS) NCMPA is located to the north of Scotland and overlaps with the Windsock fisheries areas which are managed to encourage the recovery of local cod stocks. The NCMPA is designated to protect the wide variety of sand and gravel within its boundaries which are found at depths from 70m - 150m.

JNCC wishes to commission a contract to undertake the taxonomic analysis of benthic infaunal samples collected on the 1517S cruise. Picking and taxonomic analysis of benthic infaunal samples (i.e. identification and enumeration of all fauna present) are required.

Biomass of samples should also be determined. The contract will be run over two financial years (FY17/18 and FY18/19), with Phase I to be undertaken in FY 17/18 and Phase II to be undertaken at the start of FY18/19.