Trialling Benthic eDNA Sampling Methods for Monitoring Marine Biodiversity

3. Project Background

The RV Tom Crean will depart from Cork for the TC25035 survey on 9 September 2025 and return on 25 September 2025. Seventeen days of sampling will be carried out as part of the survey, focusing on data collection to support the assessment of potential fisheries management measures. The survey will gather data on the effects of reduced fishing pressure on the recovery of subtidal mud habitats, as well as of sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities.

North-West of Jones Bank MCZ is situated approximately 165 km offshore from the South-West of England. The site covers 399.14 km2 of continental shelf, and it contributes one of the largest areas of subtidal mud to the MPA network of all designated MCZs. For more information regarding NWJB MCZ please see https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/north-west-of-jones-bank-mpa/.

DNA and eDNA are increasingly utilised, cost-effective tools for monitoring biodiversity. Traces of DNA (e.g. from scales, faeces, skin, blood) left in the environment (e.g. water and sediments), called environmental DNA, are left behind by all organisms. Using molecular methods, such as eDNA metabarcoding, we can detect an organism's presence in the environment without directly observing it. eDNA techniques can provide high-resolution pictures of biodiversity from micro to macro scales and inform on assemblage composition and biological processes at reduced costs and time. Niskin bottles, metaprobes and sediment samples have been increasingly used in recent years to collect DNA from inshore marine waters, complementing existing traditional survey methods. However, application of these methods in offshore waters has been more limited.

4. Project Objectives

As part of the offshore survey to North-West of Jones Bank MCZ, the primary research and development objective will be to trial three eDNA sampling techniques to fill significant knowledge gaps on the use of eDNA in offshore environments.

To achieve this objective, the following research questions to be answered are:

To answer these questions, JNCC plan to collect four eDNA samples using each of the three methods below, at four stations within the survey area. This will result in up to 48 eDNA samples plus six controls.

JNCC wishes to commission a contract to undertake this analysis of marine taxa eDNA in water and sediment samples collected on the TC25035 survey of NWJB. JNCC plan to collect a total of 54 samples. However, please note that the resulting sample number will depend on successful sampling delivery, which could be affected by factors such as weather.

JNCC would like to use primers to test samples for the presence of marine vertebrates, fishes, invertebrates, meiofauna and bacteria.

The successful contractor will undertake the analysis as set out below (Section 5) adhering to common standards.

5. Project Objectives: Detailed Tasks

The tenderers should provide a quote broken down into the following elements:

Using universal primers to target a full range of marine biodiversity such as:

The methods section of the report should share sufficient detail for the study to be repeated. It should cover:

The results and discussion sections of the report should include the following: