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Marine Bio-images diver Dr Lin Baldock counts marine species with random quadrats at station 1 as part of the diving study investigating the changes occurring within the seabed communities now that these cobble reefs have been closed off to towed bottom fishing gear such as trawl nets and scallop dredgers. Photograph Colin Munro, 2009.<\/p><\/div>\n

Final Report<\/strong> covering diver monitoring 2008-2010 now available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Introduction<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In 2008, DEFRA<\/a> closed an area of Lyme Bay, southwest England, some 60 square miles in extent to all mobile benthic fishing gear, i.e. bottom trawling and scallop dredging. This closure was brought in to protect fragile seabed habitats, in particular subtidal rocky reefs and areas of boulder and cobble reefs and their associated flora and fauna, from damage caused by such gear. This was a hugely important step; the first such area in England closed specifically for nature conservation purposes, and the culmination of 18 years of data collection, eductaion and campaigning by organisations such as the Devon Wildlife Trust<\/a>.\u00a0 Numerous studies conducted by ourselves and others had demonstrated that such habitats were particularly vulnerable to physical damage by mobile fishing gear. Marine Bio-images was part of the consortium (lead by Plymouth University) conducting a monitoring programme to study the recovery of the newly protected area of seabed. our particular study focussed on the monitoring of cobble reef areas. We chose to do this by SCUBA diving. This decision was based on our long experience in survey and monitoring, and are knowledge of the area.\u00a0 Most of the species of interest are quaite small small and difficult to spot and the three-dimensional nature of the habitat and the relatively turbid waters of the bay there was no way of collecting the required data remotely with the necessary accuracy. The study collected data on species at 10 fixed stations, 4 stations within pre-existing voluntary closues (also inside the new statutory closure), 3 stations within the new statutory closure (but outside the pre-existing voluntary closures) and 3 outside the new stautory closure. At each station 8 0.25m sq. quadrat counts were conducted and larger species were counted within an 8m belt transect. This study began in September 2008 and ended in August 2010; three annual data sets being collected. the final report has now been completed and we waiting to hear from DEFRA when the report will be published.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n