Five previously undiscovered cold-water coral
reefs have been found in the deep waters off north west Scotland
during a recent research survey commissioned by the Joint Nature
Conservation Committee (JNCC). For the first time, these five
colourful coral reefs, teeming with strange and beautiful
creatures, were captured on film.
Throughout July a team of seven marine
scientists from JNCC, the British Geological Survey and the
University of Plymouth spent four weeks at sea exploring the
seafloor and recording their discoveries.
The team used state-of-the-art technology to
map the seafloor in two of the least studied areas of our
seas. Anton Dohrn Seamount, the first area under the
spotlight, is an extinct underwater volcano rising more than 2,100m
from the seabed, reaching its summit at a depth of 600m. This
ancient volcano is in striking contrast to the surrounding flat
seabed and creates ideal conditions for an abundance of fish, coral
and sponges. The second area was around Rockall Bank, where there
are steep cliffs and pinnacles, shrouded in cold water coral reefs
with pink/purple brittlestars and yellow sponges.
As well as delicate and ornate sea fans, the
reefs were formed by hard corals, similar to those that built
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. In addition to the abundant corals,
a truly wide range of animals including sea urchins, basket stars,
orange feather stars, yellow sponges and fish were seen living on
these reefs.
These incredible reefs were filmed using
high-tech camera equipment lowered nearly two kilometres (twice the
height of Mount Snowdon) beneath the flagship vessel of the survey
contractor MMT AB.
The majority of the reefs were pristine,
appearing completely untouched by human activity.
Following these discoveries, JNCC will
consider recommending them for protection, in order to ensure that
these rare and fragile habitats can be preserved into the
future.
Neil Golding, JNCC’s Offshore Survey Manager
said “At the beginning when we were planning the survey, we really
hoped that we would find evidence of these habitats. We’re
delighted that we discovered such pristine examples, and I think
the images we’ve captured show some of the amazing habitats that we
have in our deep 
seas.”
Ken Hitchen, Chief Scientist on-board, British
Geological Survey said "The dark, near-vertical volcanic cliff
rocks of Rockall Bank and Anton Dohrn are the Scottish equivalent
of the White Cliffs of Dover. We observed a mixture of
sedimentary and volcanic rocks and hope to determine the
relationship between rock types and modern biological communities
such as the thriving coral reefs."
Recent research survey>>>
- Ends
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Notes to
Editors:
- The survey was commissioned by the Joint
Nature Conservation Committee, and is part of a wider offshore
seabed survey programme gathering data to support JNCC’s work
identifying potential offshore Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
under the EC Habitats Directive for UK Government.
- The JNCC has a responsibility to identify
areas for protection in the offshore environment around the UK and
is working in collaboration with the British Geological Survey, the
Marine Institute at the University of Plymouth and MMT AB, a
Swedish marine survey company to complete this project.
- The Joint Nature Conservation Committee
(JNCC) is the statutory adviser to Government on UK and
international nature
conservation. Its work contributes to maintaining and enriching
biological diversity, conserving geological features and sustaining
natural systems. JNCC delivers the UK and international
responsibilities of the Council for Nature Conservation and the
Countryside, the Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England and
Scottish Natural Heritage. Visit the website.
- The British Geological Survey (BGS), a
component body of the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC),
is the nation's principal supplier of objective, impartial and
up-to-date geological expertise and information for decision making
for governmental, commercial and individual users. The BGS
maintains and develops the nation's understanding of its geology to
improve policy making, enhance national wealth and reduce risk. It
also collaborates with the national and international scientific
community in carrying out research in strategic areas, including
energy and natural resources, our vulnerability to environmental
change and hazards, and our general knowledge of the Earth system.
More about the BGS can be found at http://www.bgs.ac.uk/.
- University of Plymouth Marine Institute is a
world class institute that provides integrated multi-disciplinary
expertise in marine research, education and innovation. Our
multidisciplinary Science will help to offer innovative solutions
to the difficult issues facing today's seas and coasts. One of our
key aims is to provide holistic research to enable sustainable
stewardship of seas and coasts and their natural resources.
Website: http://www.plymouth.ac.uk/
- MMT AB is a survey company specialized in
high resolution marine survey, to supply the industry and
authorities with detailed information for seafloor constructions,
installations and environmental investigations. Website:
http://www.mmtab.se/
- For more images, interviews and further
comment please contact the JNCC Press Office on 01733 866839, or
for further information visit JNCC's Marine Protected
Sites webpages.