Report 429
Understanding the marine environment - seabed habitat investigations of the Dogger Bank offshore draft SAC
(2009)
Diesing, M., Ware, S., Foster-Smith, B., Stewart, H., Long, D., Vanstaen, K., Forster, R. & Morando, A
This document presents the findings of the JNCC contract 'Understanding the marine environment-seabed habitat investigations of the Dogger Bank offshore draft SAC'.
It presents detailed geomorphological and biological information pertaining to the Dogger Bank along with discussion of the underlying context and justification for the proposed dSAC boundary. The report provides some of the necessary information to enable the JNCC to advise Defra as to the eligibility of the Dogger Bank as a SAC. Additionally, recommendations are made regarding strategies and techniques for the investigation of the Annex I habitat described in the European Commission’s 2007 Guidance (Commission of the
European Community, 2007) as ‘sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time'.
Summary
This report details work carried out by the Centre for
Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), British
Geological Surveys (BGS) and Envision Ltd. for the Joint Nature
Conservation Committee (JNCC). It has been produced to provide the
JNCC with evidence on the distribution and extent of Annex I
habitat (including variations of these features) on the Dogger Bank
in advance of its possible designation as a Special Area of
Conservation (SAC). The report contains information required under
Regulation 7 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.)
Regulations 2007 and will enable the JNCC to advise the Department
for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) as to whether the
site is deemed eligible as a SAC. The report provides detailed
information about the Dogger Bank and evaluates its features of
interest according to the Habitats Directive selection criteria and
guiding principles. This assessment has been made following a
thorough analysis of existing information combined with newly
acquired field survey data collected using ‘state of the art’
equipment.
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ISSN 0963 8901
Please cite as: Diesing, M., Ware, S., Foster-Smith, B., Stewart, H., Long, D., Vanstaen, K., Forster, R. & Morando, A, (2009), Understanding the marine environment - seabed habitat investigations of the Dogger Bank offshore draft SAC, JNCC Report 429, ISSN 0963 8901