Skerries Bank MCZ: Seafloor Survey and Biological Samples

Two marine surveys of the Skerries Bank and Surrounds rMCZ site collected 1288 still images, 111 video tows, 160 PSA samples, and 198 infauna samples by April 2015. The dataset includes seafloor bathymetry and backscatter coverage from one cruise, alongside biological and sediment samples. It supports environmental monitoring and habitat assessment for a designated Marine Conservation Zone.

Use Cases

• Assessing benthic habitat health based on infauna and video sample counts.
• Mapping seafloor topography and composition using bathymetry and backscatter coverage data.
• Monitoring sediment characteristics for the PSA (Particle Size Analysis) samples collected.
• Evaluating conservation zone status by synthesizing biological and physical survey data.

Strengths

• Contains detailed sample counts: 1288 stills, 111 video tows, 160 PSA samples, and 198 infauna samples from two surveys.
• Includes specific geospatial data coverage metrics, such as 90% bathymetry and backscatter coverage with 10% infill from the Cefas_cend0114 cruise.

Limitations

• Metadata is incomplete: column names, row counts, file formats, license, and author information are unknown across all sources.
• Survey data is not recent, with the latest described activity dated April 2015 and a specific cruise in January 2014.
• One of the two cruises (EA_SKSB_2FGLS0314) lacks bathymetry, backscatter, and sidescan sonar coverage data.

Provenance

Source

Government Digital Service (as listed on eu_open_data platform).

Collection Method

Marine surveys conducted via research cruises, including video tows, still imagery, and physical sample collection.

Time Range

January 2014 to April 2015.

Freshness

2026-07-02 11:09:59.073020

Geography

Skerries Bank and Surrounds Marine Conservation Zone (rMCZ) site.