Natural England commissioned this work as part of the ongoing condition assessment of the Annex I reef feature within the Isles of Scilly Complex Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It focuses on the sub-features:
• vertical rock; and
• kelp forest communities.
The survey builds on a partially-completed survey from 2011 to provide a set of baseline data for the attributes of these sub-features against which condition assessment monitoring can be carried out in future monitoring cycles.
The results and analysis in the final report set this baseline as well as providing current information to contribute towards condition assessment of the reef feature of the site.