Sabellaria spinulosa reef in the Wash and North Norfolk Coast cSAC and its approaches: Part II, fine scale mapping of the spatial and temporal distribution of reefs and the development of techniques for monitoring condition (ENRR544)

As part of the development of the Management Scheme for the Wash and North Norfolk cSAC it was necessary to establish the baselines and condition and compliance monitoring programmes for the interest features in order to determine whether the conservation objectives have been, or are in the process of being achieved. Biogenic sand reefs built by the polychaete Sabellaria spinulosa are one of the features of interest as a reef in its own right, having recently been upgraded from being a key component of subtidal mixed sediment communities. The Wash and its approaches are considered particularly important because they are thought to harbour the only known well-developed, stable reefs created by this species in the UK.