The aim of this project was to analyse sediment infauna data to measure any changes in community composition at the Plymouth Sound and Estuaries Special Area of Conservation (SAC). This will contribute towards Natural England condition assessment using conservation advice for each site and sub-feature.
MarineSpace was commissioned by Natural England to analyse and report on subtidal sediment grab data collected by the Environment Agency as part of its Water Framework Directive and monitoring from Plymouth Sound and Estuaries. Data were provided from surveys conducted in 1998, 1999, 2011, and 2015. The scope of the analysis covered site features – estuaries, large shallow inlets and bays, subtidal sandbanks – and sub-features – subtidal coarse, mixed, mud and sand sediments.