This geophysical survey was carried out under contract for the Marine Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF) as part of a Regional Environmental Characterisation, the survey took place from the 8th March to the 18th March 2010. This project is to extend the mapped coverage of the Eastern English Channel Marine Habitat Map (EECMHM) to include the coastal platform from Saltdean east to Dungeness and provide an integrated map dataset covering this extension area The geophysical data was acquired using Surface Tow Boomer and Sidescan sonar equipment. Technical detail of the survey are contained in BGS Open Report OR/10/052.

This Gardline marine geophysical survey took place during June/July 2007 along the south coast of England around the Isle of Wight aboard the MV Confidante. This survey was undertaken for the South Coast Regional Environmental Characterisation (REC). This study was funded by the Marine Environment Protection Fund (MEPF) a marine component of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF). The study was conducted in two parts, with this survey covering the geophysical data. Sea floor data collected were high-resolution multibeam bathymetry, backscatter, magnetometer and side-scan sonar. Subsurface data were gathered using a Surface Tow Boomer. Most of the data were recorded digitally. These data are archived with the MEDIN Data Archive Centres (DACs), including the BGS DAC for geology and geophysics. Technical details of the survey are contained in Gardline Report 7261.

This CEFAS sampling survey took place during July/August 2005 in the Eastern English Channel aboard the RV CEFAS Endeavour. This survey was undertaken for the Eastern English Channel Marine Habitat Map study (EECMHM) as part of a series of four surveys. The EECMHM study was funded by the Marine Environment Protection Fund (MEPF) a marine component of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF). The main cruise objective was to collect groundtruthing samples from up to 150 sites in the Eastern English Channel in order to validate acoustic data collected in May/June 2005. All 150 sites were sampled with a HamCam (Hamon grab with camera fitted) and ~40 with a 2m Jennings type Beam trawl. Stills and video imagery were collected from ~40 sites using either a towed video sledge or drop camera frame. Multibeam bathymetry data were collected on the transits between sampling stations. During this survey, benthos and sediment samples were also collected for a time-series study at 10 EARS sites in the Eastern English Channel using the HamCam, and UWTV sledge. These data are archived with the MEDIN Data Archive Centres (DACs) including the BGS DAC for geology and geophysics, the DASSH DAC for biological data. The multibeam data are not part of the archived dataset. Where they hardcopy records/samples exist these have been archived by CEFAS. For further information on the surveys and general information on the EECMHM see the final report (James et al, 2007. Cefas Science Series Technical Report No. 139).

This Gardline marine geophysical survey took place during May/June 2005 in the Eastern English Channel aboard the MV Tridens. This survey was undertaken for the Eastern English Channel Marine Habitat Map study (EECMHM) as part of a series of four surveys. The EECMHM study was funded by the Marine Environment Protection Fund (MEPF) a marine component of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF). Sea floor data collected were high-resolution multibeam bathymetry, echosounder and side-scan sonar. Subsurface data were gathered using a Surface Tow Boomer. Most of the data were recorded digitally. Some paper records were also generated also. These data are archived with the MEDIN Data Archive Centres (DACs), including the BGS DAC for geology and geophysics and the UKHO DAC for bathymetry data. For further information on the surveys and general information on the EECMHM see the final report (James et al, 2007. Cefas Science Series Technical Report No. 139).

This CEFAS sampling survey took place during July/August 2006 in the Eastern English Channel aboard the RV CEFAS Endeavour. This survey was undertaken for the Eastern English Channel Marine Habitat Map study (EECMHM) as part of a series of four surveys. The EECMHM study was funded by the Marine Environment Protection Fund (MEPF) a marine component of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF). Samples were collected using a HamCam (Hamon grab with camera fitted), Camera Sledge and Beam Trawl. These data are archived with the MEDIN Data Archive Centres (DACs) including the BGS DAC for geology and geophysics and the DASSH DAC for biological data. Where hardcopy records/samples exist these have been archived by CEFAS. For further information on the surveys and general information on the EECMHM see the final report (James et al, 2007. Cefas Science Series Technical Report No. 139).

This British Geological Survey (BGS) marine geophysical survey took place during August 2004 in the Outer Bristol Channel aboard the RV Prince Madog. Netsurvey Ltd were commissioned to provide multibeam services. This survey was undertaken for the Outer Bristol Channel Marine Habitat Study (OBCMHS) as part of a series of five surveys. The OBCMHS was principally funded by the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund, MALSF, (administered in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government), the Sustainable Land Won and Marine Dredged Aggregate Minerals Programme of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), administered by Mineral Industry Research Organisation (MIRO), with contributions from others. Sea floor data collected were high-resolution multibeam bathymetry and side-scan sonar (on selected lines). Subsurface data were gathered using a surface tow boomer (on selected lines). The multibeam data adds to the data collected on a previous survey in 2003 and multibeam products include data from the 2003 survey. Most of the data were recorded digitally. Some paper records were also generated also. These data are archived with the MEDIN Data Archive Centres (DAC), including the BGS DAC for geology and geophysics and the UKHO DAC for bathymetry data. Technical details of the survey are contained in BGS Cruise report IR/05/082 (http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/11121/). For further information on the surveys and general information on the OBCMHS see the final report (Mackie et al, 2006. BIOMOR Reports 4:ISBN 0-7200-0569-8).

This British Geological Survey (BGS) marine geophysical and sampling survey took place during June 2005 in the Outer Bristol Channel aboard the RV Prince Madog. This survey was undertaken for the Outer Bristol Channel Marine Habitat Study (OBCMHS) as part of a series of five surveys. The OBCMHS was principally funded by the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund, MALSF, (administered in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government), the Sustainable Land Won and Marine Dredged Aggregate Minerals Programme of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), administered by Mineral Industry Research Organisation (MIRO), with contributions from others. Benthic sampling was carried out using a Beam Trawl. Seabed images were taken using a Video system. Subsurface data were gathered using a Surface Tow Boomer. Most of the data were recorded digitally. Some paper records were also generated also. These data are archived with the MEDIN Data Archive Centres (DAC), including the BGS DAC for geology and geophysics and the DASSH DAC for biological data. For further information on the surveys and general information on the OBCMHS see the final report (Mackie et al, 2006. BIOMOR Reports 4:ISBN 0-7200-0569-8).

The Humber Regional Environmental Characterisation (REC) surveys are funded through the marine Environment Protection Fund of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF). The aims of the surveys are to acquire marine geophysical and sample data, to enable broad scale characterisation of the seabed habitat, associated biological communities and potential historic environmental assets within the Humber REC region. From the interpretation of the geophysical data stations for 20 vibrocore, 90 clam shell grab, 90 Hamon grab, 90 seabed photo 2 anchor dredge and 30 scientific trawls were selected. The survey was conducted over 2 phases (1-Geotechnical and Environmental): Leg 1 (Geotechnical) – to acquire 90 large-volume (Clamshell) grab samples and 20 sediment vibrocore samples to ground-truth the geophysical data and contribute to overall environmental interpretation. In addition, these data will describe seabed geology and prehistoric environmental assets including archaeological features and deposits of archaeological potential. Leg 2 (Environmental) – to acquire seabed imagery (video and still photography) and grab samples at 90 locations and 30 trawl samples; these data to ground-truth the geophysical data and contribute to overall interpretation. These data will also support the interpretation and delineation of infaunal and epifaunal communities. Good progress was made with the sampling field work and further vibrocore, Hamon grab and seabed photograph sites were selected and most of these were also occupied. The selection of these sites was undertaken by: the University of Birmingham Archaeology Department (vibrocores), British Geological Survey (clam shell grabs) and Marine Ecological Survey (Hamon grabs, camera stations and trawls). The marine sampling operations undertaken in the Humber REC area aboard the vessel Gardline Sea Profiler between 20th April 2009 and 26th May 2009, the rationale behind the surveys and the post-cruise processing results of the biological, sediment and shallow sub-seabed (vibrocore) data acquired. The survey area lies off the east coast of England, in the southern part of the North Sea, offshore the Humber Estuary, (Figure 1). It covers an area of approximately 11,000 km2. It extends eastward from the coast almost to the UK Median Line.

This Gardline marine geophysical survey took place during July/August 2007 in the Thames Estuary aboard the THV Alert. This survey was undertaken for the Thames Regional Environmental Characterisations Project. This study was funded by the Marine Environment Protection Fund (MEPF) a marine component of the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund (MALSF). Seabed samples were obtained using a clamshell grab and photo and video data exist for these sites. Sea floor data collected were high-resolution multibeam bathymetry, backscatter, magnetometer and side-scan sonar. Subsurface data were gathered using a Surface Tow Boomer. Most of the data were recorded digitally. These data are archived with the MEDIN Data Archive Centres (DACs), including the BGS DAC for geology and geophysics. Technical details for the survey are contained in Gardline Report 0871/Ops.

This National Museum of Wales (NMW) sampling survey took place in July 2003 in the Outer Bristol Channel aboard the RV Prince Madog. This survey was undertaken for the Outer Bristol Channel Marine Habitat Study (OBCMHS) as part of a series of five surveys. The OBCMHS was principally funded by the Aggregate Levy Sustainability Fund, MALSF, (administered in Wales by the Welsh Assembly Government), the Sustainable Land Won and Marine Dredged Aggregate Minerals Programme of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM), administered by Mineral Industry Research Organisation (MIRO), with contributions from others. Seabed samples were collected using a Van Veen Grab. Seabed video and photographs were also collected. These data are archived with the MEDIN Data Archive Centres (DACs), including the BGS DAC for geology and geophysics and the DASSH DAC for biological data. For further information on the surveys and general information on the OBCMHS see the final project report (Mackie et al, 2006. BIOMOR Reports 4:ISBN 0-7200-0569-8).