Fladen Grounds Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) Survey Infauna Data - 2013

The survey at the Fladen Grounds proposed Scottish Marine Protected Area (SMPA) was carried out between 4th and 17th January 2013 on the RV Cefas Endeavour cruise CEND 01/13X. Samples were taken from all planned stations. Central Fladen survey included 28 planned stations. 25 planned stations in the southeastern corner of the site, known as the Central Fladen (Core) area Western Fladen site incorporated 22 primary and 17 contingency stations.The SE Fladen survey design included 29 primary and 21 contingency stations.In between the three sites, a series of additional stations were visited, providing a further 17 sampling stations. The aim of survey CEND 01/13X was to gather high quality evidence to confirm the presence of Priority Marine Features within three Scottish Offshore Nature Conservation MPA proposals within the Fladen Grounds Nature Conservation MPA proposals and provide evidence to allow comparison of benthic assemblages between the sites. The data were collected for the Marine Conversation Zones Project funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA).