Survey of Reef Habitat around Eddystone Reef, Plymouth

Detailed pilot survey carried out on the reef habitat around the Eddystone Reef off Plymouth as part of a project to identify potential SACs which are not connected to the coast. Phase 1 of the survey used acoustic methods to accurately map the extent of the rocky reef and the areas of mixed sediment around the Eddystone Lighthouse. The area of interest is approximately 10 nautical miles south west of the Plymouth sound and covers and area of about 520 sq km. Data from the acoustic and ground-truth (grab, photography and video) surveys have now been analysed and reported on and the results used to direct a second phase of survey.