Marine monitoring resources

JNCC produces and collates cost-effective and robust monitoring methods for use in the UK Marine Biodiversity Monitoring Programme. We work closely with our partners in government and academia to develop evidence-based guidelines for monitoring seabirds, cetaceans, seabed habitats and Marine Protected Areas. JNCC also performs an integral role in setting monitoring standards and data quality in the North-East Atlantic region through their committee membership on the North-East Atlantic Marine Biological Analytical Quality Control Scheme (NMBAQC).

We have published numerous resources. Find out more here:

• The Marine Monitoring Method Finder brings together a wide range of monitoring method guidelines and procedures published by government agencies, expert panels, collaborative working groups, international standards groups and universities. These are made readily accessible via a search bar and downloadable spreadsheet tool. The collection of guidelines and procedures represent the most up-to-date marine monitoring standards and advice recognised by JNCC;
• The Monitoring Guidance for Marine Benthic Habitats (2017) combines established ecological theory and protocols with JNCC advice and recommendations on seabed monitoring. It presents a step-wise framework which details the key stages in the development of a monitoring programme;
• The Conceptual Ecological Models (2014–2016) represent the functions, processes and dominant communities of five common seabed habitats (Sublittoral Coarse Sediment, Sublittoral Rock, Sublittoral Mud, Sublittoral Sand and Sublittoral Mixed Sediments). Each series of models simplifies the main inputs, processes and outputs associated with each habitat. They can be used to identify critical aspects of a habitat that may be studied further or serve as the basis for the selection of indicators for environmental monitoring purposes;
• The Common Standards for Monitoring (2004) ensure that consistent, integrated, UK wide approaches can be applied to common marine Annex I habitats across different geographic locations in the UK. Key issues are considered when setting objectives and selecting attributes to define favourable condition within Special Areas of Conservation (SACs), and generic advice is given on the process for judging the condition of the feature following the monitoring activities;
• The Marine Monitoring Handbook (2001) addresses the principles behind and procedures for monitoring Annex I habitats, and selected Annex II species, within marine SACs to assess their condition in accordance with the relevant requirements of the EC Habitats Directive and the Common Standards for Monitoring guidance.