Skip to Content

JNCC/SGMD Partnership Report 5. Pobie Bank Reef Special Area of Conservation Monitoring Report 2020 2026

Abstract

JNCC and the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government (formerly Marine Scotland Science, MSS) undertook an offshore seabed survey of Pobie Bank Reef SAC on the Marine Research Vessel Scotia from 22 August to 2 September 2020, the first dedicated monitoring survey of the site. This survey aimed to gather data which would allow the Scottish Government to fulfil its obligations to Marine Protected Area assessment and reporting.

Still and video imagery were collected at 84 stations across the 966 km2 site. Multibeam and sidescan sonar were used in five high priority areas, parts of the site which previously had no bathymetric data available. The imagery was annotated for epifauna, biotopes and conditions denoting the presence of Annex I reef. Epifaunal communities were analysed at 54 out of 84 stations across the site, where there was a sufficient volume of imagery available.

This monitoring report forms the initial point in a Type 1 (sentinel) monitoring time series against which the feature condition can be assessed in future.

This resource may not be fully accessible for all users. If you need a copy in a different format, please contact Communications@jncc.gov.uk.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2026·08·01

Citation
Clewett, R., Harbour, R. & McBreen, F. 2026. Pobie Bank Reef Special Area of Conservation Monitoring Report 2020. JNCC / Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate Partnership Report 5. JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 2977-1625.

Lineage
The JNCC-SGMD Partnership Report series publishes reports on offshore surveys undertaken by JNCC and Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate [formerly Marine Scotland Science].

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2026·08·20

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

Back to top