CEFAS24-70 Contract for the analysis of seabed imagery (still images and video)

The Marine Protected Area (MPA) monitoring programme is funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) and through this programme, Cefas co-ordinates some of the evidence collection for the monitoring of MPAs in English waters. Cefas wish to commission a contract for the analysis of imagery collected from two sites in the English Channel in 2023 and 2024. These surveys covered Wight-Barfleur Reef Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and Offshore Brighton Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) respectively, which both contain similar seabed conditions and sediment types. The supplier is required to undertake the analysis of seabed imagery (still images and videos) collected on the CEND1723 survey by drop frame camera (DC) at WBRF SAC, as well as DC video data collected on the CEND0524 survey at OBRG MCZ: • 54 stations were sampled at WBRF SAC using a triplicate transect approach, acquiring 4449 images of sufficient quality for analysis and 18 hours 39 minutes of video. • Six stations were sampled with drop camera in a single transect for ground truthing purposes at OBRG MCZ, with one station being sampled in triplicate, totalling nine videos. Overall 3 hours and 3 minutes of video were acquired.