 Shipwrecks, rugged cliffs, massive gravel dunes and ancient river beds have been revealed on the Dorset seabed in stunning detail by exciting new seabed mapping. DORset Integrated Seabed study (DORIS) is a collaborative seabed mapping project involving Dorset Wildlife Trust, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency and Channel Coastal Observatory. Ultimately, DORIS will produce a detailed seabed habitat map covering over 800km2 from Swanage to Abbotsbury.
The project, which puts Dorset at the forefront of marine mapping in the UK, has been made possible by a major biodiversity grant of £300,000 from Viridor Credits Environmental Company, through the Landfill Community Fund, to Dorset Wildlife Trust, towards producing a seabed habitat map to identify important marine conservation features in Dorset.
Peter Tinsley, Marine Conservation Officer at Dorset Wildlife Trust, is delighted that all the agencies concerned have been able to work together to maximise the extent of the DORIS: "It makes obvious sense to pool resources and undertake one large survey, sharing the data."
The Maritime and Coastguard Agency will use the map to update navigation charts, while the Channel Coast Observatory will provide information to coastal engineers and Dorset Wildlife Trust will use it to identify important and vulnerable seabed habitats.
The first phase, a high resolution acoustic survey, was completed earlier this year and has provided some fascinating images of well-known features, such as the Shambles Bank and the wreck of the Aeolian Sky, and has uncovered some surprises, including a clearly visible meandering river channel cutting though bedrock about 8 miles due south of Lulworth Cove. According to Professor Vince May of Bournemouth University, this area would have been dry from about 185,000 years ago to around 14,0000 years ago, when sea level rose before falling again about 70,000 years ago and finally covering it for the last time about 12,000 years ago.
Vince May said: "It's possible that we are looking at two channels - an older one from the earlier period which was reworked and deepened with the higher runoff from the later period. It puts current concerns about sea level rise in context and suggests that we could rename Weymouth! This is just a glimpse of the data collected so far - there will be so much we can learn when we get it all in. "
Southampton-based marine survey company, Seastar Surveys, will shortly be starting work on the next phase - identifying and cataloguing seabed habitats using video and still photography and matching these to features from the acoustic survey data, with the aim of producing a full coverage seabed habitat map. Volunteer divers, taking part in the Seasearch project, are also using the DORIS data to locate new survey sites.
Lisa Nelson, general manager of Viridor Credits, said: "We are constantly seeking to support a diverse range of projects which will enrich the communities around them and have a real and lasting impact for years to come. The features uncovered throughout the project so far are incredible and really opens your eyes up to what can be found on the seabed. Being part of this unique and exciting project is fantastic."
Peter Tinsley added: "There has never been a greater demand for reliable seabed information. The Marine and Coastal Access Bill, soon to go through its second reading in the House of Commons, will pave the way for marine spatial planning and for the creation of marine protected areas; both will benefit from the sort of detailed maps DORIS will produce. This should lead to more sensible and sustainable use of our marine resources, for the benefit of marine wildlife and those whose livelihoods depend on the sea."
More images
|
