European Ocean Biodiversity Information System

"This dataset contains information on infaunal abundance and biomass from sediment grabs carried out in Red Bay, Co. Antrim. The main aim of this survey was to collect data that could be used to support a potential site designation for Red Bay SAC. Also to investigate the infaunal communities associated with Maerl beds. Red Bay has been designated as an SAC since 2009. It contains EU Habitats Directive Annex 1 “Sandbanks slightly covered by seawater at all times” which are dominated by maerl and sub-fossil maerl. The Red Bay SAC covers an Area of 9.65km2 in the north of the bay. The grab samples were collected on 2004-05-20 on board the RV Lough Foyle using a day grab. The methodology for using a day grab is detailed below. • A 0.1m2 day grab was used to take a sample of the sediment & associated infaunal communities. • When the sample reaches the deck, a 250ml sample is taken for PSA and a further 25ml is taken for C & N analysis. The rest of the sample is carefully sieved to reveal any infauna. • Fixed Formalin (4% buffered formaldehyde) is added to the remains of the sample and these are placed in labelled buckets. • The samples are sent to accredited taxonomic laboratories were they are identified to as high a level as possible and weighed. "