Fugro ERT’s marine
biology and ecology services contribute to the
marine environmental survey
through identification of the macrofauna, the types of animals which live in the sediment, and provide interpretation of these data to give an accurate description of the seabed
environments, community structures and biotopes at the time of the survey.
Macrobenthic Identification
Fugro ERT’s benthic biology laboratory has been in operation for over 30 years
laboratory continues to provide analytical support to a wide range of clients, including major UK agencies and government bodies (DECC, EA, CCW, SNH, FRS, AFBI) together with consultancies and oil and gas companies, both nationally and internationally. The laboratory is a primary contractor and one of only four laboratories in the UK analysing samples under the Environment Agency’s “
Analysis of Estuarine and Marine Invertebrate Samples
” framework.
Analysis of samples from outside UK waters has included samples from the Caspian, Malaysia, Libya, Sierra Leone, Gabon and Angola. Working in locations and water depths with relatively undescribed macrofauna, the Biology Section has produced several photographic identification aids to fauna collected during deepwater and international environmental surveys both for consistency in future projects in-house and for clients and overseas research institutes.
Fish Identification
Fugro ERT’s biology section is also involved in annual fish studies, which involves the identification, measurement and weighing of fish from the Firth of Forth. Sampling is conducted all year but is intensified during the months when species of commercial interest are characteristically moving through the estuary. Fugro ERT can offer identification of preserved or frozen fish specimens, or onsite identification of species common to UK waters.
Macroalgal Identification
Macroalgae identification has historically been undertaken as part of biotope mapping projects, but with the change in legislation regarding the Water Framework Directive (WFD) algae will be used as a measure of an estuaries health. Several Fugro ERT staff members have participated in a workshop on the identification of seaweeds that was run by the Estuarine & Coastal Sciences Association (ECSA).
Quality
Fugro ERT’s biology section has participated in the National Marine Biological AQC Scheme (NMBAQCS) since the scheme was established in 1994. The main objective of the scheme is to assess and improve the consistency and quality of marine biological benthic data produced by participating laboratories. The biology lab staff also regularily attend workshops run by NMBAQC Scheme.
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