S u s s e x S e a s e a r c h

Annual Report 2013

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Marine Conservation Zones

The most significant occurrence during 2013 must be the designation of Marine Conservation Zones around theUK. Nationally, out of the 127 suggested only 31 were put forward and of these 27 designated which makesSussex particularly fortunate in that three of these are along our coast.

Despite this apparent success thegovernments aim 'for the establishment of an ecologically coherent network' of marine sites fall short and we mustcontinue to gather information on these and other sites.

2013 Surveys

As is all to common to Sussex diving the weatherand conditions hampered dives, however a total of

57 dives were recorded of which 33 producedObservation forms and 24 Survey forms. Some of theforms were combined as they were carried out at thesame time by pairs of divers, which invariably occursat Selsey Lifeboat Station where Seasearch trainingdives take place. Of these 15 were from SussexSeasearch organised dives and the remaining 42 fromindependent divers who submitted their data throughSeasearch nationally

Training

There were two Observer Courses planned inSussex in 2013. The one in Brighton became a

refresher day as there were insufficient new people torun a course. A second course was run in Selsey inJuly with five participants and James Lucey as tutor.Two of the participants, Ellie Taylor and Erica Stirett,went on to complete the Observer qualification andtwo others, Barbara King and Christine Lissoni, whoattended a course in Worthing in 2012, also became

Seasearch Observers during the year. Neil Watson who lives in Sussex has become a Seasearch Surveyor.

Beachy Head West

The renown Sussex chalk cliffs extend assubtidal chalk gullies and reefs from BeachyHead to Black Rock, Brighton. Seasearchrecords have revealed a rich and diverseassociated fauna taking advantage of thewide range of available niches. Notableamongst these are the beds of BlueMussels, Mytilus edulis.

Kingmere

Lying off-shore between Worthing andLittlehampton further exposures of chalkincluding the chalk cliff of Worthing Lumps.In addition to the chalk various coarse sedi-ments provide additional niches. Of note isthe presence of Black Bream,Spondyliosoma cantharus, which exploit theshallow sediment deposits to make their‘nests’.

Pagham

This site, not one covered by Seasearch, isan important site for Eel Grass, Zosteramarina. This is one of the three sites inEngland where Defolin’s Lagoon Snail,Caecum armoricum, occurs as well as therare Lagoon Sand Shrimp, Gammarus

insensibilis which also occurs in WidewaterLagoon, Shoreham.

A Clingfish at Kingmere; species not determined.© Chris Williamson

People

In 2012 Erin Pettifer got off to an exciting start in her role as Marine Conservation Officer at Sussex Wildlife Trust (SWT).As a keen diver she became involved with Seasearch. Then in May 2013 she move to become the new Marine

Protected Area Officer for the Sussex Inshore Fisheries Authority based in Shoreham and continues her interest in divingand recording.

Olle Åkesson, another enthusiastic diver, replaced Erin at the SWT as the Living Seas Officer and later took over the co-ordination of Seasearch in Sussex. His main responsibility is to help protect and conserve our valuable marine environ-ment.

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Special Dives

Specific dives were carried out on three of the, at the time, Recommended MCZs: Selsey & The Hounds,Kingmere and Beachy Head West (Royal Sovereign Shoals). Some images of these sites are provided below:

Unfortunately, neither Beachy Head West, which includes the Royal Sovereign Shoals, nor Selsey and the Hounds,made it through this time.

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Ampelisca in Sussex

Ampelisca is a genus of amphipod crustacean that, like many amphipods, produces tubes in which to live (other exam-ples can be found on the chalk reefs and amongst mussels [if you’ve ever dived for mussels on vertical surfaces youget covered in them as you harvest the mussels]. Ampelisca brevicornis occurs around much of the UK (see

http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2485) and in sufficient numbers produces mats or beds. In 2004Dorset Seasearch (see http://www.seasearch.org.uk/downloads/dorset2004report.pdf) published a record of this species inPoole Bay. During a dive on the submarine A1 Alison Mayor recorded the presence of Ampelisca on the surroundingseabed. This is the first record of this a mat of this species for Sussex and warrants further investigation as this is an unusu-al biotope. Within the JNCC biotope classification system (see http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1584) Ampelisca species crop-up in a number of biotopes notable:

SS.SSA.IFiSa.TbAmPo:Semi-permanent tube-building amphipods and polychaetes in sublittoral sandSS.SMU.ISaMu: Infralittoral sandy mudSS.SMU.ISaMu Ampelisca spp, Photis longicaudata and other tube-building amphipods and polychaetes in

infralittoral sandy mud.

Summaries of the Records

clay

sand/gravel

concrete

chalk

metal

coarse sediment/mixed ground

Major Substrata

Major Groups: % of Records

Porifera

Cnidaria

PlatyhelminthesAnnelida

Crustacea

Mollusca

Bryozoa

Phoronida

Echinoderms

Fish

Seaweeds

Tubularia indivisa 15Tubularia larynx 1Urticina felina 23Platyhelminthes, Flatworms

Prostheceraeus vittatus 7Annelida, Segmented Worms

Arenicola marina 6Bispira volutacornis 16Eulalia viridis 4Lanice conchilega 15Polydora ciliata 2Polynoidae 1Pomatoceros lamarcki 2Pomatoceros triqueter 17Sabella pavonina 14Salmacina dysteri 4Spirorbis spirorbis 1Crustacea, Amphipods,

Barnacles, Prawns, Crabs,

Lobster

Amphipoda 1Cancer pagurus 30Carcinus maenas 4Cirripedia 4Galathea squamifera 4Homarus gammarus 17Hyas araneus 4Inachus phalangium 3Inachus sp. 16Macropodia sp. 4Macropodia tenuirostris 2Maja squinado 13Necora puber 30Pagurus bernhardus 28Pagurus prideaux 1Palaemon serratus 4Pandalus 1Porcellana platycheles 1Pseudoprotella phasma 2Semibalanus balanoides 1Mollusca, Limpets, Snails,

Seaslugs, Mussels and Clams,

Cuttlefish

Acanthodoris pilosa 1Aeolidia papillosa 3Aequipecten opercularis 4Aplysia punctata 1Archidoris pseudoargus 7Buccinum undatum 19Calliostoma zizyphinum 26Coryphella sp. 2Crepidula fornicata 35Ensis sp. 1Gibbula cineraria 11Hinia reticulata 16Mytilus edulis 13Nudibranchia indet. 3

Ostrea edulis 22Patella vulgata 1Pecten maximus 8Pholas dactylus 12Polycera quadrilineata 1Sepia officinalis 8Trivia arctica 7Bryozoa, Seamats

Alcyonidium diaphanum 5Bryozoa in.det. 3Bryozoa indet crusts 8Bugula avicularia 3Bugula flabellata 1Bugula plumosa 10Bugula sp. 11Bugula stolonifera 2Bugula turbinata 2Cellaria sp 1Cellepora pumicosa 7Chartella papyracea 11Crisia denticulata 2Crisia sp. 3Disporella hispida 2Electra pilosa 10Escharella variolosa 1Flustra foliacea 34Membranipora membranacea 6Pentapora foliacea 9Plagioecia patina 1Securiflustra securifrons 2Phoronida, Horshoe Worms

Phoronis hippocrepia 7Echinodermata, Starfish, Sea

Urchins

Asterias rubens 38Henricia sanguinolenta 2Ophiura ophiura 2Psammechinus miliaris 2Tunicata, Sea Squirts

Aplidium punctum 9Ascidia mentula 5Ascidiella scabra 2

Sites/Events

Anchor Lump 2Inner Mulberry 1Jenny Ground 1Kingmere Rocks 1 combinedLooe Gate 2Mixon Hole 2Outer Mulberry 10Outer Mulberry, drift 1 [over sediment]Royal Sovereign Shoals 1Seaford Gullies 1Selsey East Beach 3Selsey Lifeboat Station 9Worthing Lumps 2Wreck: HM Submarine A1 1Wreck: Indiana 1Wreck: Landing Craft 3Wreck: Pentyrch 1Wreck: Ramsgarth 1Wreck: Steam Trawler 2Wreck: Vale of Leven 1

Species

Porifera, Sponges

Amphilectus fucorum 22Antho dichotomaI 1Cliona celata 10Dysidea fragilis 22Grantia compressa 1Halichondria bowerbanki 2Halichondria panicea 7Halichondria sp. 2Haliclona oculata 4Haliclona simulans 6Hemimycale columella 5Leucosolenia variabilis 1Microciona atrasanguinea 2Myxilla rosea 1Myxilla sp. 1Pachymatisma johnstonia 2Phorbas fictitious 1Polymastia sp. 1Polymastia boletiformis 1Polymastia penicillus 1Porifera indet crusts 14Porifera indet 2Raspailia ramosa 1Scypha ciliata 2Scypha elegans 1Suberites carnosus 8Suberites ficus 24Tethya aurantium 4Cnidaria Seafirs, Anemones,

Softcorals, Corals

Actinia equina 4Actinothoe sphyrodeta 26Adamsia carciniopados 1Aglaophenia pluma 7Alcyonium digitatum 25Anemonia viridis 35Cereus pedunculatus 14Cerianthus lloydii 2Clava multicornis 1Clytia hemisphaerica 1Clytia paulensis 1Corynactis viridis 9Diadumene cincta 3Halecium halecinum 2Hydrallmania falcata 3Hydroids indet. 22Laomedea angulata 1Metridium senile 4Nemertesia antennina 10Nemertesia ramosa 1Obelia geniculata 6Sagartia troglodytes 2Sertularella rugosa 1Sertularia argentea 2Sertularia cupressina 2

Botrylloides leachi 2Botryllus schlosseri 14Ciona intestinalis 2Clavelina lepadiformis 16Dendrodoa grossularia 7Didemnum maculosum 1Diplosoma listerianum 5Diplosoma spongiforme 13Lissoclinum perforatum 1Morchellium argus 5Styela clava 22Tunicata indet. 4Pisces, Fish

Aspitrigla cuculus 3Callionymus lyra 24Centrolabrus exoletus 1Conger conger 9A clingfish 1Crenilabrus melops 17Ctenolabrus rupestris 18Cyclopterus lumpus 2Dicentrarchus labrax 4Gobius niger 8Gobiusculus flavescens 12Hyperoplus lanceolatus 1Labrus bergylta 32Labrus mixtus 4Parablennius gattorugine 22Pleuronectes platessa 8Pollachius pollachius 15Pomatoschistus pictus 3Pomatoschistus sp. 4Raja clavata 3Raja undulata 2Scyliorhinus canicula 6Spondyliosoma cantharus 5Symphodus bailloni 1Syngnathus acus 7Taurulus bubalis 8Thorogobius ephippiatus 7

Trachurus trachurus 1Trisopterus luscus 25

IR.FIR.Ifou

CR.MCR

CR.FCRSS.SMx

IR.HIR

CR.HCR

Major Biotopes

Infralittoral fouling seaweed communities: IR.FIR.Ifou, Moderate energy circalittoral rock: CR.MCR, Features of circalittoralrock: CR.FCR, Sublittoral mixed sediment: SS.SMx, High energyinfralittoral: IR.HIR, High energy circalittoral rock: CR.HCR.

For 2014

Weatherand div-

ing conditionspermitting, weare planningto:1. Increaseour data seton Kingmere

Reef and Beachy Head East. These MCZs are now at the stage of determining theirmanagement needs through consultation with stakeholders. This process started at theend of last year.2. Revisit the two rejected rMCZs, Beachy Head West and Selsey and the Hounds inorder to gather additional data to support their recommendations for their future desig-nation.3. Set up a monitoring programme for Looe Gate/SW Rocks chalk complex. BrightonMarina Divers are keen to do this. Despite its relatively small size this is a significantsite.3. Olle will be arranging Seasearch dives and has an Observer Course planned forFebruary 2014. As this Newsletter is late in going out the ‘has’ is now ‘had’! The coursewent really well with six people completing the theory sessions. He is currently lookingat dates for a day so they can do the dives and hopefully a joint surveyor course withHampshire & Isle of Wight later this year. For surveys Olle is looking at borrowing clubRIBs and doing shore dives as it appears that there is not quite enough interest/enthusi-asm to fill a hardboat.

Finally: Thank You!

Thanks to all skippers including Steve Johnson (Channel Diver), and Paul Jackman(Defiance Charters), and divers (and buddies when recorded) included: Alison

Mayor Andrew Woods, Barbara King, Beca Korda, Bryony Chapman,Chris Nicolaj, ChrisWilliams, Christine Bohea, Christine Lissoni, Ellie Taylor, Erica Stirrett, Gerald Legg,Glenn King, Graham Jackson, Hilary Evans, Ian Kenney, James Lucey, Jane St.Pierre,Keith Graham, Martin McDonagh, Martin Shaw, Michael Hood, Neil Watson, Neil

Trisopterus minutus 2Zeugopterus punctatus 1Algae: Rhodophycota, Reds

Brongniatella byssoides 1Calliblepharis ciliata 22Ceramium cimbricum 1Ceramium secundatum 1Chondrus crispus 1Corallina officinalis 2Cryptopleura ramosa 1Delesseria sanguinea 4Desmarestia aculeata 1Dilsea carnosa 16Erythrotrichia carnea 1Halarachnion ligulatum 1Heterosiphonia plumosa 2Phyllophora pseudoceranoides 1Plocamium cartilagineum 1Rhodophycota indet. 14Rhodophycota indet.(non-calc.crusts) 17Rhodophyllis divaricata 1Algae: Chromophycota,

Browns1

Chorda filum 11Desmarestia aculeata 1Dictyota dichotoma 4Fucus serratus 1Halidrys siliquosa 16Laminaria indet. 5Laminaria digitata 2Laminaria hyperborea 2Laminaria saccharina 7Phaeophyceae indet. 4Pilayella littoralis 1Saccorhiza polyschides 11Sargassum muticum 6Scytosiphon lomentaria 1Taonia atomaria 1Algae: Chlorophycota, Greens

Ulva lactuca 4

Bryozoan: Disporella hispida

©Gerald Legg

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Biotopes

Despite difficulties in assigning biotopes (see jncc.defra.gov.uk/marinehabitatclassifi-cation) approximately 57% of those recorded were circalittoral rock (CR), 26%

infralittoral rock (IR) and 17% sublittoral sediment (SS).

Contact Information

Seasearch: http://www.seasearch.org.uk/Seasearch c/o Marine Conservation Society, Over Ross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7QQ; National Co-ordinator, Chris Wood: chris@seasearch.org.ukSussex Co-ordinator: Olle Åkesson, Living Seas Officer, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Woods Mill, Henfield, Shoreham Road, Henfield,West Sussex BN5 9SD; olleakesson@sussexwt.org.uk

Watson, NigelHaines, MichelleLegg, PhilipLittlechild, RafaelSequin, RayDrabble, SamWilson, SarahMcKenzie, SteveMawer, TheresaBlignaut, YvetteKnight. Apologies if

you are omitted. Aspecial thank youalso to Ian Tittleyfor his identificationof many of the lesscommon algae andto Natural Englandfor their supportwith data entrycosts.