Surveillance & Monitoring
In the marine environment, we are working with
the country conservation agencies on a research and development
programme that will advise governments on biodiversity monitoring
systems. This is presently concentrating on habitats,
seabirds and cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises), and is
taking place within the UK
Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy (UKMMAS)
process. The programme is a four-year commitment that aims to
address all policy drivers that act on the marine environment in a
holistic way, without limiting our ability to advise upon future
pressures and policy responses. More on the marine biodiversity monitoring
programme.
Seabirds and seaduck
JNCC seeks to ensure that an adequate information base exists to
inform decision-making regarding policies for biodiversity
conservation and to support existing legal obligations (and to
enable other stakeholders to meet theirs) in respect of the seabird
and seaduck resource in UK land and sea areas. It does this by
conducting and commissioning research and surveillance of birds at
breeding colonies and also at sea. More on seabirds and
seaduck.
Cetaceans - whales, dolphins and porpoises
JNCC conducts and commissions research and surveillance of
cetaceans. These projects aim to establish and maintain an adequate
information base to support existing legal requirements and other
obligations. More on cetaceans
Monitoring tools
Monitoring requires a number of standard protocols and tools
for designing, sampling, analysing and reporting on the state of
the marine environment. This page is designed to provide a link to
some of these protocols and tools. More on
Monitoring tools
Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR)
The MNCR took place from 1987 to 1998. Its main objectives
were to identify sites and species of nature conservation
importance, extend our knowledge of benthic marine habitats,
communities and species in Great Britain and provide information
through the data collected to minimize adverse effects of
development and pollution. Other elements of the MNCR involved
developing, along with contribution from country agency staff,
methods for survey, assessment and reporting. The results of the
MNCR programme are published in two overview volumes and 15 volumes
describing the marine biotopes of our coasts. All aspects of the
MNCR and further surveys are supported by Marine Recorder, a
powerful database which enables rapid access, manipulation and
dissemination of data. More on
Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR)
Monitoring and Surveillance Groups
JNCC provides advice, and contributes to, various initiatives
and programmes all involved in different implementation aspects for
marine monitoring. These include the Marine Monitoring Coordination
Group,the Inter-Agency Marine Monitoring Group, the Marine
Environment Monitoring Group, the National Marine Monitoring
Programme, and the National Marine Biological Analytical Quality
Control scheme. More on
Monitoring and Surveillance Groups
Quality Assurance and standards
JNCC has a general model for promoting standards to give us
the confidence that what is being collected and reported is of a
high quality. With work being carried out on many different habitat
features of conservation interest there is a need to develop and
promote Quality assurance and standards for marine life in
different habitats, both subtidal and intertidal. More on
Quality Assurance and
standards
Monitoring and surveillance projects and reports
