The standard shall provide guidance for marine biological surveys of supra-littoral, littoral and sub-littoral hard bottom for environmental impact assessment and monitoring in coastal areas. The standard encompasses surveys down to 30 m depth, which is the practical depth limit for scuba diving. For the purposes of this standard, hard bottom is defined as bedrock, stable rocks and fixed marine constructions (e.g. pipelines, quays and wharf, keys and pipelines pole). The main focus is community registrations based on taxa that can be recorded in the field (i.e. are visible to the naked eye). The standard does not include biogenic substrate as coral rief.
The guidelines can also be used for surveys of substrates comprising loose pebbles/boulders, stone blocks, coarse gravel and other loose material as well as bedrock covered with loose sediment, but in general, such substrates require specially adapted techniques. Additional methods are required for surveys in depths greater than approx. 30 metres.
The methods are limited to surveys and semi-quantitative and quantitative recording techniques that cause little destruction of the fauna and flora. In practice, this refers to direct recording in the field and photography. Sampling by scraping off organisms, use of a suction sampler etc. are not covered in this standard, but such techniques can be used as a supplement, for information on small-bodied taxa or those that live hidden.
The standard covers:
- development of the sampling programme;
- survey methods;
- taxon identification;
- storage of data and collected material
The standard specifies the minimum requirements for environmental monitoring.