Sea pens and Nephrops are key component species in burrowed mud, which is defined as a Priority Marine Feature of Scotland’s seas. Large scale photogrammetric surveys allow the identification, quantification and scaling of nephrops burrows, a task which would be difficult using only 2D survey footage. Digital modelling can also be used to look at the distribution of component species around any potential seabed disturbance, informing any aquaculture impact study.
Here we surveyed a section of seabed at a depth of 20 m. Species including the slender sea pen (Virgularia mirabilis) and the norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) were observed, and are detectable and measurable within the 3D model.
