Interim report on the seabed environmental survey of Angola Blocks 18 and 31 (MV Ocean Endeavour cruise 2005)

This report is based on initial (at sea) observations of the seabed environment and fauna of Angola Blocks 18 and 31 as assessed during the MV Ocean Endeavour environmental survey (13 Oct-06 Nov, 2005). The report draws on the appearance and other physical characteristics of core samples and on photographic observations of the seafloor from deployments of the NOCS WASP system and the BP ROBIO lander. The megabenthos and fish populations appear to be consistent with a quiescent, fine-sedimented, bathyal region. No living cold seep (or comparable) communities were encountered during the survey. However, site ME1 (Block 31, large pockmark) has cemented sediments, both within the sediment column and at the sediment surface, and the fragmented shell remains of what appear to be large cold seep mussels; an extant community may be present in this vicinity. Other bivalve molluscs (both living and dead) of possible chemosynthetic nature were recovered from other sites (Block 31, on the periphery of diapiric features). Should you wish to consult or cite this report please contact the author directly (Brian Bett, bjb@noc.soton.ac.uk, +44 (0)23 80596355).