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C. Johnston and A. Davison
commonly known as the EC Habitats Directive. This Directive was a major
contribution from the European Community to the Biodiversity Convention at the Rio
Earth summit of 1992. The requirements of the Habitats Directive were adopted into
UK law under the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 (1995 in
Northern Ireland) - referred to here as the Regulations.
The Directive requires that member states select and present to the EC a list of
sites for consideration as Special Areas of Conservation. These sites are selected to
represent certain habitats and species that are listed in Annex I and II of the Directive.
Seven of the 168 habitat types and nine of the 623 species listed in the annexes of the
Directive are found in the marine environment of the UK.
In compliance with the Directive, the UK government has charged its conservation
agencies (Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in Scotland) with the task of identifying and
selecting a UK wide suite of marine possible Special Areas of Conservation (pSACs).
These were identified in 1995 and extensive public consultations were undertaken on
their initial selection. In October 1996, on completion of the consultation process,
fourteen Scottish marine SACs were presented to the EC as candidate Special Areas of
Conservation (cSACs).
To inform the future development of management schemes for marine SACs
and to assist in the formulation of conservation objectives (required under the
Regulations), it is necessary to obtain broad scale survey information of the extent,
distribution and quality of the habitats and associated communities (biotopes) within
the selected sites. This process will allow the identification of areas of particular
sensitivity and also allow a more targeted approach to site management. There is a
requirement within the Directive to monitor and report upon the condition of the sites
once every six years. To facilitate this monitoring, baseline information had to be
obtained. This baseline includes information from detailed Phase II surveys (Hiscock,
1996) of sample sites within the intertidal and subtidal areas, and more broad scale
mapping of the intertidal and subtidal areas to obtain an overview of the extent and
distribution of the habitats and associated biota.
Description of pSAC Areas Surveyed
Distribution of subtidal marine benthic biotopes (habitats and their associated species)
was predicted for two physiographically different SACs: Papa Stour in Shetland (a
candidate SAC); and Lochs Duich, Alsh and Long, on mainland western Scotland
near Skye (a possible SAC), using acoustic remote sensing, ground validated by video
of the seabed and grab sampling of sediments.
Papa Stour is a small, remote island in western Shetland, separated from
Mainland Shetland by Papa Sound, through which strong tidal currents flow. The
cSAC area (see Fig. 1) encompasses the island and part of the adjacent Mainland
coast. Both the island and Mainland coasts are very exposed to winds and sea swell
from the west and south, and subject to strong tidal currents. The island itself is also
very exposed to northerly winds and sea swell. Deep water occurs close inshore, with
maximum depth within the cSAC area to the north and west approximately 60m below
C. Johnston and A. Davison
commonly known as the EC Habitats Directive. This Directive was a major
contribution from the European Community to the Biodiversity Convention at the Rio
Earth summit of 1992. The requirements of the Habitats Directive were adopted into
UK law under the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c) Regulations 1994 (1995 in
Northern Ireland) - referred to here as the Regulations.
The Directive requires that member states select and present to the EC a list of
sites for consideration as Special Areas of Conservation. These sites are selected to
represent certain habitats and species that are listed in Annex I and II of the Directive.
Seven of the 168 habitat types and nine of the 623 species listed in the annexes of the
Directive are found in the marine environment of the UK.
In compliance with the Directive, the UK government has charged its conservation
agencies (Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in Scotland) with the task of identifying and
selecting a UK wide suite of marine possible Special Areas of Conservation (pSACs).
These were identified in 1995 and extensive public consultations were undertaken on
their initial selection. In October 1996, on completion of the consultation process,
fourteen Scottish marine SACs were presented to the EC as candidate Special Areas of
Conservation (cSACs).
To inform the future development of management schemes for marine SACs
and to assist in the formulation of conservation objectives (required under the
Regulations), it is necessary to obtain broad scale survey information of the extent,
distribution and quality of the habitats and associated communities (biotopes) within
the selected sites. This process will allow the identification of areas of particular
sensitivity and also allow a more targeted approach to site management. There is a
requirement within the Directive to monitor and report upon the condition of the sites
once every six years. To facilitate this monitoring, baseline information had to be
obtained. This baseline includes information from detailed Phase II surveys (Hiscock,
1996) of sample sites within the intertidal and subtidal areas, and more broad scale
mapping of the intertidal and subtidal areas to obtain an overview of the extent and
distribution of the habitats and associated biota.
Description of pSAC Areas Surveyed
Distribution of subtidal marine benthic biotopes (habitats and their associated species)
was predicted for two physiographically different SACs: Papa Stour in Shetland (a
candidate SAC); and Lochs Duich, Alsh and Long, on mainland western Scotland
near Skye (a possible SAC), using acoustic remote sensing, ground validated by video
of the seabed and grab sampling of sediments.
Papa Stour is a small, remote island in western Shetland, separated from
Mainland Shetland by Papa Sound, through which strong tidal currents flow. The
cSAC area (see Fig. 1) encompasses the island and part of the adjacent Mainland
coast. Both the island and Mainland coasts are very exposed to winds and sea swell
from the west and south, and subject to strong tidal currents. The island itself is also
very exposed to northerly winds and sea swell. Deep water occurs close inshore, with
maximum depth within the cSAC area to the north and west approximately 60m below