96287cc08c593be3646f68c87183a22c English series series NatureScot (HQ Inverness) data_supply@nature.scot pointOfContact 2025-06-10 MEDIN 3.1.2 EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2021-01-06 revision WGS 84 NatureScot Sound of Arisaig SAC Site Condition Monitoring 2004-05-31 publication GB-SCT-SNH-CMEU-SCM-SoA The principal purpose of the study was to carry out site condition monitoring of the of the inshore sublittoral sediment habitats of the Sound of Arisaig SAC, in order to identify any deterioration in the condition of the subtidal sandbank feature and to form a judgement on its current condition. The approach taken to achieve this aim is to perform an extensive drop-down video survey and a grab survey of the component habitats of the feature. Characterisation of the subsurface fauna and sediment composition of the main sediment biotopes is performed by means of grab sampling. Detailed surveying of the sea bed and subsurface communities at selected maerl bed sites is carried out using diving techniques. NatureScot (HQ Inverness) NatureScot Data Manager data_supply@nature.scot owner NatureScot (HQ Inverness) NatureScot Data Manager data_supply@nature.scot custodian NatureScot (HQ Inverness) NatureScot Data Manager data_supply@nature.scot originator Esther Hughes Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH) Data Manager 01752 633102 dassh.enquiries@mba.ac.uk distributor notPlanned Marine Environmental Data and Information Network MEDIN metadata record availability 2025-06-10 revision NDGO0005 NDGO0005 2025-06-10 revision Habitats and biotopes Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2021-09-28 revision Fauna abundance per unit area of the bed Habitat characterisation Habitat extent Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2021-09-28 revision otherRestrictions Not suitable for use in navigation; SNH copyright data which is available for re-use under government licence terms: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ otherRestrictions no restrictions to public access 500 English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment oceans -5.9670 -5.6665 56.7328 56.9024 SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation Inner Seas off the West Coast of Scotland Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2021-01-06 creation Minches and Western Scotland ICES Rectangles 2021-01-06 creation 42E4 2003-07-05 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision circalittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision infralittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision littoral Database Marine Recorder Database Marne Recorder Online Documents Published reports series MEDIN data guideline for sediment sampling by grab or core for benthos 2011-01-28 publication See the referenced specification true MEDIN data guideline for video surveys of species and benthos 2018-01-23 publication See the referenced specification true Commission Regulation (EU) No 1089/2010 of 23 November 2010 implementing Directive 2007/2/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council as regards interoperability of spatial data sets and services 2010-12-08 publication The SCM work is divided into three stages: 1) Dropdown Video: Knowledge of the distribution, diversity and extent of biotopes was gained by performing a stratified random sampling drop-down video survey, supplemented by a limited amount of focussed sampling. To promote adequate coverage of the different regions within the cSAC, the survey area between the 0m and 20m contours was split up into 20 strata. 150 stratified random sampling stations were selected. At each station the video is deployed briefly from a drifting vessel, noting the times, depths and precise positions at the start and end of the drift. The runs averaged 4 minutes duration and 50m in length. In addition to the 150 stratified random sample sites, a farther 53 drop-down video sites are worked to provide coverage of the deeper areas, to fill in any perceived geographical gaps in the random samples, and to position sites in the vicinity of locations previously surveyed by others. At a small number of sites where navigation was difficult, the dropdown system is replaced by diver-held video. 2) Grab Survey: Following categorisation of sample stations on the basis of biotope, sample stations representative of the different sedimentary biotopes are selected for analysis of the infauna and sediment composition by grab sampling at 20 stations. At each station a single 0.1m2 van Veen grab sample was collected using the vessel RV Serpula. A subsample of c.150ml sediment was taken from the surface of the grab contents for particle size analysis and the remaining material sieved on a 1mm mesh screen, the sievings being retained in borax-buffered 5% formalin. 3) Maerl Survey: Five maerl sites were selected for detailed examination of the infauna and epibiota by diver using MNCR phase 2 survey methodology along a 25m belt transect. A band 2m either side of the tape was surveyed by two divers, one on each side, who noted the presence, and where possible, estimates of the abundance of conspicuous biota, collecting material which needed to be identified in the laboratory. To supplement the real-time visual records and collections, the transect band was videoed using a hand-held digital video camera (Sony DCR-TRV900 in an Amphibico Navigator 900 housing) and at some sites still photographs taken of the maerl and associated community using two digital still cameras. In areas of living maerl, 4 replicate core samples using a 10.3cm diameter corer to a depth of 20cm are taken (using MNCR Phase II methods) for infaunal analysis, and an additional 20cm sediment core of 5cm diameter was taken for grain size analysis. The areal extent of these maerl beds beyond the 25m transect is also assessed by performing drop-down video surveys at stations along lines radiating out from the station marker.