ae184f52f8d88c337d42dcfdae90783f English dataset NatureScot (HQ Inverness) data_supply@nature.scot pointOfContact 2025-06-03 MEDIN 3.1.2 EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2021-01-06 revision WGS 84 2004 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Loch Maddy SAC site condition monitoring inauguration survey 2006-01-01 publication GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000097-MRSNH01100000014-LM Marine Recorder NS-000098 NatueScot project ID Loch Maddy has been established as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) as it is considered to provide outstanding examples of the following qualifying features: - large shallow inlet and bays; - saline lagoons; - intertidal and sublittoral reefs; - intertidal sediment flats; - subtidal sandbanks. It is a mandatory requirement of SACs that monitoring of a site is carried out (site condition monitoring) to identify changes in the condition of the features for which the SAC has been established and the purpose of the current study was to initiate such a monitoring programme. This was done to establish a baseline biological data set that would facilitate the assessment of the condition of the habitats in the future and to allow a judgement to be formed on the current condition of these habitats. The main approach taken to achieve these objectives was to perform a drop-down video survey of the biotopes of the SAC, concentrating on the sublittoral sediments, to characterize the infauna of the main sediment biotopes by means of grab and core sampling and to perform surveys of the epibiota of rock, lagoon, maerl and Zostera biotopes along relocatable transects. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters Data Manager 01463 725000 data_supply@nature.scot owner NatureScot (HQ Inverness) NatureScot Data Manager data_supply@nature.scot custodian Colin Moore Colin Moore Consultant c.g.moore84@gmail.com 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 2025-06-03 revision NDGO0005 NDGO0005 2025-06-03 revision Habitats and biotopes Species distribution GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2021-09-28 revision Habitat characterisation Habitat extent Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2021-09-28 revision otherRestrictions No restrictions to public access otherRestrictions Not for navigational use; SNH copyright data which is available for re-use under government licence terms: http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ 500 English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment oceans -7.2259140014648 -7.078971862793 57.5799792156 57.655366747836 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 2004-05-25 2004-08-05 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision infralittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision littoral Moore, C.G., Saunders, G., Mair, J.M. and Lyndon, A.R. (2006). The inauguration of site condition monitoring of marine features of Loch Maddy Special Area of Conservation. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 152 (ROAME No. F02AA409). Documents Published report Database Marine Recorder dataset 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 MEDIN data guideline for sediment sampling by grab or core for benthos 2011-01-28 publication true Drop-down video, grab and core sampling, and relocatable transects were the three main methods used in this SCM baseline survey of Loch nam Madadh SAC features - sublittoral sediments, sediment biotope infauna, and epibiota of rock, lagoon, maerl, and Zostera biotopes. The fieldwork was performed in two phases: 25th May to 5th June and 17th July to 5th August 2004. Transect work was performed at 6 lagoon sites in a band 2m either side of the tape by two surveyors, one on each side, intertidally and subtidally. Transects were split into a series of zones defined by differences in composition of the biological community/substrate type. Within each zone the MNCR scale of abundance was used to record substrate type and biota within each zone. Video footage and digital stills were taken intertidally and subtidally to make representative visual recordings of the transect zones, with five replicate photoquadrats (0.25m2) taken intertidally. Mudflats were surveyed at two sites using the same method as described for lagoons. Additionally, at each survey station along the transect, eight replicate core samples of 10.3cm diameter and 20cm length were taken at random and pooled. Four replicate pooled samples were taken at one station of particular interest on each transect. Sediment was sieved and macrobenthos preserved for laboratory analysis. 1m2 dig-overs were used to supplement the abundance of macrobenthic infauna from core samples in-situ. At five rocky reef sites, transect surveys were performed from the top of the shore to subtidal sediment plains using the same methodology as for lagoons. Diving was carried out from the SNH RIB Aphrodite. At some sites the densities of Swiftia pallida and Caryophyllia smithii was determined. At tidal narrows, surveys were performed along transects at three tidal rapid sites. Drop-video work was done by SNH from the RIB Aphrodite at 73 sites to provide information on the distribution and diversity of the subtidal biotopes in the non-lagoonal region of the SAC. At each station the video was deployed from a drifting vessel for approximately 3 minutes. Time, depth, and precise start and end positioning were recorded for each drift. Video material from each station were processed in the laboratory, using the SACFOR scale of abundance where possible, and notes made on substrate and biota. Surveys of maerl beds at 4 sites were based on drop-down video survey footage and preliminary dives. At each site divers conducted a detailed examination of the area using a slightly modified MNCR phase 2 methodology. A hand-held digital video camera and still photographs were taken of the maerl and associated community to supplement real-time visual records and collections. Four replicate core samples were taken in areas of living maerl using a 10.3cm diameter corer to a depth of 20cm. The sediment was sieved and infauna extracted. An additional 20cm sediment core was taken for PSA analysis. A detailed examination of a Zostera bed was carried out using the same methodology as described for maerl beds. A subtidal sediment infaunal survey was conducted at 30 stations within the SAC. A single 0.1m2 van Veen grab sample was collected using the vessel RV Serpula at deeper stations. A subsample of each grab was taken for PSA. At shallower stations the SNH RIB Aphrodite was used to deploy divers who collected eight replicate core samples for infaunal analysis and one long sediment core for PSA analysis.