cd051ac8dc232a95b5881556399d0336 English dataset 5b234a24e7aff97ad742a7741d4d6699 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 2015 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Sound of Barra benthic camera and grab survey (July) 2018-12-31 publication GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000265-MRSNH03000000027-SoB Marine Recorder Benthic habitat survey in the Sound of Barra, run by Aquatic Survey and Monitoring Ltd (ASML) for SNH onboard the MV Spray, undertaken between the 21st and 26th July 2015. The primary aim of this survey was to improve knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of species and habitats of recognised conservation importance within the designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The survey also contributes to site condition monitoring of the SAC and to a programme of refining the distribution of Habitats Directive Annex 1 habitats. Drop-down video drifts were undertaken at 128 stations (22nd-26th). The video and still imagery was used to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages. The presence of priority marine features (PMFs) was recorded for all video samples. Grab sampling was also undertaken on this survey at 14 stations (21st-22nd) within the SAC. The grab survey was designed to target examples of both the mearl and Zostera marine biotopes with the aim to inform management of the SAC sediment biotopes. 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 Aquatic Survey & Monitoring Ltd. Data manager tom@aquatic-environments.co.uk originator Colin Moore Colin Moore Consultant c.g.moore84@gmail.com originator Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters Data Manager 01463 725000 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 Habitats and biotopes 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 Not for navigational use; This survey recorded no species or biotope occurrences that SNH consider as sensitive; all records may therefore be released in response to requests covered by Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information Regulations; additionally its re-use and dissemination is permissible under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner. otherRestrictions No restrictions on public access 250 English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment oceans -7.4502 -7.1922 56.9261 57.1821 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 43E2 ICES Rectangles 2021-01-06 creation 44E2 2015-07-21 2015-07-26 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision circalittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision infralittoral Moore, C.G. 2017. Biological analyses of underwater video from ongoing monitoring and research cruises in Lochs Sunart, Etive and Alsh, sea lochs off South Skye, the Sounds of Barra and Arisaig and around the Southern Trench. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 959; Mercer, T.M., Bunker, F.StP.D., Howson, C.M. & Kamphausen, L. 2018. Sound of Barra macrobenthic infaunal survey and Eriskay Causeway sediment survey 2015. Scottish Natural Heritage Research Report No. 951. Database Marine Recorder Documents Published report dataset 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 Observation of the seabed was carried out at 128 sites within the Sound of Barra SAC from the vessel, MV Spray. At each site a dropdown video system was deployed just above the seabed for drifts of a few minutes. The imagery were used to describe the nature of the seabed, in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages. Species present were, as far as possible, identified and quantified using the SACFOR scale. Based on the physical and biological attributes, biotopes were allocated using the 2004 Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland (version 04.05). Where video runs traversed different habitats, the run was split into the corresponding segments, each of which was labelled as a separate video sample. DDV were recorded on SD at a resolution of 720x576. No video overlay was available for this survey, however positional and depth details are provided for the start and end of the runs. All video footage analyses were undertaken by SNH contractor Dr Colin Moore. The macrobenthic survey was carried in the SAC during the same time period in areas of maerl and seagrass habitat. Sediment sampling at 14 stations was undertaken using a 0.1m2 stainless steel Day grab. At each station 2 grab samples were collected as biological replicates and processed for infaunal analysis. Each grab sample sediment was washed and collected over a 1mm sieve mesh, retaining the residue for fixation with buffered 10-20% formalin solution. Additionally at each station a further grab sample was collected for the purpose of PSD of the surface sediments. All infaunal analyses were undertaken by SNH contractor ASML.