dad19c700b0445839c274631c2f3e163 English dataset 94ea0521a3404cd45ccf7b0840a21dbe NatureScot (HQ Inverness) data_supply@nature.scot pointOfContact 2025-06-04 MEDIN 3.1.2 EPSG Geodetic Parameter Registry 2021-01-06 revision WGS 84 2008 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) biological analyses of Fisheries Research Services (FRS) Pentland Firth and Orkney Islands seabed camera survey 2014-12-27 publication NS-000156 NatureScot project ID MRSNH03000000005 Marine Recorder In October 2008, Fisheries Research Services (Aberdeen) collected video and photographic stills imagery from 61 stations in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Islands. This formed part of a wider marine survey programme requested by Scottish Government, to inform potential marine renewables development in this region. This report provides a description of the seabed habitats, species assemblages and biotopes evident from the video and stills footage along with a preliminary assessment of their conservation importance and potential sensitivity to renewable energy schemes in the area. In order to assess the likely environmental impact of the development of renewable energy schemes in the Pentland Firth and around the Orkney Islands, the Scottish Government commissioned Fisheries Research Services, Aberdeen (FRS) to map some areas of the seabed. FRS subsequently requested Scottish Natural Heritage to provide some early commentary on the conservation status of benthic species and habitats in the area. This report provides a preliminary description of the habitats observed by video during surveys carried out by FRS in 2008. It aims to inform SNH on the habitats and species of the area, with a view to assessing their conservation importance. 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 2025-06-04 revision NDGO0005 NDGO0005 2025-06-04 revision Habitats and biotopes GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2021-09-28 revision Habitat characterisation Habitat extent Macroalgae and seagrass taxonomy-related counts 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/ English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment oceans -3.4304809570313 -2.8207397460938 58.59724432868 59.043733556799 SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation North Atlantic Ocean SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation North Sea SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation Northeast Atlantic Ocean (40W) Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2021-01-06 creation Northern North Sea Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2021-01-06 creation Scottish Continental Shelf 2008-10-12 2008-11-03 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision circalittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision infralittoral Moore, C.G. (2009). Preliminary assessment of the conservation importance of benthic epifaunal species and habitats of the Pentland Firth and Orkney Islands in relation to the development of renewable energy schemes. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 319. Database Marine Recorder Documents Published report 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 Observation of the seabed was carried out at 61 sites in the Pentland Firth and around the Orkney Islands during cruises by the RV Scotia from 12th October to 3rd November 2008. Site positions are shown in Figures 1 and 2 and further site details listed in Table A1. At each site a dropdown video system was deployed just above the seabed along runs varying from 1 to 37 minutes. The camera frame also carried a digital stills camera, which took vertically-orientated photographs of the seabed at intervals. The images were used to describe the nature of seabed, in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages. Species present were, as far as possible, identified and quantified using the semi-quantitative MNCR SACFOR scale (Hiscock, 1996). Based on the physical and biological attributes, biotopes were allocated (Connor et al., 2004).