df0f2b5e71b4ae247e333ebcb8c41597 English dataset 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 2012 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) biological analyses of Marine Scotland (MS) Fetlar to Haroldswick benthic MPA search feature survey 2013-12-31 publication GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000206-MRSNH02500000005-FH Marine Recorder NS-000206 NatureScot project ID The purpose of this benthic survey within the Fetlar to Haroldswick MPA propasal (at time of survey) was to determine the wider distribution and validate the continued presence, extent, and status of specified proposed protected features maerl beds, horse mussel beds, and shallow tide-swept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves within the MPA proposal and to inform future site management. An underwater video survey was conducted by SNH, Heriot-Watt University (HWU) and MS for MS on the 27th-5th September 2012 to collect detailed biological information on the seabed species and habitat features present. Drop-down video drift tows were undertaken at 69 sites, grab sampling was undertaken in 19 locations and in situ diver surveys (MNCR phase 2 style) were undertaken at 5 sites (three horse mussel beds and two maerl beds were investigated). Analyses on the seabed video and still images and infaunal samples by Heriot-Watt University, commissioned by SNH, were used to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages. The survey vessel Moder Dy, owned by NAFC, was used from 27th-31st Aug to undertake drop-down video and grab survey work and a second vessel MZ Halton was used from 1st-5th September to undertake diving work. 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 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 2025-06-04 revision NDGO0005 NDGO0005 2025-06-04 revision Habitats and biotopes GEMET - INSPIRE themes, version 1.0 2021-09-28 revision Habitat characterisation Habitat extent Zoobenthos taxonomic abundance Zoobenthos taxonomy-related counts SeaDataNet Parameter Discovery Vocabulary 2021-09-28 revision otherRestrictions Not to be used for navigation. Native oyster was recorded during survey. SNH Sensitive species policy regards instances of Native oyster (Ostrea edulis) species occurrences and instances of biotope Ostrea edulis beds on shallow sublittoral muddy mixed sediment (SS.SMx.IMx.Ost/ SS.IMX.Oy) as sensitive, as commercial fishing is threatening stocks. As such SNH would not release such records in response to an Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004 request at a resolution below that provided by a otherRestrictions Restrictions on public access due to sensitive species recorded, only available at 20km by 20km resolution 1000 English 8-bit variable size UCS Transfer Format, based on ISO/IEC 10646 biota environment oceans -1.0929 -0.7473 60.5454 60.7889 SeaVox salt and freshwater body gazetteer 2021-01-06 creation North Sea Charting Progress 2 Sea Areas 2021-01-06 creation Northern North Sea ICES Rectangles 2021-01-06 creation 50E8 ICES Rectangles 2021-01-06 creation 50E9 2012-08-27 2012-09-05 SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision circalittoral SeaVoX Vertical Co-ordinate Coverages 2021-01-06 revision infralittoral Hirst, N.E., Kamphausen, L.M., Cook, R.L., Porter, J.S., Sanderson, W.G. 2013. Distribution and status of proposed protected features in the Fetlar to Haroldswick MPA proposal. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 599. Database Marine Recorder Documents Unpublished report Geographic Information System shapefile Image 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 This subtidal seabed data from the Fetlar to Haroldswick was collected by SNH, HWU and MSS between the 27th August and 5th September 2013. Video images were obtained from 69 drop-down video drift tows and 19 grab samples were collected onboard the vessel Moder Dy. The drop-down video camera set up was a Panasonic NV-GS150 3 chip digital video camera within a Seapro housing held within a small sled frame, and illumination provided by twin 100 watt lamps. A 150 m umbilical cable carried the video signal to a Sony Video Walkman for real-time observations and recording preliminary notes on habitats and species observed. Video tows lasted between approximately 5-10 mins. GPS tracks of each deployment were recorded to a Magellan GPS unit and simultaneously overlaid onto the video feed and logged onto a laptop. This gave positional information every second for the duration of each tow. Photographs of the seabed were taken at intervals to aid biotope determinations. Track and depth data were were recorded at the start and end of each video tow. SNH contracted HWU to analyse the video footage to describe the physical structure and species assemblages present. Species present were identified and quantified using the semi-quantitative MNCR SACFOR scale, as far as possible or using a numerical abundance. Where video runs traversed a sequence of biotopes, the runs are split into corresponding segments with the transition points recorded using time. Segmentation of runs was not practicable in the case of mosaics of recurring biotopes, in which case all biotopes observed were simply listed. Runs and run segments were assessed for the presence of PPFs and other PMFs, as well as for the presence of species and habitats of recognised conservation importance. Grab samples of seabed sediment were collected using a 0.1m2 Van Veen grab. The sample was rejected and repeated if the grab gear was wedged open by stones of other organisms. A 150ml subsample was taken from each grab for PSA. The analyses of grabs involved infaunal identification, particle size analysis (PSA) and assigning a biotope to each sample. Each infaunal sample was passed through a 1mm mesh seive and the residue retained and fixed with 4% borax buffered formalin for processing. The PSA was carried out by a combination of dry sieving and laser particle size analysis. Prior to analysis photographs were taken of all samples. All laboratory measures were based on best practice and in line with the NMBAQC scheme guidelines and species reporting nomenclature used WoRMS standards. A diver survey was undertaken on board the MV Halton. In situ MNCR-style phase 2 surveys were carried out at five sites (three horse mussel bed sites and two maerl bed sites). The diver surveys were used to assess the quality of these proposed protected features. The locations of the dive survey sites were determined using the initial results of the DDV survey. A 25 m tape was laid out from a shot line. Two divers surveyed a 2 m band either side of the tape and recorded the presence and where possible, an estimate of the abundance of conspicuous biota using standard MNCR recording forms. The transect band was also recorded using a hand held video camera (Cannon HF G10 in a Light and Motion housing) and still photographs were taken of the proposed protected features and associated communities using a digital stills camera. For community analyses, at maerl bed sites divers took four replicate core samples which were sieved through a 1 mm mesh screen and the remaining sample was preserved in borax-buffered 5% formalin. A 20 cm sediment core of 5 cm diameter was also taken for PSA. Processing of these samples followed the same procedure as for grab samples. At horse mussel beds, four replicate clump samples were taken and placed in 5 litre buckets as a corer was not effective on horse mussel beds. Biotope codes were assigned to the records using in situ observations and clump/core data.