Identification

Title

2000 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) biological analyses of BMT Cordah Ltd. Barra Ferry Terminal (Sound of Barra) Environmental Statement survey

Abstract

Habitat survey undertaken within the Sound of Barra, Western Isles, in May 2000 and on 12 August 2000. The survey was undertaken as a precursor to the planned construction of a ferry terminal and breakwater at Aird Mhor on the east coast of the Isle of Barra. The development area lies within the boundaries of the Sound of Barra proposed Special Area of Conservation (pSAC), identified under the 1992 EC Habitats Directive. The environmental impacts that the development could have on the nearshore marine communities and the pSAC features of interest were identified and measures to mitigate adverse environmental consequences proposed. The survey provided information on the littoral and sublittoral communities present that might be affected by the development, including the identification of rare species and sensitive biotope complexes. This information was gathered by an in-situ assessment of intertidal habitats and communities, a subtidal diving survey and subtidal grab survey. Six intertidal sites were surveyed along the north east coast of Aird Mhor. Nine dive sites were surveyed in the vicinity of the proposed development, records were made from four distinct sublittoral habitats. MNCR phase 1 mapping was carried out in the vicinity of the proposed terminal site. The macrobenthic-sampling component of the survey collected faunal material from eleven subtidal sites; using a Van Veen grab and diver collected cores. The sampling sites were selected to represent all likely soft sediment habitats within approximately 3km of the proposed development. The survey work provided information on the littoral and sublittoral communities present that might potentially be affected by the development, including the identification of rare species and sensitive biotope complexes. This information was gathered by: an in-situ assessment of intertidal habitats and communities, a subtidal diving survey and a subtidal grab survey. Six intertidal sites were surveyed along the north east coast of Aird Mhor. The shoreline supported a number of nationally common biotope complexes and a few less frequently encountered ones including a range of species rich rockpool biotopes and some well-developed sublittoral fringe communities. Typical bedrock shores with characteristic zonation patterns were encountered at both the breakwater and ferry terminal positions and records were made from six distinct littoral habitats. Nine dive sites were surveyed and in the vicinity of the proposed development, records were made from four distinct sublittoral habitats. MNCR phase 1 mapping was carried out in the vicinity of the proposed terminal site. The macrobenthic-sampling component of the survey collected faunal material from eleven subtidal sites; using a Van Veen grab and diver collected cores. The sampling sites were selected to represent all likely soft sediment habitats within approximately 3km of the proposed development

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000-MRSNH01200000009-BARRA

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::27700

Additional information source

Cordah. (2000). Barra ferry terminal marine environmental impact assessment. Report to Babtie Group plc. from Cordah, Edinburgh. Report No. BAB.006. 32pp. plus figures and appendices.

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

geoscientificInformation

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

effective date

2017-05-12

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-7.4370

East bounding longitude

-7.3767

North bounding latitude

57.0384

South bounding latitude

56.9998

littoral

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2000-05-18

End position

2000-08-12

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2008-10-30

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

Full methodology details are provided in Cordah. (2000). Barra ferry terminal marine environmental impact assessment. Report to Babtie Group plc. from Cordah, Edinburgh. Report No. BAB.006. 32pp. plus figures and appendices.

Conformity

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

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/

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

no restrictions to public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

BMT Cordah

full postal address

Aberdeen Office, Broadfold House, Broadfold Road, Bridge of Don

Aberdeen

AB23 8EE

telephone number

+44 (0) 1224 414 200

facsimile number

+44 (0) 1224 414 250

email address

enquiries@bmtcordah.com

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters

full postal address

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road

Inverness

IV3 8NW

telephone number

01463 725000

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

responsible party role

custodian

Metadata on metadata

Metadata point of contact

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), Headquaters

full postal address

Great Glen House, Leachkin Road

Inverness

IV3 8NW

telephone number

01463 725000

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2024-06-21

Metadata language

eng