Identification

Title

2014 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Wester Ross MPA benthic camera survey (August)

Abstract

The main aim of this benthic habitat survey in the Wester Ross MPA was to improve knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of the species and habitats of recognised conservation importance. The survey was undertaken by SNH and Marine Scotland Science (MSS) on board the MSS vessel MRV Alba na Mara (cruise 1414A) on the 9th to 12th August 2014. A drop-down video survey of benthic habitats was undertaken at 27 sites in the Ullapool Approaches, within the MPA. Analysis of seabed video and still photographic imagery is used to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages. Runs and run segments were assessed for the presence of protected features and other PMFs, as well as for the presence of species and habitats of recognised conservation importance. This survey was part of a two week research cruise undertaking work in the MPAs Wester Ross, Fetlar to Haroldswick, Mousa to Boddam and Noss Head collecting drop-down video footage, grab samples and sandeel dredge tows.

Resource type

dataset

Resource locator

Unique resource identifier

code

GB-SCT-SNH-CMEU-000270-WES

codeSpace

Dataset language

eng

Spatial reference system

code identifying the spatial reference system

urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::4326

Additional information source

Moore, C.G. 2015. Biological analyses of underwater video from research cruises in marine protected areas and renewable energy locations around Scotland in 2014. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 819.

Classification of spatial data and services

Topic category

biota

biota

Keywords

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2008-01-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2009-11-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2011-02-16

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2003-01-01

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2011-07-06

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2012-02-14

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2005-04-27

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2006-08-31

Keyword set

keyword value

originating controlled vocabulary

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2017-05-12

Geographic location

West bounding longitude

-5.8076

East bounding longitude

-5.2309

North bounding latitude

58.1296

South bounding latitude

57.8498

Extent

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-06-18

code identifying the extent

Minches & Western Scotland

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-05-01

code identifying the extent

44E4

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

creation

effective date

2009-05-01

code identifying the extent

45E4

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

circalittoral

Extent group

authority code

title

reference date

date type

revision

effective date

2010-01-01

code identifying the extent

littoral

Temporal reference

Temporal extent

Begin position

2014-08-09

End position

2014-08-12

Dataset reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2015-12-31

Frequency of update

notPlanned

Quality and validity

Lineage

This subtidal seabed data from the Wester Ross MPA was collected during a research cruise run by SNH on board the MSS vessel MRV Alba na Mara (cruise 1414A) on the 9th to 12th August 2014. Video images were obtained using a Kongsberg video camera 14-366-1306 from 21 drop-down video drifts that each lasted a minimum of 5 minutes, with the speed of tow varying depending on the weather. The video footage was recorded to a Panasonic DMR-EX83 DVD recorder straight to DVD. Track position and depth data were displayed on a SD video overlay system. HD video footage was recorded at a resolution of 1920x1080. The drop down video camera frame was custom built and also carried a vertically orientated digital stills camera, which took photographs of the seabed opportunistically if specific features of interest were encountered, and a laser scaling system. Analyses of the video footage was undertaken by SNH contractor Dr Colin Moore 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. Biotopes were allocated based on the biological and physical attributes. Where the video run traversed a sequence of biotopes, the run is split into corresponding segments with the transition points recorded using the time, position and depth.

Conformity

Conformity report

specification

title

reference date

date type

publication

effective date

2018-01-23

degree

true

explanation

See the referenced specification

Data format

name of format

version of format

Constraints related to access and use

Constraint set

Use constraints

Not to be used for navigation. This survey recorded no species or biotope occurences that SNH consider as sensititive; 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 permissable under Open Government Licence terms. Any re-use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner.

Constraint set

Limitations on public access

No restrictions on public access

Responsible organisations

Responsible party

contact position

Consultant

organisation name

email address

c.g.moore@hw.ac.uk

responsible party role

originator

Responsible party

contact position

Data Manager

organisation name

Scottish Natural Heritage, Inverness

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, Inverness

email address

data_supply@nature.scot

responsible party role

pointOfContact

Metadata date

2019-08-02

Metadata language