Scottish MPA Project Ecological Data Workshop
15 March 2011
Background to the Scottish MPA project
The Marine (Scotland) Act and the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act include new powers and
duties to designate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to protect features of importance in Scottish
territorial and offshore waters.
The delivery of a MPA network to meet national and international commitments by 2012 is a key
milestone in the Scottish Government’s commitment to a clean, healthy and biologically diverse
marine and coastal environment.
The Scottish MPA project is led by Marine Scotland in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage
(SNH), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and Historic Scotland.
The
Scottish
MPA
selection
guidelines
have
now
been
published
at
www.scotland.gov.uk/marinescotland/mpaguidelines. They include a vision and principles for
the MPA network, and set out the science-led approach to the selection of Nature Conservation
MPAs and Demonstration & Research MPAs. The guidelines also detail the information that
proposals put forward by third parties should include and how those proposals will be assessed.
Separate guidelines have been produced for the Scottish MPA Project, the UK MCZ Project and
the MCZ Project Wales. The guidance documents have all been developed from the same
principles relating to an ecologically coherent network.
The network will not be limited to Nature Conservation MPAs. Other types of protected areas
(including European Marine Sites designated under EC Directives and marine components of
SSSIs and Ramsar sites) will also be used as building blocks for the network.
Aims and objectives
The workshop will explain the MPA selection process, what types of data are being used
(existing data, new survey and data mining results), how the data are being used to inform the
selection process and highlight known data gaps. Workshop discussions will then focus on
participants having the opportunity to review the datasets and highlight any additional gaps or
issues with the data presented. This will be achieved through a combination of presentations,
plenary and small group discussions.
Data sources
For a full list of the data sources the Scottish MPA project currently please refer to the ‘Data
sources table’ excel spreadsheet.
Defra datalayers project
DEFRA commissioned a contract to collate and improve data layers on biological and physical
aspects of the marine environment for the benefit of those responsible for identifying Marine
Protected Areas in UK waters. Tasks included biotope tagging of benthic sample datasets,
translation of habitat maps to current classification schemes, mapping the distribution of
geological and geomorphological features, habitats, low/limited mobility and highly mobile
species and non-native species.
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Further biological tasks included assessing confidence of broadscale classification maps,
reviewing methods for assessing diversity and developing approaches for producing a marine
diversity layer, reviewing benthic productivity mapping techniques and generating a matrix
illustrating sensitivity of features to pressures in the marine environment. Tasks related to
physical aspects of the marine environment included modelling fetch and wave exposure and
mapping residual current flow.
The contract was successful in acquiring spatial data for many of the habitats and species of
conservation importance however gaps still remain. For example, sediment distribution maps
provided by the British Geological Society have given us a firmer understanding of the
distribution of sand and gravel habitats in UK waters. However, further information on the spatial
distribution of species characterising particular sand and gravel biotopes is lacking.
Scottish MPA search feature mapping
Under the auspices of the Scottish MPA Project, SNH and JNCC commissioned further
research at the end of 2009 to develop a descriptive catalogue of all Scottish MPA search
features (and all Priority Marine Features - PMFs) and to refine thinking on the features of
primary geodiversity importance in Scottish waters. The Defra data layers products served as
the building blocks for both pieces of work; they have been refined and supplemented with data
on new interests to meet our specific requirements and the resultant geodatabase is a key
project deliverable. The final project reports, underpinned and informed by this mapping
resource, should be available in May and will serve as valuable reference point for future action
under all three pillars of the Scottish Government’s marine nature conservation strategy.
The data collated on habitats and species of conservation interest represent a solid foundation
upon which we will now build to ensure that recommendations for future Nature Conservation
MPAs are robust and based upon the best available evidence. We are aware of limitations in
the datasets for some feature groups (e.g. mobile species and large-scale features of ecological
significance) and believe that there are a range of significant datasets yet to be mobilised.
Work underway to fill these gaps
Work currently underway that is attempting to fill the gaps in feature spatial information includes
commissioning targeted surveys and taking advantage of down time for data collection on nontargeted surveys. The Scottish MPA project has also been working closely with Marine Scotland
Science to analyse existing data to improve burrowed mud datasets and our understanding of
the distribution of the epifauna which occurs in this environment. Other marine research
organisations have been commissioned to analyse existing data varying from multibeam data to
map out broadscale habitats to video transects to identify the location of key species.
Outline of data sought and the process for accessing the data.
The purpose of the workshop is to obtain views on the quality and relevance of the existing data
sets that SNH & JNCC plan to use and identify additional data sets.
For additional, relevant data sets that you don’t think we have taken into account, please identify
the nature of the data, a contact name for further discussion and metadata relating to it. A
metadata form is included below for this purpose. If you have additional data sets we would
appreciate it if you would fill out the metadata form and bring it to the workshop or send it in
advance to James Cogle [james.cogle@scotland.gsi.gov.uk].
2
Following the workshop SNH & JNCC staff may contact you again to discuss what data has
been collected, the potential availability of the data for use in the project and in what form this
could be supplied. We anticipate that this would be done through bilateral discussions.
We would prefer the data in GIS/electronic form where that is available, but we are also
interested in exploring the use of non-standardised data where that would be of value to the
project. We are interested in data on Scotland’s seas contained in regional, national and
international data sets.
The original owner of the data would retain ownership and any publications on the project will
credit the owner where permission has been provided to use data.
We would normally expect data sets to be supplied free of charge to the project for the benefit of
marine users and the marine environment. Where appropriate we will work with the owner of
the data to agree a protocol or agreement including any copyright issues and potential uses for
wider marine management purposes.
Future workshops
Two further stakeholder workshops are planned for 2011 and are outlined below:
Least damaged/more natural workshop
The purpose of this workshop will be to provide an overview of the work relating to activities
data in the context of seeking to identify least damaged/more pristine locations. The role of
stakeholders in this process and the contribution they can make to this work will be discussed
along with current gaps in our knowledge at the data workshop. Planned for June 2011
Application of the selection guidelines workshop
This workshop will provide an opportunity to discuss the selection process and the role of
stakeholders, including the development of third party proposals. The results of the first national
application of the MPA selection guidelines will also be presented and discussed. Planned
Autumn 2011
Further information
Please address any questions relating to the workshop to James Cogle
[james.cogle@scotland.gsi.gov.uk].
For more Information on the Scottish MPA project please visit the following sites or contact one
of the project partners.
Marine Scotland – www.scotland.gov.uk/marinescotland/mpanetwork
Scottish Natural Heritage (Territorial waters) – www.snh.gov.uk/marine-protected-areas
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee – www.jncc.gov.uk/marineprotectedareas
Contacts:
Marine Scotland: marineconservation@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Scottish Natural Heritage: mpa@snh.gov.uk
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee Scottishmpas@jncc.gov.uk
3
Data Workshop – Metadata form
Please complete a copy of this form for each dataset which might help expand our knowledge of
MPA search features. The more complete the forms are the more useful they will be; if you don’t
have all the information requested, just provide what you can (some is better than none).
Guidance is overleaf which describes the information we’d like to see recorded in the
cells below.
Title
Abstract
Background information
Data types
Dates
Relevance
Bounding box
South-west corner:
North-east corner:
Frequency of update
Physical format
Accessibility (Source)
Accessibility
(distributor)
Accessibility
(Custodianship)
Accessibility (Intellectual
Property)
Work to mobilise
4
Further information
5
Guidance for generating dataset metadata:
It is advised that acronyms and abbreviations are reproduced in full; for example:
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas).
Attribute:
Title
Description:
Please use the title to provide a brief and precise description of
the dataset. We recommend you format the title as follows*:
<Date> <Originating organization/programme> <Location> <Type
of survey>:
Abstract
Background
information
*If the dataset already has a title that has been cited in
publications or is in common usage, then feel free to use that
instead – we are not trying to get you to rename datasets
unnecessarily
Please provide a clear and brief synopsis of the content of the
dataset. Include what has been recorded, what form the data
takes, what purpose it was collected for, and any limiting
information, i.e. limits or caveats on the use and interpretation of
the data.
Please include information about: source material; data collection
methods used; data processing methods used; quality control
processes, any data collection standards used.
Please list any known references to the data e.g. reports, articles,
website.
Data type
Dates
Relevance
Bounding box
Frequency of
update
Physical format
Accessibility
A statement as to the quality of the information for use in
enhancing the knowledge base on MPA search features would be
useful.
Please tell us the type of data involved. For example is the data
habitat data which has been biotope tagged, or is it species data
with or without abundance measurements.
Please tell us the start and ends dates of data collection for the
records in the dataset
Please tell us how the records in the dataset relate to MPA search
features (which search features are thought or known to be
present). Please tell us with which MPA region(s) the dataset
coincides.
Please describe the geographic bounding box for the dataset by
letting us know the south-west and north-west corners; and tell us
what units the bounding box is described in, for example latitude
and longitude or National Grid references
Please tell us how often (if at all) the dataset is updated
Please tell us details about the physical format in which the
dataset is stored, for example: paper, spreadsheet, database or
Geographical Information System
Please tell us the name and details or the individual or
6
(Source)
Accessibility
(distributor)
Accessibility
(Custodianship)
Accessibility
(Intellectual
Property)
organisation who originally collected the data
Please tell us the name and contact details individual or
organisation who currently distributes the data
Please tell us the name and contact details of the individual or
organisation who has custodianship of the data, i.e. they maintain
the ‘top-copy’ of the data
Please tell us the name and contact details of the individual or
organisation who owns the copyright of the dataset.
Are there any known constraints on usage of the dataset in terms
of licence requirements, required citations, or agreed display
resolutions.
Work to
mobilise
Further
information
If you know that the dataset is a collation that contains individual
records of varied intellectual property ownership please tell us
Please give us any details that you know of any required work that
would be needed to mobilise the data
Please feel free to add anything else you’d like to tell us about the
dataset
7
LIST OF MPA SEARCH FEATURES IN SCOTLAND’S SEAS
The four tables detail the seabed habitats, low or limited mobility species, highly mobile species and large-scale features of
functional importance to Scotland’s seas. The tables highlight whether the features are of particular interest in territorial or offshore
waters (or both). Marine habitats and species for which area-based protection is appropriate but that have a direct Natura 2000
parallel (e.g. intertidal mudflats and sandflats or coastal lagoons) have been excluded from these tables.
MPA search features are those that are being used to underpin the selection of Nature Conservation MPAs but they are not the
only interests which can be designated as protected features of MPAs. This list reflects our current knowledge and understanding
at the time of publication. It is likely to be subject to periodic review to take account of the best available evidence. (T&D) denotes
an OSPAR Threatened and / or Declining habitat or species.
Table 1. Seabed habitats being used to underpin the selection of Nature Conservation MPAs
MPA search feature
Component habitats / species
Scottish marine
area
T&DBlue
Mytilus edulis beds on littoral sediments
Mytilus edulis and Fabricia sabella in littoral mixed sediment
Mytilus edulis beds on sublittoral sediment
Mytilus edulis beds on reduced salinity infralittoral rock
Seapens and burrowing megafauna in circalittoral fine mud
Burrowing megafauna and Maxmuelleria lankesteri in circalittoral mud
Tall seapen Funiculina quadrangularis
Fireworks anemone Pachycerianthus multiplicatus
Mud burrowing amphipod Maera loveni
Carbonate mound communities
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Both
Both
Both
Both
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Coral gardens
Deep sea sponge aggregations
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Limaria hians beds in tide-swept sublittoral muddy mixed sediment
Territorial waters
mussel beds
T&DBurrowed
mud
T&DCarbonate
mound
communities
T&DCoral gardens
T&DDeep sea sponge
aggregations
Flame shell beds
8
MPA search feature
Component habitats / species
Scottish marine
area
T&DHorse
Modiolus modiolus beds with hydroids and red seaweeds on tide-swept
circalittoral mixed substrata
Modiolus modiolus beds on open coast circalittoral mixed sediment
Modiolus modiolus beds with fine hydroids and large solitary ascidians
on very sheltered circalittoral mixed substrata
Modiolus modiolus beds with Chlamys varia, sponges, hydroids and
bryozoans on slightly tide-swept very sheltered circalittoral mixed
substrata
Brissopsis lyrifera and Amphiura chiajei in circalittoral mud
Territorial waters
T&DHorse
mussel beds
mussel beds cont.
Inshore deep mud with
burrowing heart urchins
Kelp and seaweed communities Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment
on sublittoral sediment
Low or variable salinity habitats Faunal communities on variable or reduced salinity infralittoral rock
Kelp in variable or reduced salinity
T&DMaerl beds
Maerl beds
Neopentadactyla mixta in circalittoral shell gravel or coarse sand
Maerl or coarse shell gravel
with burrowing sea cucumbers
T&DNative oysters
Ostrea edulis beds on shallow sublittoral muddy mixed sediment
Native oyster Ostrea edulis
Caryophyllia smithii and Swiftia pallida on circalittoral rock
Northern sea fan and sponge
communities
Mixed turf of hydroids and large ascidians with Swiftia pallida and
Caryophyllia smithii on weakly tide-swept circalittoral rock
Deep sponge communities (circalittoral)
Northern sea fan Swiftia pallida
9
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Both
Offshore deep sea muds
Offshore subtidal sands and
gravels
Offshore subtidal sands and
gravels cont.
T&DSeagrass
beds
Sea loch egg wrack beds
Seamount communities
Shallow tide-swept coarse
sands with burrowing bivalves
Ampharete falcata turf with Parvicardium ovale on cohesive muddy
sediment near margins of deep stratified seas
Foraminiferans and Thyasira sp. in deep circalittoral fine mud
Levinsenia gracilis and Heteromastus filifirmis in offshore circalittoral
mud and sandy mud
Paramphinome jeffreysii, Thyasira spp. and Amphiura filiformis in
offshore circalittoral sandy mud
Myrtea spinifera and polychaetes in offshore circalittoral sandy mud
Glycera lapidum, Thyasira spp. and Amythasides macroglossus in
offshore gravelly sand
Hesionura elongata and Protodorvillea kefersteini in offshore coarse
sand
Echinocyamus pusillus, Ophelia borealis and Abra prismatica in
circalittoral fine sand
Abra prismatica, Bathyporeia elegans and polychaetes in circalittoral fine
sand
Maldanid polychaetes and Eudorellopsis deformis in offshore circalittoral
sand or muddy sand
Owenia fusiformis and Amphiura filiformis in offshore circalittoral sand or
muddy sand
Zostera noltii beds in littoral muddy sand
Zostera marina/angustifolia beds on lower shore or infralittoral clean or
muddy sand
Ruppia maritima in reduced salinity infralittoral muddy sand
Ascophyllum nodosum ecad mackaii beds on extremely sheltered mid
eulittoral mixed substrata
Seamount communities
Moerella spp. with venerid bivalves in infralittoral gravelly sand
10
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Offshore waters
Territorial waters
Tide-swept algal communities
Fucoids in tide-swept conditions
Halidrys siliquosa and mixed kelps on tide-swept infralittoral rock with
coarse sediment
Kelp and seaweed communities in tide-swept sheltered conditions
Laminaria hyperborea on tide-swept infralittoral mixed substrata
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Table 11. Low or limited mobility species being used to underpin the selection of Nature Conservation MPAs
MPA search feature
Species name
Taxon group
Scottish marine
area
Burrowing sea anemone aggregations
Northern feather star aggregations on
mixed substrata
Fan mussel aggregations
Heart cockle aggregations
T&DOcean quahog aggregations
Arachnanthus sarsi
Leptometra celtica
Sea anemones, sea fans and seapens
Starfish and feather stars
Territorial waters
Both
Atrina pectinata
Glossus humanus
Arctica islandica
Snails, clams, mussels and oysters
Snails, clams, mussels and oysters
Snails, clams, mussels and oysters
Both
Territorial waters
Both
11
Table 12. Mobile species being used to underpin the selection of Nature Conservation MPAs
MPA search feature
Species name
Taxon group
Scottish marine area
European spiny
lobster#
Blue ling#
T&DOrange roughy
Sandeels#
Palinurus elephas
Lobsters and sand hoppers
Territorial waters
Molva dypterygia
Hoplostethus atlanticus
Ammodytes marinus & A. tobianus
Bony fish
Bony fish
Bony fish
T&DBasking
Cetorhinus maximus
Dipturus batis complex
Balaenoptera acutorostrata
Grampus griseus
Lagenorhynchus albirostris
Cepphus grylle
Sharks, skates and rays
Sharks, skates and rays
Whales, dolphins and porpoises
Whales, dolphins and porpoises
Whales, dolphins and porpoises
Birds
Offshore waters
Offshore waters
Both (A. marinus only
offshore)
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
Territorial waters
shark
skate
Minke whale
Risso's dolphin
White-beaked dolphin
Black guillemot
T&DCommon
#
These species are commercially fished in the seas around Scotland and Marine Scotland is the lead organisation responsible for
their wider management. However, these species are also of conservation importance and could benefit from the protection
afforded by a MPA (it is recognised that spatial measures other than MPA designation may also be effective). Nature
Conservation MPAs are not intended to be used for fisheries management purposes. So, for example, MPAs could be used to
protect sandeel populations in locations where sandeels play a key functional role in supporting top predators such as seabirds
and cetaceans but would not be used for the purpose of managing a sandeel fishery.
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Table 13 Large-scale features of functional significance being used to underpin the selection of Nature Conservation
MPAs
The large-scale features represent areas of functional significance for the overall health and diversity of Scottish seas. They are
intended to complement the habitats and species in Tables 10-13 by identifying areas which, whilst not necessarily containing other
MPA search features, have a benefit by supporting wider ecosystem function. Specific examples of these features may contribute
to the network through supporting features at a range of trophic levels for example areas of high primary productivity through to
possible aggregations of mobile top predators.
MPA search feature
Scottish marine area
Continental slope
Fronts
T&DSeamounts
Shelf banks and mounds
Shelf deeps
Offshore
Both
Offshore
Both
Both
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