SUTHERLAND MARINE AUDIT - PILOT STUDY - ASSYNT FIELD CLUB
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Sutherland Marine Audit
Pilot Study
May 2009
Carried out for the
Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity Group by
Dr Duncan May & Ian M. Evans
Communities Project for Highland Biodiversity Ref: CPHB10
Contact details of authors:
Duncan May: duncan_rmay@yahoo.co.uk Ian Evans: ime@freeuk.com
Sutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
Executive Summary
1. The Sutherland Biodiversity Plan (2003) states that ‘the marine environment is much less
surveyed and understood than on land, and [that] we do not know the distribution of many
important marine habitats and species, much less potentially damaging operations and
management requirements’ (Biodiversity Audit. p.22) .
2. This Pilot Study was set up to try to gauge the extent of our knowledge of local marine
biodiversity. Its aims were:
a. to locate available information for a 15km stretch of the West Sutherland coast
(Inverkirkaig to Point of Stoer, NC0719-0235) and describe how it may be accessed.
b. to assess the quality and quantity of the information, with examples.
c. to assess the feasibility and value of a marine audit of the whole of the Sutherland
coast.
d. to promote discussion of the most effective means of gathering relevant information
from, and distributing it to, local communities, visitors and other interested parties.
3. We found that information was available from three sources: national (electronic); regional
(electronic and hard copy); and local (various). Examples from all three are detailed in Section
4. National sources are readily accessible, but sometimes lacking in detail. Regional sources
may be detailed, but reveal a serious lack of information about the Pilot Study area. Local
sources may be very detailed, albeit time-consuming to access, but can be very rewarding in
generating interest. The Pilot Study has illustrated the complexity and magnitude of the task of
locating existing sources of information for even such a short stretch of the coast.
4. Public awareness of local marine diversity appears to be low, as are perceptions of its
importance. We believe that a primary cause is the inaccessibility of relevant information.
5. We consider that a marine audit of the coast of Sutherland as a whole is probably neither
feasible nor cost-effective, especially in the current financial climate. However, we do believe
that local audits, based in the community, and concentrating on ‘their’ stretches of coast, would
be both productive and worthwhile. The work already done for the Pilot Study might serve as a
basis for such a project.
6. We did not have the time to explore in any depth the question of effectively distributing the
information that either exists or might be gathered in the future. We note the usefulness of a
local field club in gathering information, and the key role of the Highland Council Ranger
Service in making it available to the public, at a Visitor Centre, in Ranger Huts at strategic
locations, and through their educational work and other activities. Both help to promote interest
in and the sustainable enjoyment of this under-used natural resource.
7. The establishment and maintenance of a dedicated web-site, facilitating contributions by the
local public, visitors and others, would enable a local audit to reach a much wider audience, with,
hopefully, knock-on economic benefits for the whole local community.
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Sutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
Contents
Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 2
1 Introduction............................................................................................................................. 6
1.1 Project context.................................................................................................................. 6
1.2 Aims ................................................................................................................................. 6
1.3 Funding ............................................................................................................................ 7
1.4 Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... 7
1.5 Authors ............................................................................................................................. 7
2 Discussion ............................................................................................................................... 8
2.1 Value of Sutherland’s marine biodiversity....................................................................... 8
2.2 Accessibility of information............................................................................................. 8
2.3 Conclusions and recommendations.................................................................................. 9
3 Results of information searches ............................................................................................ 10
3.1 National Data Sources.................................................................................................... 10
3.1.1 National Biodiversity Network (NBN) Gateway.................................................... 10
3.1.2 Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN) ......................................................... 12
3.1.3 Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) ...................................................... 13
3.1.4 Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) ................................................................................ 16
3.1.5 Marine Conservation Society.................................................................................. 18
3.1.6 Sutherland Biodiversity Action Plan (SBAP)......................................................... 20
3.1.7 Marine Strandings Network.................................................................................... 21
3.1.8 Marine and Fisheries Agency (MFA) ..................................................................... 22
3.1.9 British Phycological Society................................................................................... 23
3.2 Regional data sources..................................................................................................... 24
3.2.1 SNH Ullapool & Inverness ..................................................................................... 24
3.3 Local Data Sources......................................................................................................... 26
3.3.1 Highland Council Rangers...................................................................................... 26
3.3.2 John Muir Trust....................................................................................................... 27
3.3.3 Commercial Fishers ................................................................................................ 27
3.3.4 Fisheries Trusts ....................................................................................................... 28
3.3.5 Sport Anglers .......................................................................................................... 28
3.3.6 Divers...................................................................................................................... 29
3.3.7 Sailors ..................................................................................................................... 31
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity Group
Sutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3.3.8 Local Naturalists .................................................................................................... 31
3.3.9 Historical records .................................................................................................... 34
Appendices.................................................................................................................................... 36
Appendix I. Whale and dolphin sightings in West Sutherland/Wester Ross, 2008................. 36
Appendix II. Species recorded in NBN for the 10km grid square NC02. ............................... 39
Appendix III. An example of data available from NBN Gateway. ........................................ 43
Appendix IV. Basking shark sightings in North West Highlands 2008. ................................. 45
Appendix V. Information from sea angler, Howard Grey, Stoer, 20.4.09............................... 47
Appendix VI. Seabirds which regularly breed in the British Isles, included within JNCC's
Seabird Monitoring Programme, the Seabird Colony Register and Seabird 2000. .................. 48
Cover illustration: 'What Lives in our Sea' project, 2005. Pupils of Lochinver and Stoer Primary Schools,
Clachtoll Beach. Photograph: Andy Summers.
Cover design and print preparation: 'Hill99 Design Studio', Kintessack, Forres (studio@hill99design.co.uk)
Print: 'Big Sky', Findhorn (info@bigskyprint.com)
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity Group
Sutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
Figures
Figure 1. Screen shot of the 10km squares used to zoom into areas for data selection in the NBN
Gateway. ....................................................................................................................................... 10
Figure 2. Screen shot of information for Goose Barnacles from MarLIN................................... 12
Figure 3 (left). Screen shot of MESH map depicting data and extrapolated data on marine
habitats for North West Highlands. .............................................................................................. 14
Figure 4 (right). Screen shot from MESH map depicting data and extrapolated data on marine
habitats between Inverkirkaig and the Point of Stoer. .................................................................. 14
Figure 5. Distribution of Minke Whales from Atlas of Cetacean distribution in north-west
European waters (2003). ............................................................................................................... 15
Figure 6. Part of WeBS Core Count Form completed by Gwen Richards (Assynt Field Club) for
the Inner Bay, Lochinver (NC0822) during 2007......................................................................... 17
Figure 7. The location of SeaSearch Survey reports.................................................................... 18
Figure 8 (left). Distribution of basking shark sightings around the UK and Ireland, 1987-2006.19
Figure 9 (right). Sightings of basking sharks in 2007.................................................................. 19
Figure 10. Turtle strandings in 2003............................................................................................ 21
Figure 11. UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2005................................................................................ 22
Figure 12. Distribution of Ascophyllum nodosum. From: A check-list and Atlas of the
Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland (Hardy & Guiry, 2003). ............................................................ 23
Figure 13. Primary school educational project implemented by the HC Ranger Service. .......... 27
Figure 14. Upstream movement of salmon, brown trout and sea trout within the Manse system.
....................................................................................................................................................... 28
Figure 15. Underwater photographs taken by Russell and Bridie Pursey on a dive at the entrance
to Loch Roe, Achmelvich, 2002. ................................................................................................. 29
Figure 16. SeaSearch Observer recording form for dive by Russell and Bridie Pursey, Loch Roe,
2002............................................................................................................................................... 30
Figure 17. Photographs of intertidal fauna taken in the Pilot Study area, by Chris and Helen
Pellant. .......................................................................................................................................... 33
Figure 18. Otter records for NC02 and 03, plotted by 1km square. ........................................... 34
Figure 19. Salmon fisherman Angus Macleod, Clachtoll, 1930s (CEA photographic archive). 35
Figure 20. Salmon nets drying at Clachtoll, 1970s (CEA photographic archive). ...................... 35
Tables
Table 1. Sources of datasets available for NC02 - Kirkaig Point to Balchladich........................ 11
Table 2. SBAP Priority Species ................................................................................................... 20
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Sutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
1 Introduction
1.1 Project context
The Sutherland Biodiversity Action Plan (2003) ‘attempts to set out what is important and
valued about the natural environment of Sutherland and to identify…actions and projects that
could be undertaken to protect or enhance it.’ (Summary)
To know what is important, in either a local or national context, you require some idea, at least,
of what you’ve got. Therefore, one of the key biodiversity objectives for Sutherland was to
‘undertake a biodiversity audit of the wildlife of Sutherland, starting with a literature search to
identify gaps in our knowledge and draw together existing regional and local recording projects’
(to which should be added national) (Vision Statement. p.1).
It was, however, acknowledged that ‘the marine environment is much less surveyed and
understood than on land, and [that] we do not know the distribution of many important marine
habitats and species, much less potentially damaging operations and management requirements’
(Biodiversity Audit p.22). Nevertheless, there is a useful general account of the important
habitats and species in the descriptive section on Sea and Coast that follows (pp.22-23), with a
mention of some key sites.
1.2 Aims
This Pilot Study was set up to:
1. identify available sources of information on marine species for a short stretch of the west
coast from Inverkirkaig to the Point of Stoer (NC0719-0235) and describe how this data
can be accessed.
2. assess the quality and quantity of the information located, with examples of data on key
habitats and species.
3. assess the feasibility and value of a marine audit of the coast of Sutherland as a whole.
4. promote discussion of the most effective means of distributing relevant information to
local communities and visitors
The target audience for a marine audit of the Sutherland coast is perceived as those members of
the general public with non-specialist access to the marine environment, including recreational
use of coastal waters. As such, the data collected has been limited to that from intertidal areas,
sub-tidal down to a depth of 30m, surface-frequenting species and pelagic species of direct
human interest. It includes otters, seabirds and seaducks (i.e. species defined by JNCC as
depending wholly or mainly on the marine environment for their survival).
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1.3 Funding
This project is one of 24 being undertaken in Highlands with assistance from the Highland
Biodiversity Partnership. The Highland Biodiversity Partnership
(www.highlandbiodiversity.com) is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund, Highland Council,
Scottish Natural Heritage, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and RSPB Scotland. The Highland
Biodiversity Partnership provides funding for local projects that conserve or enhance the natural
heritage, encourage communities to look after it and take forward the aspirations of Highland’s
seven Local Biodiversity Groups. As part of the Highland Local Biodiversity Action Plan
(LBAP) Review (2006) the Groups were asked to prioritise project ideas arising from their
LBAPs. The resulting priorities were then worked up into proposals by the Groups, and these
were pulled together as a funding bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund’s ‘Your Heritage’
programme. The funding bid was successful and the Communities Project for Highland
Biodiversity started in June 2007. In April 2008, the Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity Group
approved this very limited Pilot Study for a Sutherland Marine Audit, with funding of £500.
1.4 Acknowledgements
The authors wish to thank the following persons for their time, advice and knowledge: Sue
Agnew (SNH, Ullapool), Ann Cook (CEA), Pat Evans (BSBI), Anthony Fletcher (BLS), Howard
Grey (AFC), Shona Marshall (WSFT), Don O’Driscoll (JMT), Murdo Macdonald (HBRG),
Chris and Helen Pellant (AFC), Russell and Bridie Pursey (AFC), Gwen Richards (AFC),
Gordon Rothero (BBS), Sue Scott, Andy Summers (HC Ranger), and others whose contributions
are acknowledged in the text.
1.5 Authors
Dr Duncan May is a local independent consultant from Marine Biological Solutions (UK) Ltd.
who has worked on a number of local and international marine surveys and biodiversity projects.
Ian M. Evans is a local naturalist with many years’ experience working in Assynt, former
Chairman of the Assynt Field Club and member of the Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity
Group.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity Group
Sutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
2 Discussion
2.1 Value of Sutherland’s marine biodiversity
Sutherland has an extensive coastline (190 km/120 miles), with a varied coastal topography,
ranging from deep fiords and heavily exposed cliffs, to extensive beaches and clusters of small
islands. Its diverse marine substrates and topography, caused by glacial erosion and complex
geology, in turn support biologically diverse marine ecosystems. Species diversity is further
enhanced by the influences of the mix of the Gulf Stream and Irish Sea waters from the south,
creating an area around Sutherland which is both at the northern and southern limits of many
marine species.
Since a significant proportion of the UK's total biodiversity is found in the seas, with a much
greater taxonomic diversity than found on land, the seas around Sutherland make a substantial
contribution to our overall natural heritage.
Sutherland’s marine resource has been a source of livelihood for hundreds of years, supporting in
the north-west, for example, the historic fishing communities of Lochinver and Kinlochbervie,
salmon rivers generating revenue for estates and, more recently, sites for aquaculture. Though
the sea is vital for the economy of Sutherland and the sea and coast are ingrained in the psyche of
those that live there, there appears to be a limited amount of information readily available
on local marine biodiversity. Moreover, there has been little attempt to publicise the extent of
our marine natural heritage or raise the profile of the value of the marine biodiversity to local
communities or the visiting public. This raises a series of questions as to why there is such
discontinuity between a population with historically close ties to the sea and information on their
marine natural heritage. Is it lack of interest, lack of information and/or difficulties in accessing
such information as is available?
2.2 Accessibility of information
The Sutherland Biodiversity Action Plan (2003) drew attention (in Section 1.1 Sea and Coast) to
a number of key issues affecting the local marine environment. At the time the Plan was being
written, the Group were conscious of the lack of readily available information on its biodiversity.
A number of marine surveys and projects have been carried out in the waters around Sutherland.
However, the information gathered by these studies is spread across many digital repositories
and physical archives, or is held by individuals, and there is no overall understanding of what
information is held where and by whom.
Moreover, access to the digital repositories tends to require a level of technical expertise,
libraries (remote from Sutherland) require specialist searches which often generate little specific
information and individuals are often unaware of the value of their observations and notes. These
difficulties do not promote an understanding of the value of marine biodiversity and even for the
general public who have a particular interest in the marine environment, such as local
enthusiasts, tourists, boat users and divers, there is no indication of the significance of marine
biodiversity in the area.
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Sutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
2.3 Conclusions and recommendations
The authors believe that public awareness of local marine biodiversity is low, as are
perceptions of its importance, and that a primary cause is the inaccessibility of relevant
information.
This Pilot Study illustrates the complexity and magnitude of the task of locating existing
sources of information for even a small section of the Sutherland coast (15 out of 190km)
We conclude that carrying out a Marine Audit for the coast of Sutherland as a whole
would be neither feasible nor cost effective, particularly in the current financial climate.
We therefore recommend that further initiatives in this field should be community-based
and geographically limited, focussing on those stretches of coast that are significant to
particular communities. This Pilot Study could form the basis for such an initiative.
We were not able to examine in any depth the most effective means of gathering and
distributing information in the future, but would recommend examining the possibility of
setting up and maintaining a dedicated web-site, to which all interested parties could
contribute.
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Sutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3 Results of information searches
These are grouped under 3 headings: sources available nationally in digital data repositories;
sources available regionally in both digital and hard copy formats; sources available locally in a
variety of formats. Examples of data from the Pilot Study area are shown in bold.
3.1 National Data Sources
3.1.1 NATIONAL BIODIVERSITY NETWORK (NBN) GATEWAY
http://data.nbn.org.uk/
The NBN is the UK's first marine and terrestrial species digital database, compiled from a union of 106
UK organisations and accessible through the internet via the NBN Gateway. Species data is stored
according to 10km square grids placed over a UK map (figure 1) and is available to the general public for
free, with some data requiring a request to the supplier organisation for access to detail. Though NBN is a
powerful meta-database, there is a lag of time between submitting data and data being available to view,
an example being the JNCC’s marine mammal sightings data, which may take 4 years plus before being
available, and the observations of marine mammals in appendix II collated by Andy Summers, the local
HC Ranger, which are yet to be accessible through NBN. Furthermore, the NBN is not an exhaustive
collection of all data in the UK, as some national organisations, such as the British Trust for Ornithology,
maintain their own databases.
Figure 1. Screen shot of the 10km squares used to zoom into areas for data selection in the NBN Gateway.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
Table 1. Sources of datasets available for NC02 - Kirkaig Point to Balchladich.
Source of Dataset Details of Dataset
Mammal records from Britain from the Atlas of Mammals (1993), with
Biological Records Centre
some subsequent records
Bryophyte data for Great Britain from the British Bryological Society held
British Bryological Society
by BRC
Threatened Bryophyte Database
British Lichen Society Scottish Sites Lichen Database
British Mycological Society Fungal Records Database of Britain and Ireland
British Phycological Society Seaweed data for Great Britain and Ireland
Highland Biological Recording
HBRG Other Invertebrates Dataset
Group
HBRG Vertebrates (not Badger) Dataset
JNCC Seabird 2000
Scotland Otter Survey Database
Marine Biological Association DASSH Data Archive Centre Academic Surveys
DASSH Data Archive Centre Expert Sighting Records
Marine Life Survey Data (collected by volunteers) collated by MarLIN
Volunteer sightings data held by the DASSH Data Archive Centre
Marine Conservation Society Seasearch Marine Surveys
Marine Environmental Monitoring Marine Turtles
RSPB White-tailed eagle reintroduction in Scotland - sightings data
The Scottish Ornithologists' Club Highland Bird Data 2002 - 2003 - non-breeding records
Highland Breeding Bird Data 2002 - 2003 - sensitive breeding species
Highland Breeding Bird Data 2002-2003 - non-sensitive breeding species
Accessible NBN records for the 10km grid square NC02, which covers from Kirkaig Point to
Balchladich, list 181 marine species (appendix II) from 20 data sets from 12 data providers (table
1). Figure 16 is an example of source data from SeaSearch record in a local voluntary diving
marine survey, which has reached NBN, via JNCC.
Species data for NC02 is usually supplied as 100m square map records and in tab separated text files
containing the raw dataset (see appendix III for an example of map records and tab separated text files for
the Brine Shrimp Crangon crangon in NC02). Exceptions include data from the Scottish Ornithologists'
Club’s ‘Highland Breeding Bird Data 2002-2003 - sensitive breeding species’ and RSPB’s ‘White-tailed
eagle reintroduction in Scotland - Sightings data’, which are only displayed as 10km and 1km square
map records respectively. Data sets from the Marine Biological Association’s ‘MarClim UK & Ireland
Rocky Shore Survey 2001 – 2005’ and the British Trust for Ornithology’s ‘The New Atlas of Breeding
Birds in Britain and Ireland: 1988-1991’ were not made accessible through NBN even when requested.
Generally, the NBN Gateway should be considered as the primary digital data repository and major
source of all forms of species data, as it should in theory contain all pertinent data pertaining to all areas
in the UK. Even with the potential time lag between submission of data to NBN and accessing the
information via the Gateway and the odd rogue organisation not supplying a data set, NBN contains a
substantial volume of detailed spatially-linked information from the UK’s major organisations in an easy
to access format.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3.1.2 MARINE LIFE INFORMATION NETWORK (MARLIN)
www.marlin.ac.uk
MarLIN was established by the Marine Biological Association of the UK in collaboration with
JNCC and major holders and users of marine biological data and information in Britain and
Ireland. This information includes: descriptions of where particular habitats, communities and
species occur; descriptions of the features of those habitat, communities and species and their
sensitivity in relation to natural events and human activities. MarLIN provides a structure for
linking available data on marine life around Britain and Ireland, and in turn provides the marine
node to NBN.
All UK marine flora and fauna data can be searched for by species or by grid square. MarLIN
distribution maps are based on published species records from 1950 to the present day, and
include fauna and flora, together with recent records and verified sightings from Britain and
Ireland. The NBN distribution maps are based on species records from numerous national and
regional surveys and recording schemes submitted to the NBN by a large number of
organizations in the United Kingdom. Unlike the NBN Gateway, MarLIN only allows
information to be displayed per species and the generation of species lists for an area is not
possible. Moreover, raw data sets are not available in MarLIN. An example of the information
displayed by MarLIN for Goose Barnacles is shown in figure 2.
Figure 2. Screen shot of information for Goose Barnacles from MarLIN.
MarLIN is not an accessible database of raw data for the examination of biodiversity or accurate
distribution of more than one species, but its power lies in detail for individual species and it
would be useful to use in conjunction with NBN when examining single species.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3.1.3 JOINT NATURE CONSERVATION COMMITTEE (JNCC)
www.jncc.gov.uk
JNCC is the statutory adviser to Government on UK and international nature conservation.
Its work contributes to maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving geological
features and sustaining natural systems. JNCC delivers the UK and international responsibilities
of the four country nature conservation agencies - Council for Nature Conservation and the
Countryside, the Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage.
JNCC provides marine data sets for: ‘Mapping European Seabed Habitats’ (MESH); the
compilation of cetacean observation reports and a Cetacean Atlas; National Otter Surveys; and
the Seabird monitoring program and Seabird 2000. All these data sets are supplied to NBN
along with marine survey data from their Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR).
However, MESH, the Cetacean Atlas, National Otter Surveys, and the Seabird monitoring
program and Seabird 2000 offer peer-reviewed comparisons of spatial and temporal variations
which NBN does not, and as such JNCC’s individual programs offer important insights into
specific areas of interest.
MESH
www.searchmesh.net
MESH is JNCC’s marine habitat mapping programme, covering the whole of north-west
Europe’s seabed, using JNCC marine biotype classification. This uses a combination of surveys
and modelling to generate biotope maps, though the source of the raw data is referenced.
Examination of the MESH map for the North West Highland area (figure 3) shows that there
have been a considerable amount of raw data collected for specific areas: for example the
Summer Isles, Loch Laxford, Loch a’ Chairn Bhain and Loch Eriboll. These specific areas could
be viewed as potential hotspots of diversity with aquaculture use and as such they may have been
of higher economic priority than more exposed sections, such as this Pilot Study area, which
have potentially more homogenous habitats.
Close examination of the survey area (figure 4) reveals that there are 4 layers of data: small red
squares - OSPAR habitat points showing Seapens and burrowing megafauna communities (data
owned by Fisheries Research Services); green slanted lines - Habitat modelling areas from the
Highland Shellfish Management Organisation seabed biotope map; orange slanted lines around
Lochinver - Habitat modelling areas from the Highland Shellfish Management Organisation
seabed biotope map and Habitat mapping areas from MNCR Area Summaries - Sealochs in
north-west Scotland; and pink slanted lines (not clear on screen shot), in the harbour area of
Lochinver and the bay areas of Badnaban and Strathan - Untranslated habitat maps from
intertidal and diver survey referenced as ‘Dipper, F.A., & Johnston, C.M. (2002) Marine Nature
Conservation Review Sector 15. Sealochs in north-west Scotland: area summaries. Peterborough,
Joint Nature Conservation Committee. (Coasts and seas of the United Kingdom. MNCR series).’
This shows that only two local data sets have been used to assist in the modelling of the local
area, the OSPAR habitat points showing Seapens and burrowing megafauna communities and
the habitat maps from the intertidal and diver surveys at Lochinver, Badnaban and Strathan. The
remainder of the local data comes from habitat modelling areas for the Highland Shellfish
Management Organisation seabed biotope map (data owned by Scottish Natural Heritage &
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
Highland Council) and habitat mapping areas from MNCR Area Summaries - Sealochs in north-
west Scotland.
For the study area in this report, MESH does not offer the prospect of much data, but it does
indicate with clarity the areas around the UK with little or no baseline data, such as the
area between Inverkirkaig and Point of Stoer, which is likely to have diverse habitats, and
nationally important single habitats in areas such as Inverkirkaig, Loch Roe (near
Achmelvich) and the highly exposed kelp beds around Stoer.
Figure 3 (left). Screen shot of MESH map depicting data and extrapolated data on marine habitats for North
West Highlands.
Figure 4 (right). Screen shot from MESH map depicting data and extrapolated data on marine habitats
between Inverkirkaig and the Point of Stoer.
Atlas of Cetacean distribution in north-west European waters (2003)
www.jncc.gov.uk/page-2713
Data type: Marine mammal sightings for the UK recorded with JNCC. Sea Watch contributes
to the Joint Cetacean Database (JCD), which is the amalgamation of three cetacean databases
from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), the Sea Mammal Research Unit, and
Sea Watch (SWF). The JCD data has been used in the production of the European Cetacean
Distribution Atlas.
In association with other European government bodies and NGOs, the JNCC acts as a focus for
the collation of effort-related sightings data of cetaceans over the north-west European
continental shelf. The Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU), part of the UK Government's
Natural Environment Research Council and now also of the University of St Andrews, has also
been pursuing collaborative research on cetaceans with international counterparts since its
formation in 1978. These organisations and their collaborators (including the Hebridean Whale
and Dolphin Trust) have contributed cetacean sightings data to a co-operative venture, the Joint
Cetacean Database (JCD), and it is the data from this resource that are depicted in this Atlas.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
Figure 5. Distribution of Minke Whales from Atlas of Cetacean distribution in north-west European waters
(2003).
The Atlas presents an account and snapshot of the distribution of all 28 cetacean species that are
know certainly to have occurred in the waters off north-west Europe in the last 25 years. The
bulk of the data comes from the Sea Bird and Sea Team of JNCC, the UK Mammal Society
Cetacean Group (now the Sea Watch Foundation) and SMRU. Abundance of cetaceans is
recorded as number of sightings per hour and visually represented as different size circles around
the UK, for example Minke Whale distribution in figure 5. The atlas does not contain raw data
and shows local sightings relative to national sightings which make exact figures for an area
difficult to extrapolate. However, the atlas clearly displays the presence of Minke Whales,
White-beaked dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises close to the shore and
Atlantic White-sided dolphins and Short-beaked Common Dolphins in the Minch. (See
also appendix I. Whale and Dolphin sightings in West Sutherland, 2008).
National Otter Surveys
www.jncc.gov.uk/page-3742
There have been a series of national otter surveys in the UK. The first (1977-79), second (1984-
85) and third (1991-94) surveys were run and funded by the Vincent Wildlife Trust. The 1984-
85 and 1991-94 reports can be purchased from the Vincent Wildlife Trust
(www.vwt.org.uk/publications/). The fourth otter survey (Scotland) in 2003-2004 was run and
funded by Scottish Natural Heritage with a funding contribution from Scottish Water (Strachan,
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
R. (2007). National survey of otter Lutra lutra distribution in Scotland 2003–04. Scottish Natural
Heritage Commissioned Report No. 211 (ROAME No. F03AC309)).
From the report of the fourth survey it can be surmised that within the survey area of this report
only a 10km block covering the Point of Stoer was sampled in 1991-94 and 2003-2004. Results
for these years indicate that otters were present within the block during both surveys, though no
raw data is presented. Reports for 1977-79 and 1984-85 were not available electronically.
(However, see in figure 18 the 1km distribution map of otter records for NC02 and 03,
1990-2008).
Seabird monitoring program (SMP) and Seabird 2000
www.jncc.gov.uk/page-1530
These cover Seabirds and Seaduck breeding in the UK: orders Procellariiformes (albatrosses,
petrels and shearwaters), Pelecaniformes (pelicans, cormorants, tropicbirds, frigate-birds), and
Charadriiformes (skuas, gulls, terns, noddies, skimmers, auks).
SMP has been monitoring the numbers and breeding success of seabirds in the UK since 1986.
The SMP is co-ordinated by the JNCC and all RSPB data is sent to JNCC and hence to NBN.
The SMP aims to ensure that sample data on breeding numbers and performance of seabirds are
collected, both regionally and nationally, to enable their conservation status to be assessed. The
most detailed monitoring in the SMP is contracted by JNCC at geographically dispersed 'key
sites': the Isle of May (south-east Scotland), Fair Isle (Shetland), Canna (north-west Scotland)
and Skomer (west Wales). Long-term monitoring of numbers and breeding success is also
funded and carried out at other colonies, including in-house triennial monitoring in Grampian,
Orkney, and St Kilda, Western Isles. There are counts from most of the Scottish coastline
and lochs, which includes records from the Bay of Stoer (4 counts) and Stoer Headland (20
counts) from 1986 to present, with a total of 2243 birds observed (raw data available).
Seabird 2000 is the third complete census of the entire breeding seabird population of Britain
and Ireland. Such censuses are carried out every 15 years, the two previous ones having been
carried out in 1969-70 (Operation Seafarer) and 1985-88 (Seabird Colony Register Census).
Maps and figures compare with two earlier breeding seabird censuses, allowing analyses of
population trends over 30 years. Data for the Pilot Study area include sites at Bay of Stoer,
Stoer Head and around Lochinver, where 23 counts of 2183 birds were made in 2000 (raw
data available).
3.1.4 WETLAND BIRD SURVEY (WEBS)
www.bto.org/webs
WeBS is the scheme that monitors non-breeding waterbirds in the UK, which aims to provide the
principal data for the conservation of their populations and wetland habitats. The data collected
are used to assess the size of waterbird populations, determine trends in numbers and
distribution, and assess the importance of individual sites for waterbirds, in line with the
requirements of international conservation Conventions and Directives.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
Monthly Core Counts are performed along the coast, and an example from a site at Lochinver
in NC02 is shown below (figure 6). WeBS supplies all data to JNCC and thus on to NBN.
Figure 6. Part of WeBS Core Count Form completed by Gwen Richards (Assynt Field Club) for the Inner
Bay, Lochinver (NC0822) during 2007.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3.1.5 MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY
www.mcsuk.org
MCS runs two monitoring programs: Seasearch, a voluntary marine flora and fauna survey
performed by divers, and the Basking Shark Watch project.
SeaSearch
www.seasearch.co.uk
SeaSearch is a volunteer project for sports divers around the coasts of Britain and Ireland, who
perform underwater surveys of marine life according to two levels of training, SeaSearch
Observer (performed by non-specialists) and SeaSearch Surveyor (experienced observers and
marine specialists). The main aim of SeaSearch is to map the various types of sea bed found in
the near-shore zone around the whole of the Britain and Ireland, recording what lives in each
area, establishing the richest sites for marine life, the sites where there are problems and the sites
which need protection.
All of the SeaSearch data, and data from earlier Marine Conservation Society surveys, are
available through the NBN Gateway. SeaSearch Summary Reports of major surveys can be
down-loaded from the SeaSearch website, though there are no SeaSearch Survey reports for
Inverkirkaig to Stoer. None of the SeaSearch Observer reports are available on the SeaSearch
website, though they are stored in NBN. (See example of an Observer recording form by local
divers, Bridie and Russell Pursey, in figure 16).
Figure 7. The location of SeaSearch Survey reports.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
Basking Shark Watch (BSW) project
The MCS Basking Shark Watch project was launched in 1987 and gathers information from
members of the public, fishermen and sea users, on their sightings of basking sharks. As a result,
MCS now holds the UK's largest dataset on basking shark distribution and behaviour and is now
contributing to wider studies to determine the factors that affect their abundance and seasonal
appearance in UK waters. All Basking Shark records are sent to MarLIN. Figure 8 is a collation
of all basking shark sightings sent to MCS between 1987-2006. Report density is shown in
individual 10x10km cells. Each cell that has had at least one report of a basking shark is
coloured in a different shade of pink (the lightest indicates the least number of reports).
Between Inverkirkaig and Stoer there were 10-50 sightings between 1987 and 2006.
Several sightings appear to have been recorded between Inverkirkaig and Stoer in 2007
(figure 9). (See also Appendix IV, which records the basking shark records gathered by
Andy Summers for 2008).
Figure 8 (left). Distribution of basking shark sightings around the UK and Ireland, 1987-2006.
Lightest shades are 1 -10 sightings; then 11-50; 51-100; the darkest squares represent densities of 100+ sightings.
Figure 9 (right). Sightings of basking sharks in 2007.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3.1.6 SUTHERLAND BIODIVERSITY ACTION PLAN (SBAP)
www.ukbap.org.uk/lbap
The SBAP 2003 states that the following marine species have been identified by the UK
Biodiversity Steering Group as ‘priority species’ and have been identified as present in
Sutherland by SBAP.
Table 2. SBAP Priority Species
Scientific Name Common Name
Ascophyllum nodosum ecad mackii Knotted wrack
Cetorhinus maximus Basking shark
Clupea harengus Herring
Gadus morhua Cod
Merlangius merlangus Whiting
Merluccius bilinearis Hake
Merluccius merluccius Hake
Pleuronectes platessa Plaice
Pollachius virens Saithe
Raja batis Common skate
Scomber scrombrus Mackerel
Solea vulgaris Sole
Tracharus tracharus Horse mackerel
Balaenoptera acutorostrara Minke whale
Delphimus delphis Common dolphin
Globicephala melas Long-finned pilot whale
Grampus griseus Risso's dolphin
Lagenorhynchus acutus Atlantic white-sided dolphin
Orcinus orca Killer whale
Phocoena phocoena Harbour porpoise
Stenella coeruleoalba Striped dolphin
Tursiops truncatus Bottlenosed dolphin
Lutra lutra Otter
Ostrea edulis Native oyster
Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback turtle
Funiculina quadrangularis Tall sea pen
Local priority species are: Homarus gammarus Common lobster, Palinurus elephas Crawfish,
Salmo salar Atlantic salmon, Salmo trutta Sea trout. No reference is given to distribution or
abundance.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3.1.7 MARINE STRANDINGS NETWORK
www.strandings.com
In 1990, the ‘Collaborative UK Marine Mammal Strandings Project’ was initiated and part-funded by the
UK Department of the Environment (now Defra). The project involves detailed pathological and other
investigations of stranded marine mammal carcasses (mostly cetacean) from UK waters. Records of
sightings and strandings of live and dead marine turtles are kept by the Welsh Strandings Coordinator
within the ‘Collaborative UK Marine Mammal & Marine Turtle Strandings Project’. Annual reports are
produced on turtle strandings and sightings and marine mammal strandings by the UK Cetacean
Strandings Investigation Programme (CSIP). Since 2001 turtles have been included in the
recording program. All data is accessible through the NBN Gateway; figure 10 shows strandings
for 2003. (See also reference to local turtle strandings in Section 3.3.8, p.33).
Figure 10. Turtle strandings in 2003.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3.1.8 MARINE AND FISHERIES AGENCY (MFA)
www.mfa.gov.uk
MFA produces monthly and yearly statistics on commercial fish stock landings in all major ports
including Lochinver. Though the Lochinver landings contain fish caught far from the current
survey area, certain species are highly likely to have been caught locally, for example lobsters,
crabs, cockles, whelks and prawns (see figure 11 for 2005 landings at Lochinver).
Figure 11. UK Sea Fisheries Statistics 2005.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3.1.9 BRITISH PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY
www.brphycsoc.org
BPS produces A check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland (Hardy & Guiry,
2003). This atlas displays the distribution of all seaweed species in the UK, with one map per
species and circles representing distribution by 10km square (see figure 13 for the example of
Ascophyllum nodosum). (See section 3.3.8, p.32, for an analysis of BPS records in the local
context).
Figure 12. Distribution of Ascophyllum nodosum. From: A check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain
and Ireland (Hardy & Guiry, 2003).
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3.2 Regional data sources
3.2.1 SNH ULLAPOOL & INVERNESS
All SNH internal and commissioned reports are referenced through an in-house GIS system. A
search using this system identified the following relevant reports (held at Ullapool – UL or Great
Glen House – GG; also included are copies of some papers provided by the John Muir Trust -
JMT) for the area from the Summer Isles to Loch Eriboll. Copies of those we could borrow
were examined by for general or specific relevance to the Pilot Study area and comments on
these aspects are shown in bold.
GG – Jones, A.M.,1975. A littoral survey of Loch Inchard, Sutherland. University of
Dundee, Department of Biological Sciences. Not seen.
GG - Nicholson, D., Harris, E. & Pollard, S. (2000) The location and usage of sites in
Scotland by the basking shark Cetorhinus maximus. Scottish Natural Heritage
Commissioned Report F99AA402. Records 1450 basking sharks in western Scotland
between 1987 and 1999.
UL [HC Ranger base at Lochinver also has a copy] Bryan, A.,1994. SNH/Western Isles
Council. Report of the Minch Project 1993 (Phase One).
Comments: This useful report covers all of the west coast of Sutherland,
including the Pilot Study area. It provides background information on the
hydrography and tidal parameters etc. More specifically, the Executive Summary Section
6 (Sublittoral habitats) states that:
1. ‘surveys of the shallow sublittoral habitats of the Minch have been restricted to sealoch
areas, with open coastal survey virtually non-existent’ (and none in the Pilot Study area).
2. ‘surveys of the pelagic environment and deeper waters have been restricted to
commercial fisheries research’.
Section 3 (Geology and geomorphology) of the report proper has a passing reference to
‘Clachtoll..[as] locally important machair’
Section 6 refers to a survey of Loch Eisg Brachaidh, just south of the Pilot Study area.
Section 7 (Coastal and Intertidal) states that ‘survey of the open coast being limited’ (see
above. but refers to the exposed sand fauna at Stoer (and Oldany, just outside the Pilot
Study area).
Further Sections provide an overview of the status of cetaceans, otters and fisheries,
which has general applicability to the Pilot Study area, but no specifics.
UL - Davies M. 1989. UNBSM. MNCR. Surveys of Scottish Sealochs. Lochs A’Chairn
Bhain, Glendhu and Glencoul. Comments: Just outside Pilot Study area, but very
relevant to Sutherland coast as a whole. Describes marine habitats and communities
present (at 40 sites, 4 littoral and 36 sublittoral), maps hard substrata and sediment
communities; records abundance of epiflora and fauna at each site and lists species
present. To give some idea of the diversity recorded the total numbers of taxa (including
a few only identified to group) were as follows: Porifera 23; Cnidaria 38; Annelida 16;
Crustacea 36; Molluscs 60; Bryozoa 14; Echinodermata 28, Tunicata 14; Fishes 25; (with
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
7 taxa in all of Nemertea, Sipuncula, Echiura, Pycnogonida, Brachiopoda); red algae 71;
brown algae 20; green algae 5; lichens 9. The report concludes with a detailed
assessment of the scientific interest and nature conservation importance of the site.
UL - Holt, R.H.F. 1991 MNRC Surveys of Scottish Sealochs. Lochs Laxford, Inchard,
Broom and Little Loch Broom. Comments: This follows the same format as Davies
(1989), with a full description of sites and list of taxa recorded (though most of the latter
is missing from the copy at UL) and the parts on Lochs Laxford and Inchard would
again be very relevant to an audit of those parts of the Sutherland coast.
UL – Howson, C.M., Connor D.W. and Holt, R.H.F., 1994. MNCR. The Scottish
Sealochs. An account of surveys undertaken for the Marine Nature Conservation Review.
J.N.C.C. Report no 164. Pp.212. Comments: This reports an analysis of the data of the
full series of MNCR surveys of Scottish sealochs undertaken between 1988 and 1992 (all
sites were either on the Atlantic coast from Ayrshire up to Cape Wrath, or on the Outer
Hebrides). It contains a comprehensive overview of alll significant habitats and their
charcateristic communities, an exhaustive bibiliography (useful source of further
information on Sutherland coasts) and a full species list (extending to 44 pp.) Not
relevant to the Pilot Study area, but certainly to any wider audit of other parts of
the Sutherland coast.
GG - 1965-70 DAFS Scottish Sandy Shore survey. Not seen.
UL – Powell H.T et al. 1980. Survey of the littoral zone of the coast of Great Britain.
6. Report on the shores of North West Scotland. Report to NCC (CST 289).
Comments: A very useful over-view of pre-existing information and summary of the
results of detailed surveys undertaken, during 1979, of both sedimentary and rocky shores
throughout the area covered. 80 sites were surveyed, and data was located on another 31
from ‘the rather sparse literature’. There are details of the sites in Appendices 2 and 3.
No survey sites within the Pilot Study area, but four relevant to West Sutherland as a
whole (10. Stoer and Oldany. 11. Scourie bay. 12. Inner Loch Laxford. 13.
Oldshoremore) and there are references to pre-existing information on sites at Loch
Kirkaig and Achmelvich, within the Pilot Study area. Species data forms part of the
site descriptions. The Introduction (p.2) has the comment ‘The north-west coast of
Scotland has received relatively little attention from marine biologists, partly because the
area is remote from centres of research’ and later (p.16) there is the telling comment ‘For
many parts of the coast, however, particularly north of the Kylestrome ferry, no
previous faunistic data are available’.
UL - Dipper F. 1981. Gordon Ridley’s underwater photographs. NCC CST report 343.
Comments: No photographs from shores in the Pilot Study area, but there are some
from six sites between Kylesku and Whiten Head, all out-with sealochs and there is in
table 4 a full list of taxa represented against the sites, with elsewhere some discussion of
the communities represented. [The Ullapool copy has only sample pages of the tables.]
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
UL - Howson C. & Bradshaw, C., 1997. Seasearch survey of the Summer Isles, Wester
Ross. SNH report. Report of a Phase 1 marine biological survey of 66 dive sites around
the Summer Isles with a list of species recorded at each site and a discussion of
distribution patterns of biotopes. Comments: Not directly relevant to Pilot Study area,
but may have implications for an audit of other parts of the Sutherland coast.
UL - Smith, S. 1985. A survey of the shores and shallow sub-littoral of west Sutherland.
NCC CSD Report. Comments: Reports on a 1984 survey of the coast between Badcall
Bay and Droman Pier, with 11 littoral and 58 sub-littoral sites. It follows the general
pattern, with a general description of the littoral sites and groups of sub-littoral sites in
Badcall Bay, around Handa, and in Lochs Laxford and Inchard, and a full list of the
nearly 500 taxa found (including 152 molluscs) against the sites. Not directly relevant
to Pilot Study area, but one of few sources of useful data for sites out-with sealochs
elsewhere in West Sutherland.
JMT – Smith, S.M. 1984. Scottish Saline Lagoons with emphasis on the Mollusca. Pt.1.
Saline Lagoons of Mainland Scotland, Orkney and the Inner Hebrides. Rpt to NCC
(CST526). Comment. No sites in Pilot Study area, but does include others on the West
Sutherland coast (e.g. Loch nam Meallan at Oldshoremore)
JMT - Smith, S.M. 1981. Littoral Mollusca of West Sutherland and Coigach. Report to
N.C.C. (CSD 358). 30pp. Comment. Describes stations and lists molluscs found (as
indicator of faunal diversity). The 21 stations include Loch Kirkaig, Badnaban and
Clachtoll within the Pilot Study area (as well as five others on the coast of Assynt).
JMT – Smith, S.M., 1987. Obs in Northwest Scotland and the Hebrides. Report to
N.C.C. (CSD 801). Obs are land-locked bodies of water, saline or brackish, with a
constricted opening to the sea. Several of the sites described are on the West Sutherland
coast (Duart Lochan, Nedd; Loch Ceann na Saile, Kinsale; Lochan nam Meallan,
Oldshoremore), but none are in the Pilot Study area.
3.3 Local Data Sources
3.3.1 HIGHLAND COUNCIL RANGERS
Andy Summers, Highland Council Senior Ranger, is based at the Tourist Information Centre
at Lochinver. Amongst a wealth of information he has gathered about the local marine
environment are logs of cetacean and basking shark sightings many of which relate to the Pilot
Study area. Examples of these are given in Appendices I and IV. There is an information
board at the Stoer Lighthouse carpark specifically on cetaceans. The Ranger Service is also
very active in facilitating enjoyment of the local natural heritage, through displays in the T.I.C.,
in Ranger Huts at Achmelvich and Clachtoll beaches, in a wide variety of other events and
activities, and in projects promoting its educational use. The title page of a brief report on
one such educational project is shown below (figure 13).
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
Figure 13. Primary school educational project implemented by the HC Ranger Service (as illustrated on
front cover).
3.3.2 JOHN MUIR TRUST
Don O’Driscoll is Wild Land Ranger for the John Muir Trust. The JMT has no properties within
the Pilot Study area, but two, Quinag and Sandwood, elsewhere on the West Sutherland coast.
He has made available copies of a number of papers relating to the marine environment of the
west coast, although none are directly relevant to the Pilot Study area. They include one by
R.M.Gordon (date not known) on The John Muir Trust and the marine environment. An initial
appraisal of the resources of the West Coast Marine Environment and their management
implications for the John Muir Trust, which contains some useful statistics on the fishery based
at Kinlochbervie. DO’D has personal experience of west coast fisheries which may well be
relevant to any marine audit of the Sutherland coast.
3.3.3 COMMERCIAL FISHERS
Lack of time prevented us from consulting this potentially very valuable source of local
information.
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Sutherland Partnership Biodiversity GroupSutherland Marine Audit: Pilot Study
3.3.4 FISHERIES TRUSTS
Dr Shona Marshall, of the West Sutherland Fisheries Trust, has kindly provided information on
the migratory fish populations within the area between Inverkirkaig and the Point of Stoer,
including the Rivers Kirkaig, Badnaban, Strathan, Culag, Inver and the Manse system. While
sampling is mainly in the freshwater areas of these, the fish also use the coastal waters.
Additional information is available within the Inver estuary, 1998-2001, from sweep netting for
sea trout. Similarly, a trap operated at the mouth of the Manse system, Loch Roe, 1999-2005,
has provided information on the marine survival of sea trout within the area. An example of the
data collected from the Manse trap is given below (figure 14).
Figure 14. Upstream movement of salmon, brown trout and sea trout within the Manse system.
3.3.5 SPORT ANGLERS
Sea angling takes place along the coast from Inverkirkaig to Point of Stoer, from both the shore
and, less frequently, small chartered boats. Howard Grey of Stoer is a keen sea angler and
naturalist. He was interviewed on 20.4.09 about the species he catches off Stoer beach
(NC0328), with the following results (summarised here, but see Appendix V for further details).
His main target species is sea bass, caught in the autumn/winter, especially when swells are
churning up the sand and possible prey species. Mackerel may be caught from the rocks, May
to end October, when they pass through in shoals. Other species caught include: pollock,
coalfish, flounder, dab (occasionally), ballan wrasse, cod (only codling, i.e. small fish),
scorpion fish (once only) and sand eels (for use as bait). He also commented on the
opportunities afforded to sea anglers for the monitoring of the marine environment (pollution,
oiled birds) and sightings (sea birds, cetaceans, basking sharks, otters).
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