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Marine wildlife survey starts in the Minch          19/10/11

Exploration of the North and Little Minch region is taking place this week. The vessel MRV Alba na Mara will be examining underwater wildlife and habitats of high conservation importance, known as priority marine features, as part of Marine Scotland’s survey programme.

The team includes scientists from Marine Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and findings will be used to provide advice to the Scottish Government and others on conservation and development in the marine environment.

The aim of the survey is to update existing knowledge about marine life in this area and will use a drop-down video camera to capture undersea footage with ‘grab’ samples taken from the seabed for more detailed analysis. A series of fish traps will also be deployed to allow observations of fish species in the area.

Laura Steel, SNH’s project manager for the work, said: “These surveys are helping us better understand the distribution and extent of the wildlife and habitats found in the seas around Scotland.

“This means we can provide up-to-date information when advising Government and others on future marine developments and how best to meet our international commitments to designate a network of Marine Protected Areas.”

Observations will focus on the species richness and diversity of the ‘shelf deeps’ and ‘shelf banks and mounds’. The survey team will cover a large area of sea extending between the Western Isles of Lewis, Harris and North Uist and the mainland – Gairloch area – and Skye.

The Minch survey is one of a series taking place in Scotland’s seas in 2011 under Marine Scotland’s programme. Marine Scotland is funding the survey and it will contribute to the Scottish Marine Protected Area (MPA) Project, a joint initiative between Marine Scotland, Historic Scotland, SNH and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

Other areas surveyed in 2011 have included the Sound of Canna, Loch Linnhe and the Southern Trench, north of Fraserburgh and Banff.

The survey work will finish on 4 November. Data collected will be analysed and reported in a series of reports to be published next year.