Summary of NatureScot’s advice for PMF management areas since 2018
This document summarises advice and biodiversity evidence provided by NatureScot to Marine Directorate since the July 2018 consultation1 on "Improving protection given to Priority Marine Features (PMFs) outside the Marine Protected Area (MPA) network". This includes provisional advice, initially incorporated into the 2019 post-consultation report2, in relation to the ‘illustrative’ PMF management areas3.
The advice has been separated into tables where the evidence supported extensions, reductions, the addition of new areas and the removal of proposed management areas. For completeness, at the end of the document, we list the management areas that NatureScot has not provided any further advice on since 2018.
Final decisions on management areas for future consultation, including the options presented, were taken by Marine Directorate, based on a review of NatureScot’s advice and application of the Principles and process for defining PMF management areas developed jointly by Marine Directorate and NatureScot. These principles outline important distinctions in terms of the evidence expectations associated with identifying PMF management areas compared to the more familiar MPA designation and management processes.
NatureScot did not provide any further advice on ‘design’ aspects of the proposed PMF management areas after March 2024 (e.g. in relation to new survey data that could have a bearing on their shape and feature complement). This was the point at which the proposed areas started their formal assessment journey (Strategic Environmental Assessment, Socio-economic Impact Assessment etc.).
The Scottish Marine Region (SMR) that a proposed PMF management area falls within is identified in the tables overleaf to aid understanding of their broad geographic distribution. SMRs are 11 statutory sea areas established under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 for the purpose of regional marine planning. These regions extend from the shoreline out to 12 NM from the coast. Slightly different ‘regions’ were assigned to the illustrative areas in 2018 (associated with the fisheries impact assessment undertaken at that time) which included references to ‘North Minch’ and ‘South Minch’ etc. These terms have now been superseded.
The consultation offers two different spatial options for 46 of the 90 proposed PMF management areas. They differ in the size of the area where fishing activity management measures would apply, with option 1 being a smaller area and option 2 is a larger area that offers improved protection. These areas are highlighted in the tables overleaf and further details are available in the Scottish Government’s Site and Area Proposal Document for the consultation.
The data supporting our advice is identified under ‘survey evidence’ in the tables and this lists the survey names as they appear on NMPi. The survey name may be different to the naming convention applied to any associated reports or peer reviewed papers arising from the surveys (i.e. this is not a reference list). This is mostly but not wholly constrained to data confirming the presence of one or more of the eleven PMFs for which management areas have been identified.
New data available on NMPi that were not available at the time of finalising our advice are highlighted. These data may relate to surveys undertaken after March 2024 or where analyses were completed on data collected prior to this time but not published until after the cut-off point. Note that data from the University of the Highlands and Islands were used in the design of the Shetland PMF management areas and where these data are not in the Geodatabase of Marine Features adjacent to Scotland (GeMS) and NMPi this is highlighted in our advice.
These data are also available on an MPA and PMF Management ArcGIS StoryMap. This differs from NMPi in that additional contextual layers cannot be added to the display, but the simplified format of the StoryMap aims to improve accessibility to the key consultation data layers and facilitate review of the changes made to the PMF areas since 2018.
Native oysters Ostrea edulis are a feature of interest at 15 of the proposed PMF management areas. The species, which is vulnerable to over-exploitation, is the only marine organism included on the Sensitive Species of Scotland List. To safeguard them from illegal harvesting, information on native oyster presence and distribution is redacted and presented at a 20 km grid square scale in publicly accessible data layers.
We only considered records of fan mussel (Atrina fragilis) aggregations from 2000 onwards. However, species records of the fan mussel are displayed in the ArcGIS StoryMap and, due to their rarity and longevity, we recommended the potential inclusion of what are believed to have been observations of single mussels in both Copinsay (1969 record) and Orkney Sounds and Firths (South) areas (1999 record) rather than ‘aggregations’ of the species. These single mussel records exist alongside other PMFs being considered in the process e.g. horse mussel beds. We have specifically distinguished the feature as ‘fan mussel’ in this paper to highlight this distinction but note that aggregations were the feature originally driving this process and that this distinction may not be made elsewhere.
The inclusion of northern sea fan and sponge communities records in our recommendations was focussed around representing the range of associated habitats and the environmental conditions in which they occur, their connectivity and the levels of biological diversity. Species records of the northern sea fan (Swiftia pallida) were also considered where they complemented this approach. Species records were excluded from recommendations in some instances, e.g. where they were already offered natural protection from steeply sloping underwater cliffs or rocky seabed.
Records of maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers were included in our recommendations where they cluster with maerl beds records and are likely to be forming a mosaic habitat. More information on these features is provided in our feature-specific advice, which is described below.
We advised in 2023 that two4 of the proposed PMF management areas could be considered as Before After Control Impact (BACI)5 monitoring study locations to contribute to the assessment of the effects of mobile bottom-contacting fishing activity on maerl beds and understanding the effectiveness of fishing activity management measures in Marine Protected Areas. This type of study requires some maerl beds in similar environmental conditions to be exposed to fishing activity to compare against maerl beds with no fishing activity. Whilst BACI studies do offer the opportunity to evidence the effectiveness of management measures, there are other survey methods that can be undertaken as alternatives. This, in addition to the level of evidence showing the impacts of these fishing gears on maerl bed condition, resulted in Marine Directorate’s decision in 2024 to take these locations forward as proposed PMF management areas, safeguarding the national status of this PMF. This has been noted in our advice in relation to these sites in the tables that follow.
Our feature-specific advice for each of the 11 PMFs identified as most sensitive to bottom-contacting mobile fishing gear is available online at https://www.nature.scot/doc/pmf-advice-documents-relating-fishing-gear. These documents provide information on the distribution, ecology, status and sensitivity of the features, existing management measures providing protection and our recommendations on additional key locations.
- Scottish Government - July-August 2018 consultation on ‘Improving protection given to Priority Marine Features outside the Marine Protected Area network’ - https://consult.gov.scot/marine-scotland/priority-marine-features/
- Scottish Government - July 2019 consultation feedback report - Annex A - New PMF data and possible management zone additions https://consult.gov.scot/marine-scotland/priority-marine-features/results/pmf_scoping_consultation_report.pdf
- Please note that the ‘PMF Consultation - Illustrative management zones 2018’ data layer available on National Marine Plan Interactive (NMPi) incorporates new areas and feature refinements recommended in the 2019 post-consultation report, together with unchanged areas as they were originally consulted on in July 2018. In the tables provided in this paper, the features listed under the ‘2018 illustrative PMF management area’ mirror what is presented in the NMPi mapping data (which is actually from 2019) because this corrected a number of errors in the original 2018 dataset.
- Merkland (Arran) and South-East Barra & Vatersay (specifically the area covered by the South-East Barra 2018 illustrative management area)
- A Before After Control Impact (BACI) study is a powerful research design used to attribute changes in environmental conditions or outcomes to specific interventions. BACI studies are commonly used in environmental monitoring, conservation, and ecological research.
| 2026 proposed PMF management area name / region (SMR) / features | 2018 illustrative PMF management area name / region / features | NatureScot advice since 2018 | Survey evidence [marked with a # where new data on NMPi post-dates our advice] |
|---|---|---|---|
Name: Busta Voe (Shetland)+ Region: Shetland Isles Features: Horse mussel beds | Name: Busta Voe, Shetland Region: Shetland Features: Horse mussel beds | The University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI) mapped two horse mussel beds towards the head of Busta Voe in 2011 (records not yet incorporated into the database). These lie within one of three Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO) zones closed to scallop dredging located within the proposed PMF management area. These records complement older records from 1974 and 1986-87. Comparable older horse mussel bed records are also present outside the 2018 illustrative management area (the same area as the 2026 option 1 proposal), mainly from a 1986-87 Oil Pollution Research Unit (OPRU) and Marine Nature Conservation Review (MNCR) survey. A further UHI survey in 2019 recorded only very low densities of horse mussels off Grobs Ness (at the mouth of Olna Firth) and these did not qualify as a bed / PMF. However, other records were not re-surveyed in 2019 and we recommended that the PMF area be extended accordingly (the 2026 option 2 proposed area). | 1974 ITE Shetland sublittoral survey. 1986-87 OPRU/MNCR Shetland, Foula and Fair Isle survey. 1987 MCS Shetland sublittoral survey, Scotland. 1999 SNH comparative Modiolus beds survey. 2011 UHI survey (note that PMF polygon data are not yet included on NMPi - relevant point records were published in 2025). 2019 UHI survey (note that these data were restricted in distribution and did not record any extant PMF presence). |
Name: Papa, North (Shetland) Region: Shetland Isles Features: Maerl beds | Name: N Papa, Shetland Region: Shetland Features: Maerl beds | We suggested the 2018 PMF area could be extended to the south and south-west to encompass adjacent maerl bed records from two surveys undertaken in 2019 by Marine Directorate (previously Marine Scotland) and UHI. These records extended beyond the original 2018 illustrative area boundary. | 2011 North of Papa Seabed Video Survey, Hjaltland Seafarms Ltd. 2019 Marine Scotland Shetland benthic camera survey. 2019 UHI survey (note that PMF polygon data are not yet included on NMPi but relevant point records were published in 2025). |
Name: Ascrib Islands (Skye)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | Name: Ascrib Islands, Skye Region: North Minch Features: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | We recommended that the 2018 area could be reshaped to better reflect available evidence on PMF distribution, guided by bathymetric data. We proposed that the seabed within depths of 20-30 m reflects the expected maerl bed distribution, with northern sea fans likely constrained to areas of steep / vertical relief. New survey work in 2023 and 2025 confirmed the widespread distribution of maerl habitats across the shallow parts to the north of the area. Weather conditions precluded sampling of northern sea fan habitats and the 2025 survey did not sample in the vicinity of the 1988 maerl record between Eilean Garave and South Ascrib so some uncertainty remains around habitat extent and condition here. | 1988 MNCR Skye sealochs survey. #2023 Naturescot-MD West Coast Survey 0523a and 0623a. #2025 NatureScot benthic survey of West Skye PMF areas. |
Name: Loch Hourn (Knoydart)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds | Name: Loch Hourn Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds | We suggested this area could be extended further west to include a 2019 seagrass record in depths of 0 - 10 m. | 2010 Seasearch Scotland - various. 2016 Seasearch Scotland Loch Hourn survey. 2019 Seasearch Scotland Skye and Loch Hourn survey. |
Name: Lochs Eishort and Slapin (Skye)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | Name: Lochs Eishort and Slapin, Skye Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | We suggested this area could be split in two to exclude the deeper channel which primarily supports mud habitats beyond the 30 m bathymetric contour. Northern sea fan and sponge communities are present on silted rock outcrops arising from the mud but are low diversity examples of this habitat (option 2). We further suggested the area could be extended slightly in the south-west towards Eilean na h-Airde to include two seagrass bed records during a 2019 South Skye Seas initiative survey. After submission of our advice, new survey work has generated additional records of the PMFs. | 1980 UCS South Skye sublittoral survey. 2011 Seasearch Scotland Skye survey. 2012 Seasearch Scotland Skye survey. 2013 Seasearch Scotland Skye survey. 2014 SNH South Skye sealochs benthic camera survey. 2015 Seasearch Scotland Skye survey. 2016 Seasearch Scotland Skye survey. 2016 SNH/SEPA South Skye sealochs benthic camera survey. 2019 South Skye Seas initiative (SSSI) survey. 2023 Skye Seas Survey Initiative survey. #2024 NatureScot Southern Skye benthic camera survey. |
Name: Port Erradale (Gairloch)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, seagrass beds | Name: Port Erradale / Gairloch Region: North Minch Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds | Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers fall outside the boundary in the south - west. We suggested this area could be extended to encompass these records. The area excludes records to the south and SE that are part of the existing Loch Gairloch mobile gear fisheries closure. New survey work in 2023 logged a further four maerl bed records to the west of the option 1 boundary but these are contained within option 2.
| 1989 Seasearch Gruinard Bay, Loch Ewe and Loch Gairloch survey, Scotland. 1990 UMBSM Loch Gairloch and Loch Ewe survey. 2010 SNH benthic survey of the Ullapool Approaches. 2018 SNH/Skye & Wester Ross Fisheries Trust Wester Ross benthic camera survey. 2019 Marine Scotland Inner Sound benthic camera survey. #2023 NatureScot/Marine Directorate Wester Ross benthic camera survey (cruise 0523A). |
Name: Red Point (Torridon) Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, seagrass beds | Name: Red Point Region: North Minch Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds | A 2019 Marine Scotland Inner Sound benthic camera survey recorded maerl and maerl gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers to the north of the 2018 illustrative management area. We recommended a northerly extension to cover these records. The cluster of three records off the coast at An Tarbh, off the NE corner of the 2026 area, are afforded protection through adjacent existing fisheries management measures as are records from Opinan northwards into the mouth of Loch Gairloch. New survey work in 2023 logged a further three maerl bed records to the north of the proposed PMF area and outside other existing measures. | 2004 SNH Loch Torridon and Inner Sound ROV survey. 2014 Seagrass spotter. 2019 Marine Scotland Inner Sound benthic camera survey. #2023 NatureScot/Marine Directorate Wester Ross benthic camera survey (cruise 0523A). |
Name: Rubha Chuaig (Inner Sound) Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, flame shell beds | Name: Rubha Chuaig, Inner Sound Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds | The 2021 NatureScot Red Rocks DDV survey found multiple new records of maerl beds both within and outside the 2018 area. The survey also found habitat that was likely flame shell beds. We recommended this area be extended to include the new maerl bed records and that flame shell beds be added as a feature. The contract analysing the 2021 imagery (Moore, in prep. - NatureScot Research Report 1386) subsequently confirmed preliminary flame shell bed habitat assignments. | 2000-2001 Seasearch Scotland Loch Torridon survey. 2003 SNH Loch Torridon and Inner Sound ROV survey. 2021 NatureScot Red Rocks DDV survey. 2022 Clyde and West Coast Alba survey (0822A). |
Name: South of Muck and Bo Fascadale+ Region: West Highlands Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities, fan mussel aggregations | Name: South of Muck Region: South Minch Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities, fan mussel aggregations | Multiple new records of northern sea fan and sponge communities were acquired from a 2019 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Marine Scotland Science (MSS) Small Isles survey. Many of the new records were between the discrete 2018 South of Muck and Bo Fascadale illustrative management areas. We suggested extending and joining these two areas to encompass the new records. Northern sea fan records include all biotopes of the feature as well as Swiftia species records. Observations of northern feather star aggregations and possible dense ocean quahog here (other PMFs) highlighted the wider diversity of this broader area. The location has a low rugosity with the northern sea fans sitting on a mosaic of cobbles and boulders interspersed with mud and they are considered at risk to towed bottom-contacting gear. | 1994 MNCR/SNH Ardnamurchan peninsula and north Mull ROV survey. 2012 Seasearch Scotland Ardnamurchan survey. 2017 Marine Scotland Science cruise: 1714a. 2019 SNH/MSS Small Isles benthic camera survey. 2019 Seasearch Scotland Small Isles survey. #2025 NatureScot drop-down video survey of South of Muck and Bo Fascadale (part of Marine Directorate cruise 0625a) |
Name: Aird an t-Sruith (Sound of Harris) Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Seagrass beds | Name: Sound of Harris, Lewis 3 Region: North Minch Features: Seagrass beds | We recommended that this area could be extended towards the coast of the Isle of Harris to encompass the full extent of the mapped seagrass bed polygon here. | 2018 SNH definition of seagrass bed extents in Sound of Harris by interpretation of aerial imagery to support razor fishing trials. |
Name: Easaigh and Ceilegraigh (Sound of Harris)+ Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds | Name: Sound of Harris, Lewis 4 + 5 Region: North Minch Features: Seagrass beds | We recommended that the 2018 area running from the SE tip of Ensay (termed Sound of Harris, Lewis 4), could be extended further to the SE to include 2021 MarPAMM6 survey records of seagrass beds. We also recommended extending and merging this area with one proposed to the east (Sound of Harris, Lewis 5), representing an option that offers improved protection (option 2) on the basis that the seabed between may support additional maerl habitat and potentially maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers. Under option 1 (smaller, multi-part), seagrass beds are a feature of the area to the NE with maerl beds in the SW area. | 2005 SNH BSM survey of the Sound of Harris. 2018 SNH definition of seagrass bed extents in Sound of Harris by interpretation of aerial imagery to support razor fishing trials. 2021 NatureScot MarPAMM - South Lewis and Harris, Outer Hebrides drop-down video survey. |
Name: Pabaigh, South-East (Sound of Harris) Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Seagrass beds | Name: Sound of Harris, Lewis 1 Region: North Minch Features: Seagrass beds | We suggested this area be extended to encompass the full extent of the mapped seagrass bed polygon. | 2018 SNH definition of seagrass bed extents in Sound of Harris by interpretation of aerial imagery to support razor fishing trials. |
Name: Gigha, North-East Region: Argyll Features: Horse mussel beds | Name: NE Gigha Region: Clyde Features: Horse mussel beds | A 2019 MarPAMM survey provided additional evidence on the distribution of a known horse mussel bed with a portion of the new records falling outside the 2018 management area. We suggested the area be reshaped to include the unprotected beds from the 2019 survey. The original 2018 area was developed around horse mussel bed records from an EIA undertaken by an aquaculture developer in 2017. We do not have permission to share this information so the feature mapping presented for the 2026 consultation is incomplete. | 2019 SNH MarPAMM Kintyre survey. |
Name: Loch Craignish (Argyll) Region: Argyll Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities, seagrass beds, horse mussel beds | Name: Loch Craignish Region: South Minch Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities, seagrass beds, horse mussel beds | Three northern sea fan and sponge community habitat records were situated outside the 2018 management area to the south-east, and one was on the area boundary. There is a seasonal fisheries closure here associated with the adjacent Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura MPA, but we recommended the area be extended to include the unprotected records of northern sea fan and sponge communities at the mouth of the loch. The extension to this area would also encompass a flapper skate egg laying area. Loch Craignish is also the focus of seagrass and native oyster restoration efforts by Seawilding. | 1989 UMBSM south Argyll and west Kintyre sealochs survey. 1990 Seasearch Loch Craignish survey. 2016 Seasearch Scotland Sound of Jura survey. 2019 Seasearch Scotland Loch Craignish survey. 2019 Marine Scotland Jura and Islay benthic camera survey. 2020 Seasearch Scotland Loch Craignish survey. #2020-2023 Seawilding/BSAC Great Seagrass Surveys. |
Name: Sound of Islay (Islay)+ Region: Argyll Features: Maerl beds | Name: Sound of Islay Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Maerl records from 1982 and 2019 surveys were noted throughout the sound. We suggested the boundary be extended to include possible maerl presence in the north-east with a reduction of the western edge of the southern boundary to focus on shallower water areas whilst still protecting known maerl records. | 1982 OPRU Jura and Islay sublittoral survey. 2019 Marine Scotland Jura and Islay benthic camera survey. |
Name: Merkland (Arran) Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Name: Merkland, Arran Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Four additional maerl bed records, situated inside the 20 m bathymetry contour to the north of the illustrative management area, were acquired during a September 2018 Marine Scotland EMFF survey in the Clyde Sea. We recommended extending the existing area northwards, to Rubha Salach, to encompass these new records. The 2018 illustrative area was previously being considered as a BACI site to inform the effectiveness of management measures for the South Arran MPA but this is not being progressed as outlined in the introduction. | 2010 SNH survey to establish the distribution of Priority Marine Features in the Clyde Sea area. 2018 Marine Scotland South Arran and the Clyde Sea benthic camera survey. |
Name: Scalpsay Bay, Gallachan Bay, and Stravannan Bay (Bute)+ Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Name: SW Bute Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Three new maerl bed records from a 2018 Marine Scotland survey were distributed around the illustrative management area. One record off Gallachan Bay lay inside the existing area but two others were situated in waters to the NW, off Scalpsie Bay and to the south of Ardscalpsie Point. We recommended that the original area be extended to encompass these new records and that the southern boundary be reshaped to allow for a buffer around the 1996 record here, in line with the agreed boundary setting principles. | 1996 Conservation issues relating to maerl beds as habitats for molluscs JHS 1998. 2018 Marine Scotland South Arran and the Clyde Sea benthic camera survey. |
6. Marine Protected Area Management and Monitoring project
| 2026 proposed PMF management area name / region (SMR) / features | 2018 illustrative PMF management area name / region / features | NatureScot advice since 2018 | Evidence [marked with a # where new data on NMPi post-dates our advice] |
|---|---|---|---|
Name: West Mainland Voes (Shetland) Region: Shetland Isles Features: Horse mussel beds (Sandsound Voe; and Fore Holm and Billy Baa), seagrass beds, blue mussel beds (Whiteness Voe) | Name: West Mainland Voes, Shetland Region: Shetland Features: Seagrass beds, horse mussel beds | We recommended that the illustrative area be reduced in size and split across three discrete, smaller areas covering the Head of Whiteness Voe, parts of Weisdale Voe & Sandsound Voe, and the outer reaches of Stromness Voe. At Whiteness Voe, we proposed the area mirror the existing SSMO area at the head of the loch and focus on the seagrass bed records here (and one subtidal blue mussel bed record). We proposed that a Weisdale Voe & Sandsound Voe area be shaped around confirmed records of horse mussel beds with the outer boundary guided by records associated with the two existing SSMO areas (13 & 14) off Fore Holm and Billy Baa. We noted the protection afforded to seagrass beds at the head of Weisdale Voe by SSMO Area 11 and the dispersed nature of the PMF records around the loch margins. Within Stromness Voe, we recommended an area to encompass the three horse mussel bed records near the mouth of the loch but also noted 2019 survey data that had failed to verify the continued presence of this PMF at two of three former locations. | 1986-87 OPRU/MNCR Shetland, Foula and Fair Isle survey. 1987 MCS Shetland sublittoral survey. 1989 MNCR Whiteness Voe survey. 1993 MNCR Shetland lagoons survey. 1994 SNH sublittoral survey of Whiteness Voe (Shetland). 2011 UHI survey (note that relevant polygon data from this survey are not yet included on NMPi). 2019 Marine Scotland Shetland benthic camera survey (note that these data were restricted in distribution and did not record any extant PMF presence. The data will therefore not flow through to NMPi but, indicate that two of the 1980’s records of horse mussel beds in the outer reaches of Stromness Voe may no longer be present - or are restricted in extent). |
Name: Quey Firth (Shetland) Region: Shetland Isles Features: Horse mussel beds | Name: Quey Firth, Shetland Region: Shetland Features: Horse mussel beds | The 2018 area extended across the deeper channel to Lamba. The horse mussel records (from 1987 and a 2011 UHI survey) are restricted to the headland at Ness of Quey Firth. We recommended that the area be reduced to better reflect the evidence base. We also noted that should a more ambitious approach be preferred the reshaped existing area could be combined with a proposed new area at Back of Ollaberry, Yell Sound (see Table 3). | 1987 MCS Shetland sublittoral survey. 2011 UHI survey (note that relevant polygon data from this survey are not yet included on NMPi). |
Name: Wadbister Voe (Shetland)+ Region: Shetland Isles Features: Maerl beds | Name: Wadbister Voe and Cat Firth, Shetland Region: Shetland Features: Maerl beds | NatureScot suggested that the 2018 illustrative area be scaled back to more closely reflect the known PMF distribution. Based on 2019 survey observations, which validated UHI feature mapping (polygon data products) undertaken in 2012 (Shelmerdine et al., 2013) we recommended that the area mirror the existing “Wadbister” SSMO closure. An older maerl bed record from 1986 situated just to the NW of the SSMO closure area was not validated (i.e. not recorded in that location) during the 2019 survey. | 1986-87 OPRU/MNCR Shetland, Foula and Fair Isle survey. 2011 UHI survey (note that relevant PMF polygon data are not yet included on NMPi). 2019 Marine Scotland Shetland benthic camera survey. |
Name: West Voe, East Burra (Shetland) Region: Shetland Isles Features: Seagrass beds | Name: West Voe, East Burra, Shetland Region: Shetland Features: Seagrass beds | There are two seagrass beds towards the head of the loch (reported by MNCR survey work in 1986-87) and no further known records of the 11 PMFs south of Papil. We noted some uncertainty about vessel accessibility due to the shallow depths and that NAFC staff had not relocated either of the beds in 2021 but that this may have been related to survey timings. Local discussions indicated the beds had been present in ca. 2016. We recommended that this area could be reduced to better fit existing feature data and focus on the two existing SSMO closure areas at Bridge End, and Braeview (off Papil). | 1986-87 OPRU/MNCR Shetland, Foula and Fair Isle survey. |
Name: Eday, Sanday and Stronsay (Orkney)+ Region: Orkney Islands Features: Maerl beds, horse mussel beds, seagrass beds | Name: Orkney Sounds and Firths (north) Region: Orkney Features: Maerl beds, horse mussel beds, seagrass beds | We suggested the 2018 illustrative area could be refined to better fit the distribution of horse mussel beds and maerl beds following analysis of 2019 Marine Scotland survey data. We also noted that a more ambitious approach would be to leave the 2018 area as originally devised. | 1994 MNCR Orkney lagoons survey. 1997 MNCR Sanday (Orkney) sublittoral survey. 1999 Envision - Sanday Aug99. 1999 SNH BSM survey of seabed biota around Sanday. 2011 Marine Scotland Orkney benthic survey. 2013 MSS Stronsay Firth benthic camera survey. 2014 SNH survey of Seagrass beds in Orkney. 2019 Marine Scotland Orkney benthic camera survey. |
Name: Hoy Sound (East) to South Walls (Orkney)+ Region: Orkney Islands Features: Maerl beds, flame shell beds, horse mussel beds, fan mussel aggregations, seagrass beds | Name: Hoy Sounds to South Walls, Orkney (East) Region: Orkney Features: Maerl beds, flame shell beds, horse mussel beds, fan mussel, seagrass beds | We recommended that the northern end of the 2018 area could be reshaped to better fit the known distribution of features at that time. This included bringing the northern boundary of the area south from the mainland at Houton. We also recommended extending the SE boundary to encompass 2019 maerl bed records in Switha Sound (option 1 - two discrete parts). Option 2 mirrors the 2018 area but with the SE extension into Switha Sound to encompass the 2019 data. Subsequent to our advice, new records of horse mussel beds were recorded to the north of the Cava bed in 2024 as well as additional maerl bed records further east in Switha Sound off Kirk Bay, Flotta. We are also aware of additional maerl bed records through Weddel Sound from Heriot-Watt University. | 1995 SNH ROV survey of Scapa Flow and Hoy Sound. 2008 Seasearch Scotland Scapa Flow survey. 2011 Marine Scotland Orkney benthic survey. 2012 Seasearch Scotland Orkney Survey, Orkney. 2013 Seasearch Scotland Orkney survey. 2017 Seasearch Scotland Scapa Flow survey. 2019 Marine Scotland Orkney benthic camera survey. 2021 Heriot-Watt University/ NatureScot DDV survey. #2024 NatureScot - MD Orkney Survey - 0524a. |
Name: Loch Eriboll (Durness) Region: North Coast Features: Maerl beds, horse mussel beds | Name: Loch Eriboll Region: North Minch Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, horse mussel beds [Note seagrass beds were listed in the 2019 post-consultation report erroneously due to inclusion of a Ruppia record at the head of the loch] | We suggested this area could be further refined by reducing the area to the sill inwards to reflect the distribution of the PMF records. | 1986 MCS Loch Eriboll sublittoral survey, Scotland. |
Name: Eddrachillis Bay (Assynt)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds | Name: Eddrachillis Bay Region: North Minch Features: Maerl beds, horse mussel beds, seagrass beds | We recommended that the outer area could be moved from the mouth of the bay, with a boundary line taken from the headland at Culkein Drumbeg, to more accurately reflect the current distribution of records (reflected in option 1). We noted anecdotal accounts of serpulid aggregations at the heads of Loch Gleann Dubh and/or Glencoul and that horse mussels may occur in other parts of the 2018 area but that the current evidence for including the full extent of these lochs was limited. We also noted that the 1970 maerl record at the eastern end of the Kylesku Narrows was considered ‘uncertain’ in the database, lacked a clear description of the habitat and was poorly positioned in relation to charted bathymetry. NatureScot divers sought to verify the presence of maerl here in April 2025. A provisional holding record is presented (pending more detailed analysis) following confirmation of patchy habitat with scattered live maerl potentially as part of a sediment veneer on and amongst bedrock and large boulders. Maerl beds and northern sea fan and sponge communities were recorded around the small islands off Badcaul Bay during NatureScot surveys in 2023 and 2025. These are situated in the outer reaches of the original 2018 area (akin to what is now option 2). | 1970 Ridley north-west Scotland sublittoral photographic survey. 1988 UMBSM Lochs a' Chairn Bhain, Glencoul & Glendhu survey. 2004 SNH survey of subtidal seagrass beds in North-West Scotland. #2023 NatureScot-MD West Coast Survey 0523a and 0623a. #2025 NatureScot survey of Eddrachillis Bay. |
Name: Handa (Durness)+ Region: West Highlands Feature: Maerl beds | Name: Handa Region: North Minch Feature: Maerl beds | We noted that maerl beds may be more widely distributed in this area based on feedback at a 2021 stakeholder meeting (option 2). However, in the absence of recent, additional evidence we recognised that the 2018 illustrative area might be reshaped to more accurately reflect the existing records (option 1). | 1997-1999 Seasearch Scotland Handa Island. 2004 SNH survey of subtidal seagrass beds in North-West Scotland. |
Name: Loch Ainort and Caolas Scalpay (Skye)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, flame shell beds, horse mussel beds, seagrass beds | Name: Raasay to Scalpay, Skye Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, horse mussel beds, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | We suggested the 2018 illustrative area could be reduced at the north and south-eastern ends to better fit the distribution of existing records (option 1), unless a more ambitious approach was preferred (option 2). Following survey work undertaken in 2018 and 2019 we recommended refinements to the feature complement here. | 1980 UCS south Skye sublittoral survey, Scotland. 1988 MNCR Skye sealochs survey. 2018 Marine Scotland Loch Alsh and Inner Sound benthic camera survey. 2019 Marine Scotland Inner Sound benthic camera survey. 2019 SNH Inner Sound diving survey. |
Name: Loch Bay (Skye)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds | Name: Loch Bay, Skye Region: North Minch Features: Maerl beds | At the time of providing our advice, known maerl bed distribution was restricted to three records from 1988 and 2012 situated on the western side of the proposed 2018 area. We noted potentially suitable conditions for maerl around the small islands of Clett and Mingay near the loch mouth but that additional survey work would be required. We recommended that the area could be refined to concentrate on these existing maerl records (option 1). Further survey work in 2024 and 2025 confirmed a new maerl bed in Ardmore Bay at the northern end of the original 2018 area (per option 2) and at additional locations around earlier records. | 1988 MNCR Skye sealochs survey. 2012 Seasearch Scotland Skye Survey. #2024 Dive Sea and the Hebrides Survey of Ardmore Bay. #2025 NatureScot benthic survey of West Skye PMF areas. |
Name: Loch Bracadale (Skye)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers | Name: Loch Bracadale, Skye Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers | We suggested the proposed 2018 area could be reshaped to better reflect the known distribution of the maerl beds feature (records constrained to the shallow margins, embayments and narrows areas off the central basin and away from the mouth of Loch Bracadale). We also proposed the addition of the maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers feature. Both 2026 multi-part area options encompass known records but no longer cover the central part of the loch down into Gearymore and the head of Loch Caroy. | 1988 Seasearch Skye sealochs sublittoral survey, Scotland. 1988 MNCR Skye sealochs survey. 1991 MNCR Loch Bracadale (Skye) survey. |
Name: Loch Leven, Ballachullish (Lochaber) Region: West Highlands Features: Horse mussel beds, flame shell beds | Name: Loch Leven, Ballachullish Region: South Minch Features: Horse mussel beds | We recommended that the outer, western boundary of the 2018 illustrative area could be reduced to the narrows at the mouth of the loch, which would encompass the known records. We also recommended adding flame shell beds as a feature. | 1990 MNCR Loch Leven (Lochaber) survey. 2011 Marine Scotland survey of Lochs Linnhe, Etive, Leven and Eil. 2016 Seasearch Scotland Loch Linnhe and Leven survey. 2018 Seasearch Scotland Loch Leven survey. |
Name: Loch nan Uamh, (Arisaig)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | Name: Loch nan Uamh, Arisaig Region: South Minch Features: Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | We recommended the 2018 illustrative area could be split into two discrete, smaller areas (option 1 - multi-part). The first should incorporate the maerl gravel record to the west at Eilean a' Ghaill (with the potential to extend to the south to encompass an additional record of this feature off the skerries at Eilean an t-Snidhe). The second area to the east, would encompass the seagrass bed record at the head of Loch nan Uamh and the northern sea fan species record at the mouth of adjacent Loch Beag. We also recognised the potential for additional PMFs to be present in the 10 km between these two option 1 areas whilst noting that further survey work would be required to confirm any wider distribution. The option 2 proposal was refined from the 2018 area, excluding the section along the NE coast of Ardnish. | 1989 UMBSM Arisaig and Moidart sealochs survey. 2004 Seasearch Scotland Small Isles & Arisaig - Various. |
Name: North of Crowlin Islands and Eilean na Ba (Inner Sound)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, flame shell beds | Name: N Crowlin Islands, Inner Sound Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds | We suggested this 2018 illustrative area could be reduced in the north-west to encompass the maerl records more closely and reshaped in the south and south-west to capture new records of maerl beds and flame shell beds from the 2021 NatureScot Red Rocks survey. The 2021 survey data were formally analysed in 2025 (Moore, in prep. - NatureScot Research Report 1386) and confirmed the distribution of maerl beds and flame shell beds across the proposed area. The analyses also reported the presence of the northern sea fan and sponge communities PMF to the NW of Eilean na Ba. Subsequent 2025 survey work (detailed analyses pending) provisionally recorded the maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers PMF in the area for the first time (although has yet to be confirmed) and extended the known distribution of flame shell beds (with maerl gravel substrates) off Eilean Beag (the record of this feature that now falls outside option 1 to the SW). | 2018 Marine Scotland Loch Alsh and Inner Sound benthic camera survey. 2021 NatureScot Red Rocks DDV survey. #2025 RSSLA/ NatureScot Inner Sound, East Skye DDV survey. |
Name: Oberon Bank+ Region: West Highlands Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities | Name: Oberon Bank Region: South Minch Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities | We recommended that the area could be reduced in the north as additional survey work from 2019 did not find northern sea fan habitat here. We also reviewed and removed an incorrectly positioned 2004 record from the PMF dataset. This record had informed the SE extent of the original 2018 illustrative area. The area was subsequently reshaped to better fit known PMF distribution (option 1) and potentially wider suitable habitat (option 2). | 2003 Seasearch Scotland Oberon Bank survey. 2019 SNH/MSS Small Isles benthic camera survey. |
Name: Sandaig Bay, Loch Nevis (Knoydart)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds | Name: Sandaig Bay, Loch Nevis Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds | In 2022, whilst noting the potential for maerl beds to be present in other parts of the 2018 illustrative area, we also considered the area disproportionate to the single 2015 maerl bed record available at the time. We suggested that the area could be reshaped / indented to cover the eastern part (option 1) to the ~25 m contour (subject to agreed boundary setting principles). NatureScot survey work in 2023 confirmed that maerl beds are present further into this side of the bay but also extend outwith either proposed option. | 2015 Seasearch Scotland Loch Nevis survey. #2023 NatureScot-MD West Coast Survey 0523a and 0623a. |
Name: Scalpay, North (Inner Sound) Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, flame shell beds | Name: Scalpay, Inner Sound Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds | Since the area was first proposed, the Red Rocks and Longay MPA has been established. We suggested the 2018 illustrative area be reduced to remove overlaps with the MPA and reshaped around relevant maerl and flame shell bed records. We noted that non-PMF records could be used in conjunction with fisheries activity data to aid this reshaping. | 2018 Marine Scotland Loch Alsh and Inner Sound benthic camera survey. 2019 Marine Scotland Inner Sound benthic camera survey. 2019 SNH Inner Sound Diving survey. 2021 Red Rocks DDV survey. |
Name: Loch Aineort (South Uist)+ Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | Name: Loch Aineort to Loch Baghasdail, South Uist Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities, seagrass beds | This area is one of four generated from the larger 2018 area Loch Aineort to Loch Baghasdail, South Uist. The 4 new discrete areas are Loch Aineort, Stulaigh, Sgeir an Fheidh, and Loch Baghasdail. We recommended that the Loch Aineort area could be reduced in size by pulling back the outer boundary from the mouth of the loch to the 20 - 25 m depth contour just before the narrows to encompass potentially suitable depths for the maerl beds present here (option 1). And, that a new, smaller site could potentially be established for the two northern sea fan habitat records to the NE of the mouth of the loch, whilst also noting that these are dated from 1984. That recommendation did not encompass the northern sea fan species only record (of low or ‘rare’ abundance) from 2006 situated off Gleann Mor at the mouth of the loch to the south, but this is encompassed by option 2. | 1984 MCS Loch Eynort (South Uist) sublittoral survey, Scotland. 1995 Envision - South Uist Jul95. 2006 Seasearch Scotland Inner & Outer Hebrides, mainly South Uist and Small Isles. |
Name: Loch Baghasdail (South Uist)+ Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | Name: Loch Aineort to Loch Baghasdail, South Uist Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | This area is one of four generated from the 2018 area called Loch Aineort to Loch Baghasdail, South Uist. The 4 areas are Loch Aineort, Stulaigh, Sgeir an Fheidh, and Loch Baghasdail (all off South Uist). We suggested that consideration be given to encompassing the northern sea fan habitat record to the NE of the mouth of the loch (option 2) which was previously included in the 2018 illustrative area, whilst also noting that this record may be naturally protected by the topography here (stepped bedrock reflected in the station name ‘Pinnacle SE of Tripach’). | 1990 UMBSM North & South Uist and Benbecula sealochs survey. 1995 SNH BSM survey of South Uist maerl beds. 2006 Seasearch Scotland Inner & Outer Hebrides survey. |
Name: Loch Seaforth (Lewis)+ Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities (option 2 only) | Name: Loch Seaforth, Lewis Region: North Minch Features: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | Four maerl records towards the head of the loch and northern sea fan and sponge communities records at the mouth (including a sea fan species only record) were encompassed by the 2018 illustrative management area. The distance between the inner records and those at the mouth of the loch is ca. 14 km with the middle basins comprising burrowed mud, inshore deep mud with burrowing heart urchins, and two kelp PMFs (note these PMFs are not the focus of this project). Given the large distance between records, we suggested this area could be reduced to concentrate on the maerl bed records (option 1) or potentially split into two discrete areas. | 1988 UMBSM Harris and Lewis sealochs survey. 2014 SEPA Loch Sìophoirt (Loch Seaforth). |
Name: Sgeir an Fheidh (South Uist) Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Maerl beds | Name: Loch Aineort to Loch Baghasdail, South Uist Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities, seagrass beds | This small area is one of four generated from the 2018 area called Loch Aineort to Loch Baghasdail, South Uist. The 4 areas are Loch Aineort, Stulaigh, Sgeir an Fheidh, and Loch Baghasdail (all off South Uist). When the original 2018 illustrative area was redesigned, consideration was given to extending the new Stulaigh area to the south to encompass the two maerl bed records off Sgeir an Fheidh. In the absence of data on seabed habitats in between, we recommended that a discrete area might be more appropriate. | 1995 SNH BSM survey of South Uist maerl beds. 1995 Envision - South Uist survey. |
Name: Sound of Taransay and West Loch Tarbert (Harris)+ Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, seagrass beds | Name: Sound of Taransay, Harris Region: North Minch Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, seagrass beds | New records of seagrass beds were acquired during a 2021 MarPAMM survey off the SE of Taransay. Whilst maerl beds are also likely to be more widely distributed, we felt that the 2018 illustrative area’s large size did not reflect the mapped distribution of PMFs and recommended that it be reduced in size to the south-west (option 1). | 1990 UMBSM Harris and Lewis sealochs survey. 2007 Seasearch Scotland Outer Hebrides and Small Isles survey. 2021 SNH MarPAMM Outer Hebrides DDV survey. |
Name: South-East Barra & Vatersay+ Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Maerl beds (both parts), maerl and coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers (South-East Barra part of the area only) | Name: South-East Barra Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, maerl and coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers | The 2018 illustrative boundary was designed to align with the bottom SW boundary edge of the Sound of Barra SAC. We suggested the area could be reshaped to the north-east and south-west to better reflect the distribution of records. We highlighted that an additional area to the SW (off Vatersay) also supported clusters of maerl bed records from surveys undertaken in 2017 and 2018. This area was subsequently incorporated into both options as a multi-part area. The 2018 South-East Barra illustrative area was previously being considered as a BACI site to inform the effectiveness of management measures for the Sound of Barra SAC but this is not being progressed as outlined in the introduction. | 1996 MNCR Barra survey. 2015 Seasearch Scotland Hebrides survey. 2016 SNH Sound of Barra benthic camera survey. 2017 SNH Sound of Barra infaunal survey. 2018 SNH/MSS Sound of Barra boxes benthic survey. 2023 NatureScot/Marine Directorate Sound of Barra benthic camera survey (cruise 0523A). |
Name: Stulaigh (South Uist)+ Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers (option 2 only) | Name: Loch Aineort to Loch Baghasdail, South Uist Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | This area is one of four generated from the 2018 area called Loch Aineort to Loch Baghasdail, South Uist. The 4 areas are Loch Aineort, Stulaigh, Sgeir an Fheidh, and Loch Baghasdail (all off South Uist). We suggested that the Stulaigh area could be extended beyond the western edge of the 2018 area to include maerl or coarse shell gravel (option 2). Seagrass beds and northern sea fan and sponge communities were included in the original, larger 2018 combined area but are not confirmed as present around Stulaigh, so were not considered for inclusion in this area. | 1984 MCS Loch Eynort (South Uist) sublittoral survey, Scotland. |
Name: Loch a’ Chnuic and Ardilistry (Islay) Region: Argyll Features: Seagrass beds | Name: Loch a’Chnuic and Ardilistry, Islay Region: Clyde Features: Seagrass beds | The 2018 management area was based on a single seagrass record off Kildalton House in Loch a’Chnuic. We suggested the area could be reduced to exclude the embayment to the north-east at Port a’Chobhair. A series of additional 2023 seagrass bed records from both the original and a nearby location within Loch a’Chnuic are available on the SeagrassSpotter mapping tool. That portal also presents a 2021 seagrass bed record situated outwith the original 2018 boundary to the NE between Eilean Craobhach and Eilean a’Chuirn. | 2016 Seasearch Scotland Isle of Islay survey. |
Name: Loch Tarbert (Jura) Region: Argyll Features: Maerl beds | Name: Loch Tarbert, Jura Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Survey work in 2019 was unable to revisit a single (uncertain match) maerl bed record from 1982, situated in the narrows in relatively shallow waters. Based on available evidence (and a lack of additional PMF observations in the outer reaches of the 2018 area during a 2019 survey), we suggested this PMF management area could be reduced to include the rapids area and inner basins only. | 1982 OPRU Jura and Islay sublittoral survey. 2019 Marine Scotland Jura and Islay benthic camera survey. |
Name: Port Ellen (Islay) Region: Argyll Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers | Name: Port Ellen to Ardbeg, Islay Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | We recommended that the 2018 illustrative area be reshaped, with the section off Ardbeg and Lagavulin removed. There is one seagrass bed record here at the back of Eilean Imersay, but it is intertidal (Zostera noltii) and therefore not a feature of focus for this project. We recommended that a modified area should focus on the maerl bed records to the west of the original area off Laphroaig and Port Ellen and be extended slightly in the south. The two 1982 maerl records here that underpinned the initial 2018 proposal were supplemented with additional records of maerl beds and, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers during a 2019 Marine Scotland survey. We noted that a more ambitious option could consider incorporating a 1999 maerl record from a Seasearch survey to the southwest (4-5 km away at Port Asabuis) but recognised that the record had not been revalidated and that limited survey coverage in between indicated mixed sediment habitats that are not PMFs. | 1982 OPRU Jura and Islay sublittoral survey. 2019 Marine Scotland Jura and Islay benthic camera survey. |
Name: Ulva and Loch na Keal (Mull)+ Region: Argyll Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | Area: Ulva and Loch na Keal Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | We suggested the 2018 area could be indented at the mouth of Loch na Keal to better reflect the distribution of existing records and the ecological requirements of the maerl beds to the south of Ulva. We noted the potential for seagrass beds to be more widely distributed in the shallows to the east of Inch Kenneth (based on aerial photography - note that the seagrass bed record here is adjacent to the maerl record so may not be immediately apparent on the maps). Option 1 comprises two discrete areas (multi-part). | 1983 UCS Mull sublittoral survey. 1989 UMBSM Mull sealochs survey, Scotland. 2016 Seasearch Scotland/Porcupine Staffa Archipelago survey. |
Name: Ardlamont Point (Cowal)+ Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers | Name: Ardlamont Point, Argyll Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | The 2018 illustrative area originally encompassed a cluster of maerl and maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers records (we suggested adding the later as a feature) in the south-east off Ardlamont Point. Subsequently, scattered maerl bed records were confirmed to the west and NW from a 2018 benthic survey. Although there is ca. 1.7 km between the most north-westerly record and the next nearest data point to the SE, little is known about the seabed in between. The 2018 area extended out to and beyond the 30 m contour in places and we recommend reshaping (indented on the west) guided by the 20 - 25 m bathymetric contours to reflect maerl bed distribution in this region (subject to adhering to the boundary setting principles including the use of an appropriate buffer). | 1988-90 UMBSM Loch Fyne survey. 2010 SNH survey to establish the distribution of Priority Marine Features in the Clyde Sea area. 2018 Marine Scotland South Arran and the Clyde Sea benthic camera survey. |
Name: Inchmarnock (Bute)+ Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Name: Inchmarnock Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | The 2018 boundary encompassed the entirety of Inchmarnock. We suggested that the area could be reshaped to reflect the distribution of maerl bed records to the north-west and south-east of the island. We further suggested that amendments also consider providing more of a buffer for the maerl bed to the west, in line with the agreed boundary setting principles. We advised that further information was still required to confirm the status of a possible flame shell bed recorded here in 2010 (shown in the mapping), noting that this record would be afforded protection by the proposal. | 2006 / 2007 Seasearch Scotland Kilbrannan Sound and Sound of Bute survey. 2007 Seasearch Scotland Loch Fyne survey. 2010 SNH survey to establish the distribution of Priority Marine Features in the Clyde Sea area. 2013 Seasearch Scotland Inchmarnock survey. 2018 Marine Scotland South Arran and the Clyde Sea benthic camera survey. |
Name: Kyles of Bute+ Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Name: Kyles of Bute Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Two distinct areas of maerl beds occur at opposite ends of the 2018 illustrative area. The maerl records in the north-west are from 1989 and the cluster to the south-east are from 2010. Other records suggest that the central channel through the Kyles of Bute supports burrowed mud and mixed muddy sediment habitats. Maerl records to the south-east are very degraded with <1% live maerl observed. We recommended that the area be reshaped to concentrate on the records to the north-west where better quality, inaccessible habitat was considered more likely on the basis of feedback from fishers at a stakeholder meeting in 2020. | 1989 UMBSM northern Firth of Clyde sealochs survey. 2010 SNH survey to establish the distribution of Priority Marine Features in the Clyde Sea area. |
Name: Loch Long, Upper (Argyll) Region: Clyde Features: Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, horse mussel beds, blue mussel beds | Name: Loch Long (Upper) Region: Clyde Features: Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, horse mussel beds | The distribution of records in the 2018 area is restricted to the coastal fringes of Loch Long. There are two additional horse mussel bed records and a single blue mussel bed record to the south (outside the proposed management area), but these records are within the Coulport Fishing Exclusion Area. The features are recorded along the loch edges. We suggested the area could be reduced to focus on the steep edges of the loch but recognised this might present challenges from a compliance perspective. | 1989 UMBSM northern Firth of Clyde sealochs survey. 2010 SNH survey to establish the distribution of Priority Marine Features in the Clyde Sea area. 2015 Seasearch Scotland Loch Goil and Long survey. 2017 Seasearch Scotland Loch Long survey. 2018 Seasearch Scotland Loch Long survey. |
Name: Sannox (Arran) Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Name: Sannox, Arran Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | A 2018 benthic survey confirmed that maerl beds were restricted to the northern half of the original 2018 illustrative area. We recommended the area be reduced accordingly and reshaped using agreed boundary setting principles, allowing for an appropriate buffer out to depths suitable for maerl beds in this region. | 2006 Seasearch Scotland Arran survey. 2018 Marine Scotland South Arran and the Clyde Sea benthic camera survey. |
| 2026 proposed PMF management area name (option 1) / region (SMR) / features | NatureScot advice since 2018 | Evidence [marked with a # where new data on NMPi post-dates our advice] |
|---|---|---|
Name: Back of Ollaberry, Yell Sound (Shetland) Region: Shetland Isles Features: Horse mussel beds | This area originated from a single horse mussel bed record collected during a May 2019 Marine Scotland survey (Shucksmith et al., 2021). The area boundary was informed by subsequent UHI survey work that mapped potential horse mussel habitat to the south, and two small, lower density areas to the north. Mussel density in the UHI mapped areas was deemed too sparse to qualify as the PMF but is likely to provide supporting habitat adjacent to the original bed record. We also proposed an alternative, more ambitious approach based on merging the new area with the existing (but refined) Quey Firth area to the north. We noted the absence of records in between to support this broader proposal, but recommended that the Back of Ollaberry area be considered alongside any reduction to Quey Firth. | 2019 Marine Scotland Shetland benthic camera survey. 2019 UHI survey (note that point and polygon data collected during this survey were not considered to qualify as the horse mussel bed PMF so are not shown on NMPi). |
Name: Linga Sound (Shetland) Region: Shetland Isles Features: Horse mussel beds | A high density horse mussel bed was found in Linga Sound off the Head of Berg during a December 2019 UHI survey funded by Marine Scotland. The survey was guided by an earlier 2019 EMFF survey that recorded high quantities of dead horse mussel shells within the proposed area and moderate densities of live mussels (with no clumping so not classed as a bed) further north in the sound (outside the 2026 proposed area), to the SE of The Flaeshans. | 2019 UHI Shetland DDV survey (note that PMF polygon ‘mapping’ data are not yet included on NMPi - relevant PMF point records were published in 2025). |
Name: Lunna Ness, North (Shetland) Region: Shetland Isles Features: Maerl beds | We recommended a new area be developed off the NW coast of Lunna Ness following a Marine Scotland survey in May 2019. This reported seven records of maerl beds and two of maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers. Follow-up survey work by UHI in December 2019 (commissioned by Scottish Government) mapped the maerl beds in finer detail and identified adjacent areas with lower maerl abundance. On the basis of the survey work and in accordance with boundary setting principles, we recommended the area could be drawn from the coastline and drawn out to the ~30 m depth contour to reflect maerl bed depth preferences in Shetland. | 2019 Marine Scotland Shetland benthic camera survey. 2019 UHI Shetland DDV survey (note that PMF polygon ‘mapping’ data are not yet included on NMPi - relevant point records were published in 2025). |
Name: Whalsay, south-west (Shetland) Region: Shetland Isles Features: Horse mussel beds | Horse mussel beds were recorded to the SW of Whalsay, off the Flaeshans of Sandwick during a 2021 UHI survey. The work, commissioned by NatureScot, explored habitat extent around a single 2017 record. We recommended an area be developed that encompassed the known extent of habitat as derived from the drop-down video tows undertaken (with the boundary informed by adjacent non-PMF observations). | 2017 JNCC/MSS East of Shetland benthic camera survey. 2021 NatureScot UHI NE mainland Shetland benthic camera survey. |
Name: Bay of Swartmill (Orkney) Region: Orkney Islands Features: Maerl beds | A 2019 survey showed mega-rippled waves of maerl beds in the proposed new area. The full extent of habitat is unknown. | 2019 Marine Scotland Orkney benthic camera survey. |
Name: Bay of Tuquoy, Westray (Orkney) Region: Orkney Islands Features: Seagrass beds | The proposed PMF management area encompasses an extensive seagrass bed mapped by Project Seagrass in 2021. The bed is visible on aerial imagery. The survey work included multiple ground-truth validation points. | 2021 Project Seagrass Orkney polygon data. |
Name: Little Minch+ Region: West Highlands Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities | We recommended this area to afford protection to high densities of northern sea fans in an exposed, deep-water setting. The sea fan communities here support a varied sponge fauna with white cluster anemones at some locations. We proposed that the focus of measures be around the clusters of existing 2011 records noting that it may be possible to split the area (option 1 - multi-part), based on available sampling and bathymetric data. The lower relief area between the NE and SW parts under option 1 primarily supports northern sea fan species records only (low density presence amongst poorly sorted silty gravelly sands with scattered pebbles, cobbles and boulders). | 2011 Marine Scotland North Minch benthic camera survey. |
Name: Pabay, South-West (Inner Sound) Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, flame shell beds | A cluster of new flame shell bed and maerl beds records from 2019 and 2021 seabed habitat surveys (drop-down camera sampling and divers) led to the proposal to the south-west of Pabay, supplementing the initial area identified to the north of the island in 2018 for the same features. | 2019 Marine Scotland Inner Sound benthic camera survey. 2019 NatureScot Inner Sound dive survey. 2021 NatureScot Red Rocks DDV survey. |
Name: Sgeir na Sean Chroit (Upper Loch Linnhe) Region: West Highlands Features: Flame shell beds, horse mussel beds | This new area encompasses flame shell beds and horse mussel beds. The comparatively modest size reflects the extent of current survey data and the physical setting (steeply sloping seabed at the edge of the loch), with the outer boundary crossing the 30 - 50 m bathymetry contours. | 2016, 2019 and 2020 Seasearch Scotland Lochs Linnhe and Leven surveys. |
Name: East Loch Tarbert and Scalpay (Harris)+ Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Horse mussel beds (East Loch Tarbert part of the multi-part area only), maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, northern sea fan and sponge communities (latter three interests within the Scalpay part only) | Originally suggested as one large, new area “East Loch Tarbert”, due to the presence of a range of PMFs, the area was subsequently split into two discrete parts separated by an open area in the central part of the loch. | 1990 UMBSM Harris and Lewis sealochs survey. 2000 Seasearch Scotland - Outer Hebrides survey. 2007 Seasearch Scotland Outer Hebrides and Small Isles survey. |
Name: Rangas, Bhotarsaigh and Sursaigh (North Uist)+ Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Maerl beds | The area was proposed due to the presence of maerl beds in tide-swept channels amongst rocky outcrops and between small islands including Sursaigh and Taghaigh. | 2005 SNH BSM survey of the Sound of Harris. 2014 Seasearch Scotland Hebrides survey. 2021 NatureScot - MarPAMM - South Lewis and Harris, Outer Hebrides. |
Name: Gigha, South Region: Argyll Features: Maerl beds | Three clusters of maerl bed records collected on a 2019 MarPAMM Project survey are encompassed by this new area proposal. The maerl beds were recorded to the south of Cara Island, between Cara Island and Gigha, and off the south-western end of Gigha between the island and some rocky reef outcrops. It is possible there is a continuation of the bed between Gigha and Cara Island to the east - so the suggested new area encompasses this. | 2019 SNH MarPAMM Kintyre survey. |
| 2018 illustrative PMF management area name / region / features | NatureScot advice since 2018 | Evidence [marked with a # where new data on NMPi post-dates our advice] |
|---|---|---|
Name: Ronas Voe, Shetland Region: Shetland Isles Features: Horse mussel beds | We advised that this area lacked survey data more recent than localised UHI sampling undertaken in 2011 (Shelmerdine et al., 2013). That work resulted in one record of horse mussel beds being dropped from the PMF dataset (no longer deemed to be present at the 1987 survey location) but the sampling did not cover the other historical records of this feature. We observed that the original 2018 area didn’t reflect the more restricted distribution of PMFs, with the outer boundary extending ~2.5 km north of the outermost of the three remaining horse mussel bed records. Doubts were also raised regarding the likelihood of continued presence of any of these other records following reports of highly anoxic conditions in the voe in the early 2000s (discussed at stakeholder meeting on 20 January 2020). We noted that the narrows could support tide-swept communities including horse mussels, but that the 2011 survey findings and a lack of recent evidence after known impacts were a concern and recommended that the area be removed. | 1974 ITE Shetland sublittoral survey. 1986-87 OPRU/MNCR Shetland, Foula and Fair Isle survey. 2011 UHI survey (restricted coverage sampling that did not record any extant PMF presence but did result in one of four original MNCR records of horse mussel beds being dropped). |
Name: Duirinish, Skye Region: South Minch [now West Highlands] Features: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | The 2018 area encompassed two markedly different features, with a single 2010 record of northern sea fan at the NW end (a species record of indeterminate abundance and potentially on artificial wreck substrates) and a single maerl bed record from a 1988 MNCR survey at the SE end. There was very little survey data from the 10 km of coastline between the PMF records, but based on Admiralty charts we advised suitable habitat for northern sea fans would be minimal (within the 2018 area) and that the feature should be dropped. Whilst noting that the maerl bed record described dense live maerl in 1988, and that this could potentially be more widespread around the shoal to the SW, we recognised that it was inappropriate to pursue a proposed management area solely on the basis of the single MNCR record without more recent verification (in accordance with the design principles adopted). We therefore recommended that the area should be removed. | 1988 MNCR Skye sealochs survey. 2010 Seasearch Scotland Skye. |
Name: Loch Eynort, Skye Region: South Minch [now West Highlands] Features: Maerl beds | This 2018 area was developed around a single 1988 MNCR record of maerl, with no other records of the 11 most sensitive PMFs being considered in this project. The 1988 survey report describes the maerl here as sparse (two maerl species recorded at occasional abundance) amongst a substrate of mobile pebbles. Whilst indicative of potential habitat presence in this location, we recommended the area be removed, based on this being an older record with comparatively sparse maerl (a marginal habitat record in terms of the PMF definition). | 1988 MNCR Skye sealochs survey. |
Name: Longay, Inner Sound Region: South Minch [now West Highlands] Features: Flame shell beds | Longay was proposed as a new PMF management area in the 2019 post-consultation report, following local scallop diver observations shared in September 2018 (in part stimulated by the consultation). Provisional holding records based on the details provided were not validated by NatureScot diving in 2019 which recorded only individual flame shells and scattered nests off the southern end of the island. NatureScot subsequently undertook targeted drop-down video sampling in 2021, but the footage was not fully analysed until 2025. In the absence of clarity around PMF presence and distribution, we recommended that this area be removed in March 2024 (the deadline after which the proposed areas started their formal ‘assessment’ journey). The analysis contract (Moore, in prep. - NatureScot Research Report 1386) has since confirmed the presence of localised flame shell bed habitat at two survey stations off SW Longay (in 2021). Further survey work is recommended to determine the extent and status of this habitat. Prior to recommending that the area be removed, we did also discuss reshaping to confer protection of maerl and flame shell bed records to the north of the island. However, these were ultimately encompassed by the Red Rocks and Longay MPA. | #2021 NatureScot benthic camera survey of the Inner Sound. |
Name: Sound of Raasay, Skye Region: South Minch [now West Highlands] Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities, fan mussel | The ~17.6 km long, narrow illustrative PMF area encompasses records of northern sea fan and sponge communities from Seasearch surveys in 2005 and 2014 and one from a 2017 Invertote fish farm survey positioned towards the southern and northern ends respectively. A single fan mussel record from a 2014 Marine Scotland Science is situated between the sea fan records with knowledge gaps apparent over the 4-6 km stretches between the three sets of records. Based on charted bathymetry, we advised that whilst the northern sea fan and sponge communities PMF was likely broadly distributed along the steep rocky reefs here, the evidence was marginal with the features afforded a degree of natural protection by the rugged terrain. We recommended that the proposal be removed and consideration be given to alternative areas underpinned by a more robust evidence-base. | 2005 Seasearch Scotland Skye - various. 2014 Seasearch Scotland Skye survey. 2014 Marine Scotland Science cruise: 1714a. 2017 Invertote fish farm application - surveyor: Fish Vet Group commissioned Aquasky Ltd. |
Name: Enard Bay Region: West Highlands Features: Seagrass beds | The 2018 illustrative area was developed around a single 1987 MNCR seagrass bed record at Poll Loisgann in Enard Bay. This location had been re-surveyed in 2004 and the bed was not relocated (see SNH CR 076). The record was amended to reflect the current status in the PMF database. There are currently no extant records of sensitive PMF habitats in this area, so we recommended that the proposal be removed. | N/A |
Name: Sound of Harris, Lewis 7 Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Seagrass beds | Survey work was undertaken in 2021 to verify the distribution of seagrass beds in the Sound of Harris that had previously been mapped using aerial photography. Whilst seagrass was confirmed at all other mapping locations, the drop-down video survey only recorded kelp in this polygon. We subsequently recommended the area be removed. | 2021 SNH MarPAMM Outer Hebrides drop-down video survey. |
Name: Ardchaivaig, Mull Region: South Minch [now Argyll] Features: Seagrass beds | The area was designed around a single, dense, but comparatively small (<10 m) seagrass bed record off Uisken beach from 2017. Upon review of aerial photography, we concluded that the shallow bed was afforded protection by flanking rocky outcrops and islets within the bay and likely inaccessible to towed bottom-contacting gear so could be dropped. An additional seagrass bed record from a little further west in the bay (potentially from an additional <10 m area of habitat) was added to the SeagrassSpotter portal in 2022. This second record is not currently in the PMF database. | 2017 Seagrass Spotter. |
| 2026 proposed management area name / region / features | 2018 illustrative management area name / region / features |
|---|---|
Name: Lunning Sound (Shetland) Region: Shetland Isles Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers | Name: Lunning Sound, Shetland Region: Shetland Features: Maerl beds |
Name: Copinsay (Orkney)+ Region: Orkney Islands Features: Horse mussels, fan mussel (option 2 only) [additional observations of horse mussel beds that lie outside the option 1 area, and one beyond the option 2 area, are from a 2024 NatureScot-Marine Directorate survey] | Name: Copinsay, Orkney Region: Orkney Features: Horse mussel beds [Note horse mussel beds were included as an ammendment in the 2019 post-consultation report to correct the error of seagrass beds being listed in the 2018 consultation |
Name: Hoy Sound (Orkney)+ Region: Orkney Islands Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds [There is one maerl and coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers record in option 2 but this was not a focus for the selection of this area] | Name: Hoy Sound to South Walls, Orkney (West) Region: Orkney Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, seagrass beds |
Name: Papa Westray, South (Orkney)+ Region: Orkney Islands Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds | Name: Papa Westray, Orkney Region: Orkney Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds |
Name: Orkney Sounds and Firths (South)+ [option 1 is two discrete areas] Region: Orkney Islands Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds, horse mussel beds, fan mussel | Name: Orkney Sounds and Firths (south) Region: Orkney Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds, horse mussel beds |
Name: Widewall Bay (Orkney)+ Region: Orkney Islands Features: Seagrass beds | Name: Widewall Bay, Orkney Region: Orkney Features: Seagrass beds |
Name: East of BUTEC (Inner Sound) Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, flame shell beds | Name: N Inner Sound Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds |
Name: Eigg, South-East Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities | Name: Eigg Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities |
Name: Inverie, Loch Nevis (Knoydart)+ Region: West Highlands Features: Seagrass beds | Name: Inverie, Loch Nevis Region: South Minch Features: Seagrass beds |
Name: Loch Eil (Lochaber) Region: West Highlands Features: Horse mussel beds | Name: Loch Eil Region: South Minch Features: Horse mussel beds |
Name: Loch nan Ceall (Arisaig) Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds | Name: Loch nan Ceall, Arisaig Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds |
Name: Loch Scavaig (Skye) Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, northern sea fan and sponge communities [Additional records of maerl beds that lie on the boundary of the area to the west of Elgol are from a survey in 2024 undertaken by NatureScot and Ross, Sutherland, Skye and Lochalsh Fisherman's Association (RSSLA). These records came through after the proposed area was developed and the agreed design principles have not taken these into account] | Name: Loch Scavaig Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, northern sea fan and sponge communities |
Name: Loch Sligachan (Skye) Region: West Highlands Features: Flame shell beds, horse mussel beds | Name: Raasay to Scalpay, Skye Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, horse mussel beds, seagrass beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities |
Name: Muck and Godag+ [option 1 is two discrete areas] Region: West Highlands Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities | Name: Muck Region: South Minch Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities |
Name: Pabay, North (Inner Sound) Region: West Highlands Features: Maerl beds, flame shell beds | Name: Pabay, Inner Sound Region: South Minch Features: Flame shell beds |
Name: Berneray, East (Sound of Harris) Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Seagrass beds | Name: Sound of Harris, Lewis 6 Region: North Minch Features: Seagrass beds |
Name: Boreray and Berneray (North Uist) Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Seagrass beds | Name: Sound of Harris, Lewis 8 Region: North Minch Features: Seagrass beds |
Name: East of Mingulay+ [option 1 is two discrete areas] Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities [Neither option fully encompasses a predictive habitat polygon available in the GeMS database (visible on NMPi and NatureScot’s MPA and PMF Management ArcGIS StoryMap). This polygon is considered to be of lower confidence. It was derived from the interpretation of multibeam backscatter data with limited ground-truthing (a single video transect tow in the north-east corner) collected during a wider 2003 survey (Mapping INshore Coral Habitats (the MINCH) project - see the ‘Mingulay 4’ survey area). The 2003 mapping outputs were used as supplementary evidence alongside the results of a 2010 MSS Mingulay seabed camera survey to inform the boundaries of the options proposed.] | Name: East of Mingulay Region: South Minch Features: Northern sea fan and sponge communities |
Name: Lochs Tamnabhaigh, Tealasbaigh, Reasort, and Crabhadail (Harris) Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, northern sea fan and sponge communities | Name: Lochs Tamnabhaigh, Tealasbaigh, Reasort, and Crabhadail, Harris Region: North Minch Features: Maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, northern sea fan and sponge communities |
Name: Pabaigh, South (Sound of Harris) Region: Outer Hebrides Features: Seagrass beds | Name: Sound of Harris, Lewis 2 Region: North Minch Features: Seagrass beds |
Name: Loch a' Chumhainn (Mull) Region: Argyll Features: Maerl beds | Name: Poll Athach, N Mull Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds |
Name: Loch Indaal (Islay) Region: Argyll Features: Horse mussel beds, seagrass beds | Name: Loch Indaal, Islay Region: Clyde Features: Horse mussel beds, seagrass beds |
Name: Port Appin to Lismore (Loch Linnhe) Region: Argyll Features: Flame shell beds, horse mussel beds [information on the status of the flame shell bed in the proposed area was published in Scotland’s Marine Assessment 2020] | Name: Port Appin Region: Clyde Features: Flame shell beds, horse mussel beds |
Name: Sound of Iona (Mull) Region: Argyll Features: Seagrass beds [we are aware of additional, more recent information on seagrass beds and confirmation of the continued presence of maerl beds in the sound and are pursuing the flow of this information through to the PMF mapping layers in due course] | Name: Sound of Iona Region: South Minch Features: Seagrass beds |
Name: West Loch Tarbert (Kintyre)+ Region: Argyll Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds, blue mussel beds | Name: West Loch Tarbert Region: South Minch Features: Maerl beds, seagrass beds |
Name: Gourock (Inverclyde)+ Region: Clyde Features: Horse mussel beds | Name: Gourock (Inverclyde) Region: Clyde Features: Horse mussel beds |
Name: Skipness Point (Kintyre)+ Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds | Name: Skipness Point, Argyll Region: Clyde Features: Maerl beds |
