Loch Sween NCMPA - designation documents

Loch Sween Nature Conservation MPA has a complex shape with many narrow arms, which supports a diversity of seabed habitats.

Loch Sween NCMPA was designated to protect rich maerl beds and burrowed mud, which supports the volcano worm. It also encompasses the high energy tide-swept waters at the mouth of Loch Sween and around the McCormaig Isles where the sediments are much coarser.

This NCMPA also safeguards one of Scotland’s most important populations of native oyster.

Conservation objectives

Conserve the protected features of the Loch Sween NCMPA

Protected features

Biodiversity:

  • burrowed mud
  • maerl beds
  • native oysters
  • sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities

Related links

Loch Sween Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area Order 2014

Document downloads

Marine Protected Area - Site Summary - Loch Sween

pdf, 2.01MB

Marine Protected Area - designation map - Loch Sween

pdf, 1.98MB

Marine Protected Area - Data confidence assessment - Loch Sween possible MPA

pdf, 2.30MB

Marine Protected Area - Detailed Assessment Against the MPA Selection Guidelines - Loch Sween

pdf, 1.05MB

Marine Protected Area - management options paper - Loch Sween

pdf, 2.89MB

Contact

Marine Protected Areas

[email protected]

Disclaimer: Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has changed the name to NatureScot as of the 24th August 2020. 
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