Following the establishment of the No Take Zone (NTZ) in Lamlash Bay, the Cabinet Secretary requested that monitoring work take place to assess the benefits derived from the NTZ. This monitoring covers two elements: (1) general biodiversity and (2) scallops. These work areas are being led by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Marine Scotland Science (formerly Fisheries Research Services) respectively, but with the organisations collaborating on each element.

SNH surveys

Broadscale mapping of the seabed biotopes (habitats and species complexes) in Lamlash Bay and surrounding waters took place over 2008 and 2009, for which the final report is nearing publication. The survey techniques for this mapping involved the use of high-resolution sonar images alongside photographs and videos of the seabed in order to determine the type and extent of seabed habitats in the area (Figure 1). Some sediment grabbing was also used for analysis of sediment type and burrowing fauna, but was kept to a minimum in order to avoid physical damage to the seabed, particularly maerl habitat.

Mapping of Marine Habitats and Species within the
Community Marine Conservation Area at Lamlash Bay, 2008- Read

Although the mapping exercise is much more detailed, a general characterisation of the survey area may be given as follows: The middle and southern part of Lamlash Bay is generally soft muddy sand. The northern bay (including the NTZ) and north channel are more varied, with muddy sands and patches of harder substrate. Outer Lamlash Bay has a greater mixture of habitat types - in deeper water the sediment is soft, muddy sand while shallower areas have mixed sediments, boulders and beds of maerl.

While this mapping exercise is not, in itself, monitoring, the maps will be used to inform a long-term monitoring plan by allowing the identification of monitoring stations and biodiversity features suitable for repeat visits on a 3 to 5 year cycle. This monitoring plan will be designed in the next couple of months, with the first round of monitoring expected to take place in summer 2010.

Marine Scotland Science surveys

Marine Scotland-Science conducted an initial survey in June 2009, primarily to establish baseline data for the scallop population. The survey has been used in the development of a new low-impact photographic method for assessing scallop populations. The photographs also provide SNH with additional ground-truthing data for the biodiversity element of the wider project.

The survey covered the NTZ and two adjacent areas (Figure 2), sampling 310 stations each with 4 replicate camera drops, thus totalling 1240 survey quadrants (area under each photograph = 2m2). Results of this survey are not available yet, but Marine Scotland-Science are planning a repeat visit for November 2010, using a refined camera system to gather further baseline data on the local scallop population. It is also intended that a ROV will be used to survey shallow areas, which should also provide further useful data for SNH.

In addition to providing information on the benefits of the NTZ, the data will also be used for purposes outside the remit of the Lamlash Bay project. For example, the data may be useful for the development of new management measures and may inform advice provided to the Clyde Inshore Fisheries Group. Furthermore, it is hoped that the camera system developed in Lamlash Bay will be used in other coastal areas around Scotland.

(with thanks to Scottish Natural Heritage for contributing this information)