2012 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) biological analyses of Marine Scotland Science (MSS) West Mainland Orkney benthic camera survey

The purpose of this benthic survey off west mainland Orkney was to improve knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of species and habitats of recognised conservation importance, particularly priority marine features (PMFs). A further aim was to assess the implications of renewable energy developments on the features of importance. An underwater video survey was conducted by MSS for MSS on the 2nd March 2012 to collect detailed biological information on the seabed species and habitat features present. Drop-down video drift tows were undertaken at 10 sites. Analyses on the seabed video and still photographic imagery, commissioned by SNH, were used to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages.

本次在西奥克尼岛西岸进行的底栖调查旨在提升对具有公认保护价值物种和栖息地出现与分布的认知，尤其是重点海洋特征（PMFs）。此外，调查的另一个目的是评估可再生能源开发对重要特征的潜在影响。2012年3月2日，由MSS代表MSS进行了水下视频调查，以收集关于海底物种和栖息地特征的详细生物学信息。在10个地点进行了下拉视频拖曳作业。由SNH委托的海底视频和静止摄影图像分析，被用于从物理结构和物种群聚的角度描述海底的自然属性。