2011 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Lochs Linnhe, Etive, Leven and Eil broadscale validation benthic camera and grab survey - part A

The purpose of this benthic survey of Lochs Linnhe, Etive, Leven and Eil was to carry out a broadscale validation survey of the multiple MPA search features historically recorded within the survey area and to record new instances of these and assess previously identified Priority Marine Features (PMFs) and record any new instances of PMFs. Surveying in the Linnhe sea lochs system was split into two parts, A and B. Part A (described here) is a coarse grained characterisation of the search feature distribution, carried out by the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS), incorporated remote benthic sampling using a combination of grab and video (DDV and ROV). Part B was chiefly to examine discrete beds of specific PMFs, undertaken by Heriot-Watt University (HWU), using divers to provide detailed survey analyses on targeted high priority features, shore based survey methods and drop-down video. This study aimed to determine whether PMFs and MPA search features were still present at previously documented locations. A remote video and grab survey was conducted by SAMS for SNH between the 3rd and 26th August 2011 to collect detailed biological information on the seabed species and habitat features present. Drop-down video drift tows were undertaken at 181 sites within the Linnhe sea lochs system study area. The images, analysed under SNH contract by SAMS, were used to describe the nature of the seabed in terms of the physical structure and the species assemblages. An ROV survey was undertaken at 23 sites in Loch Linnhe, generally targeting locations where the northern featherstar (Swiftia pallida) had been recorded, and or where the proximity of steep underwater cliffs or pinnacles made deployment of the drop-down video problematic. Quantitative infaunal grab sampling was undertaken at 37 sites and multigrabs at 12 sites in Lochs Linnhe and Eil for marcofauna analysis and PSA. The vessels RV Seol Mara and SV Sir John Murray were used for this survey.

本次对林内、埃蒂夫、利文和伊尔湖的底栖调查旨在对调查区域内历史记录的多个海洋特别保护区（MPA）搜索特征进行大范围的验证调查，并记录这些特征的新的实例，评估之前确定的优先海洋特征（PMFs）以及记录任何新的PMFs实例。林内海 Lochs 的调查分为两部分，A 和 B。部分 A（此处描述）是对搜索特征分布的粗粒度表征，由苏格兰海洋科学协会（SAMS）实施，结合了远程底栖采样，使用了抓斗和视频（DDV 和 ROV）的组合。部分 B 主要由赫瑞瓦特大学（HWU）进行，旨在检查特定PMFs的离散床层，通过潜水员提供针对重点特征的详细调查分析，岸基调查方法和降落视频。本研究旨在确定PMFs和MPA搜索特征是否仍然存在于之前记录的位置。苏格兰海洋科学协会（SAMS）于2011年8月3日至26日之间为SNH进行了远程视频和抓斗调查，以收集关于海底物种和生境特征的详细生物信息。在林内海 Lochs 研究区域内的181个地点进行了降落视频拖曳。这些图像由SAMS在SNH合同下进行分析，用于描述海底的性质，包括物理结构和物种群落。在林内湖的23个地点进行了ROV调查，通常针对之前记录的北方羽毛星（Swiftia pallida）的位置，或者在水下悬崖或尖峰附近，降落视频部署存在问题的地点。在林内和伊尔湖的37个地点进行了定量底栖动物抓取采样，在12个地点进行了多抓采样，以进行宏观群落分析和PSA。此次调查使用了RV Seol Mara和SV Sir John Murray两艘船。