Category Archives: Priority Marine Features

Sea-searchers recognised for 31-year contribution to marine conservation.

SNH has supported Seasearch in Scotland for many years now. The skills and enthusiasm of their union of marine life investigators has in turn supported our own research. Some of our marine team are Seasearch volunteers in their free time. … Continue reading

Posted in Awards, biodiversity, citizen science, coastal, Community engagement, conservation, mapping, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, Priority Marine Features, Research, sea life, SNH, survey, Uncategorized, Volunteering, Year of Coasts and Waters 2020 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Monitoring the condition of our Marine Protected Areas

Almost 90 years after St Kilda’s last 36 residents were evacuated to the mainland, the islands remain hugely important for the wildlife they support.   The World Heritage Site hosts huge seabird populations, including the world’s second largest colony of North … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, Birds, conservation, cowries, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, photography, Priority Marine Features, Protected Areas, Scottish Natural Heritage, sea life, SNH, survey, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Cross-border partnership connects people and Marine Protected Areas

We’re really pleased to be part of a €6.4 million cross-border partnership project to improve the management and monitoring of several Marine Protected Areas between Northern Ireland, Ireland and the west coast of Scotland. Over the next four years the … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, coastal, Community engagement, conservation, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, Priority Marine Features, Projects, Protected Areas, science, Scottish Natural Heritage, sea life, SNH, Uncategorized, wildlife management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

#CycleForNature leg 6 — west as far as Islay

Leg six of #CycleForNature started at the beautiful Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, where the dramatic scenery includes Munro summits, an exposed whaleback ridge and ice-carved gullies. It’s been another packed schedule for Francesca, as she describes below. I spent … Continue reading

Posted in Access, active travel, Argyll National Nature Reserves, Creag Meagaidh NNR, Cycle for Nature, cycling, deer, MPA, National Nature Reserves, National Walking and Cycling Network, Natural Health Service, Priority Marine Features, SNH, SSSI, Staff profile, Uncategorized, Volunteering, wildlife management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Orcas, Warships and Seasearch

Today we have a further insight into the contribution volunteer citizen scientists make to marine conservation in Scotland. Our guest post today comes from Natalie Hirst, a coordinator for Seasearch Scotland. Seasearch is a project for volunteer sports divers who have … Continue reading

Posted in citizen science, coastal, Community engagement, conservation, mapping, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, Priority Marine Features, sea life, SNH, survey, Uncategorized, Volunteering | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

SNH divers assess Loch Carron flame shell bed damage

Images of bright orange, dead flame shells strewn across the seabed in Loch Carron received widespread social and mainstream media coverage recently. Recreational divers had reported that the flame shell bed – a rare and ecologically important habitat – had … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, conservation, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, Priority Marine Features, Protected Areas, Research, sea life, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

A world of riches above and below Scotland’s seas

 A colourful catalogue showcasing the rich biodiversity in Scotland’s seas has just been published on our website. Illustrated with photos and maps, the intriguing catalogue describes Scotland’s 81 Priority Marine Features (PMFs). PMFs are the habitats and species considered to be … Continue reading

Posted in basking shark, biodiversity, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, photography, Priority Marine Features, Projects, Research, sea life, seals, Uncategorized, wildlife management | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Protecting Scotland’s maerl beds

The Scottish Government used an Urgent Marine Conservation Order (MCO) for the first time at the end of 2014, to protect a fragile ecosystem in the sea off Arran. Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead made the order in response to fishing … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, MPAs, photography, Priority Marine Features, Projects, Protected Areas, Research, Uncategorized, website | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Scotland’s Priority Marine Features – serpulid reefs

Scotland’s coasts and seas are home to around 8,000 animal and plant species. Priority Marine Features (PMFs) are the  81 species and habitats that we consider to be conservation priorities in our waters. The PMF list is used to help … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, Marine, Marine Protected Areas, MPA, photography, Priority Marine Features, Protected Areas, Research, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Scotland’s Priority Marine Features – deep-sea sponge communities

Priority Marine Features (PMFs) are species and habitats that we consider to be conservation priorities in Scottish waters. Our coasts and seas are home to around 8,000 animal and plant species. The PMF list is used to help target future … Continue reading

Posted in biodiversity, Marine, Priority Marine Features, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment