Broadscale mapping of sublittoral habitats in Loch Sunart, Scotland

Loch Sunart is a complex fjordic sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. The loch supports some of the best Scottish and UK examples of bedrock reef habitats and associated communities. The site has been selected as a candidate Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) on the basis of the quality of the reefs present. A biotope mapping survey of the sublittoral habitats within the loch was undertaken in July and August 2001, by a collaborative research group from the University of St Andrews, Heriot-Watt University and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH). Rapid broad scale remote acoustic mapping techniques were utilised and ground truth data were collected to enable the interpretation of the acoustically-classed seabed maps. These data supplemented the considerable body of existing knowledge on Loch Sunart marine communities and this information was depicted in a series of biotope distribution maps. Additional information source: Bates, C. R., Moore, C. G., Harries, D. B., Austin, W. and Lyndon, A. R. (2004). Broad scale mapping of sublittoral habitats in Loch Sunart, Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 006 (ROAME No. F01AA401C).