An Camus, Lochboisdale, South Uist BASELINE VIDEO SURVE Y REPORT 2016
Contents 1.0 Video Survey Analysis... 3 2.0 Appendix 1. Species identified and stills extracted from raw video footage... 5
1.0 Video Survey Analysis The footage for each transect shown in Figure 1 has been viewed and still images extracted of each species found. Figure 1: Proposed and recorded video survey transects Each species has then been identified or possible identification suggested, and frequency estimated using two separate abundance scales, both of which address different aspects of species occurrence. The frequency estimate recorded is based upon a variant of the Marine Scotland Science ROCA abundance scale, combining aspects of the Marine Nature Conservation Review abundance scale. The abundance classification used is defined below: Table 1: Frequency scale < 5 in 10 minutes < 25 and >5 in 10 minutes Common Every few minutes Abundant Almost all frames or multiples within some frames Super Abundant All frames and multiples within some or all frames The second abundance scale utilised is the JNCC SACFOR scale which focuses more on an overall occurrence within an area, and more commonly is utilised during quadrat sampling of habitats with encrusting epifauna or high density communities. However it can be applied to video footage by estimating the likely density of organisms within the area. Rather than just assessing the number of organisms to determine frequency, abundance within this format is also dependent on the size of the individuals and colonies assessed. As such there can be some discrepancy between the scales. This is particularly noticeable for occasional and rare species
which can change abundance classification under the SACFOR scale based upon the organisms average sizing. This information has been provided in Plates a, b & c in Appendix 1 and Appendix 2. The surveyed seabed consists of a couple of separate biotope types; coarse shelly sand for the majority of the surveyed area, classified as circalittoral coarse sediment ( SS. SCS. CCS), with exceptions at the start of T2 which can be identified as CR.MCR.EcCr.CarSwi and the end of T3, where the transect shallows out into the infralittoral zone; which for the purpose of this survey is considered shoreline and out with plausible effect from the proposal, which requires deeper water to operate. Of these the first and most common biotope type is considered of low diversity importance and is not considered to be at risk from significant impacts from aquaculture. The other biotope types may be classified as a PMF, details of which are outlined in the following section. Priority Marine Feature Species The video analysis did not identify any species classified as priority marine features in their own right. Priority Marine Feature - Habitats As stated the seabed consists mainly of circalittoral coarse sediment ( SS. SCS. CCS), however there are areas possibly identifiable as habitat priority marine feature ( PMF) - Northern sea fan and sponge communities: Caryophyllia smithii and Swiftia pallida on circalittoral rock ( CR.MCR.EcCr.CarSwi) based upon the presence of the Northern Sea Fan ( Swiftia pallida) and Devonshire Cup Coral Caryophyllia smithii). The area in which this PMF habitat occurs is limited to an area of shallowing at the narrows to the north of the site. Due to depth the site will by necessity not be located directly upon these features, furthermore it is expected that due to this bathometry and the tidal nature of the site, there should be a high tolerance to input from aquaculture. The features themselves appear to be patchy with little consistency in overall quality, as such it they are considered to be an average example of this habitat type, not exceptional. In conclusion the video survey identified two biotope types within the area which could be affected by the proposal, while one of which was Priority Marine Feature habitat CR.MCR. EcCr.CarSwi it formed a minority of the surveyed area. As the major occurring biotope type circalittoral coarse sediment is considered to be wide spread and of little ecological significance and the identified PMF features are at the periphery of the proposed area and of average quality it is considered likely that there will be no significant risk to the integrity of habitat diversity within this area as a result of an aquaculture site.
2.0 Appendix 1. Species identified and stills extracted from raw video footage Plate a. Species Identified on the Seabed: An Camus - Transect 1 Transect 1 Transect start: 82222 817562 Transect end: 82777 817308 Orientation: NW to SE Video duration: 23:52 08:48:00 09:11: 52 Common Name Latin Name Status Screen shot Time Frame Co-ordinate Video Frequency SACFOR JNCC Scale Great Scallop Pecten maximus No Special Status 08:50:11 02:11 82250 817532 Edible Sea Urchin Echinus esculentus IUCN Red List - Near Threatened 08:50:42 08:58:15 02:42 10:15 82259 817537 82451 817455 Seven- Armed Starfish Luidia ciliaris No Special Status 09:02:39 14:39 82551 817405
Common Starfish Asterias rubens No Special Status 09:03:51 09:04:54 15:51 16:54 82574 817390 82601 817376 Curled Octopus Eledone cirrhosa No Special Status 09:10:47 22:47 82750 817325 Hermit Crab Pagurus bernhardus No Special Status 08:53:32 05:32 82333 817505 3 - Brittlestar Ophiura ophiura No Special Status 08:57:06 09:06 82420 817471 3 - Tube Anemone Cerianthus lloydii No Special Status 09:00:11 12: 11 82496 817435 1-9/ 1000m2 1-3 cm
Plate b. Species Identified on the Seabed: An Camus - Transect 2 Transect 2 Transect start: Transect end: Orientation: Video duration: 82403 817371 09:57:00 82500 817586 10:08:53 NE to SW 11:53 Common Name Latin Name Status Screen shot Time Frame Co-ordinate Video Frequency SACFOR JNCC Scale Edible Sea Urchin Echinus esculentus IUCN Red List - Near Threatened 09:57:09 10:06:27 00:09 09:27 82404 817374 82479 8175453 1-9/ 1000m2 Cuckoo Wrasse Labrus mixtus IUCN Red List 09:57:18 10:07:08 00:18 10:08 82404 817377 82487 817558 3 -
Great Scallop Pecten maximus No Special Status 09:57:43 10:04:24 00:43 07:24 82407 817386 82466 817512 Northern Sea Fan Swiftia pallida UK BAP Priority PMF Component Species 09:58:33 09:58:47 01:33 01:47 82418 817403 82421 817411 Patchy Abundant 5-9% cover 1-9/ m2 Meadow Common Dragonet Callionymus lyra No Special Status 09:59:10 10:00:30 02:10 03:30 82422 817421 82432 817447
Tube Anemone Cerianthus lloydii No Special Status 10:01:56 10:03:30 04:56 06:30 82442 817470 82458 817497 1-9/ 1000m2 1-3 cm Brittlestar Ophiura ophiura No Special Status 10:03:28 06:28 82458 817497 3 - Sponge Halichondria panicea No Special Status 10:29:06 10:29:46 09:06 09:46 82477 817537 82481 817550 1% cover 1-9/ 100m2 Massive Seven- Armed Starfish Luidia ciliaris No Special Status 10:06:08 09:08 82477 817537
Spiny Starfish Marthasterias glacialis No Special Status 10:06:34 09:34 82479 817547 Common Starfish Asterias rubens No Special Status 10:07:17 10:17 82488 817561 Macrophyte and Hydroid Turf Various Species PMF 09:58:18 10:07:59 01:18 10:59 82415 817397 82492 817573 Patchy Abundant Common 10-19% cover Turf Devonshire Cup Coral Caryophyllia smithii PMF Component Species 09:58:48 09:58:51 01:48 01:51 82421 817411 82421 817413 Patchy Abundant 10-19% cover 10-99/ m2 Meadow
Plate c. Species Identified on the Seabed: An Camus - Transect 3 Transect 3 Transect start: Transect end: Orientation: Video duration: 82553 817279 10:20:00 82666 817502 10:35:51 NE to SW 15:51 Common Name Latin Name Status Screen shot Time Frame Co-ordinate Video Frequency SACFOR JNCC Scale Tube Anemone Cerianthus lloydii No Special Status 10:21: 35 10:25:20 01:35 05:20 82568 817310 82601 817371 1-9/ 1000m2 1-3 cm Common Starfish Asterias rubens No Special Status 10:24:58 10:28:53 04:58 08:53 82601 817365 82637 817417
Brittlestar Ophiura ophiura No Special Status 10:33:14 10:33:34 13:14 13:34 82657 817473 82657 817476 1-9/ 1000m2 3 - Spiny Starfish Marthasterias glacialis No Special Status 10:33:48 13: 48 82659 817478 Sponge Halichondria panicea No Special Status 10:33:48 10:34:22 13:48 14:22 82659 817478 82663 817482 1% cover 1-9/ 100m2 Massive
Edible Sea Urchin Echinus esculentus IUCN Red List - Near Threatened 10:33:54 10:35:27 13:54 15:27 82660 817479 82665 817498 Common Frequent 1-9/ 100m2 Seven- Armed Starfish Luidia ciliaris No Special Status 10:34:08 14:08 82660 817482 Great Scallop Pecten maximus No Special Status 10:22:05 02:05 82569 817319 Common Macrophyte and Hydroid Turf Various Species PMF 10:33:53 10:35:10 13:53 15:10 82660 817479 82665 817495 Patchy Abundant 10-19% cover Turf
Appendix 2. Species present summary sheet Species Present Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3 Echinus esculentus Ophiura ophiura Cerianthus lloydii Luidia ciliaris Asterias rubens Pecten maximus Marthasterias glacialis Eledone cirrhosa Pagurus bernhardus Labrus mixtus Callionymus lyra Macrophyte and Hydroid Turf (patchy) (patchy) Swiftia pallida Caryophyllia smithii (patchy) (patchy) Halichondria panicea
n Camas Relocation June 2016 Environmental Baseline Audit Survey Cover Sheet - Extended Baseline Survey Please complete Green boxes ( where applicable) Site Information At the time of the seabed survey, please complete the following details relating to the site SEPA site ID (for SEPA use only) Company Name Marine Harvest ( Scotland) Ltd Address Farms Office Stob Ban House Glen Nevis Business Park Fort William PH33 6R Scotland UK Site name An Camus Relocation Site owned by (if different from above)- Consent( s) Number - National Grid Reference of (proposed) cage centre e.g. AB 1234 1234) NF 82476. 983, 17450. 519 DGPS ( use WGS84 datum) position of cage edge sampling station 57 08.266'N, 007 15.047'W Number of (proposed) cages on site 10 Size of cages on site 100m Circumference plastic cages. Max. consented biomass 1,471 tons Biomass on site - Date of stocking If fallow, date last fish on site Feeding method Automatic Feeding Barge Antifoulant used (Yes/No) Yes Length of time site has been in continuous use since the last fallow period Survey Information Name of Surveyors Date Seabed Survey Carried Out 23/06/2016 Report prepared by Date 11/07/2016 Have all the monitoring requirements of the consent been completed? ( Yes/No) Yes 06 October 2009 Scottish Environment Protection Agency Version 3