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

X Rare < 5 in 10 minutes XX Occasional < 25 and >5 in 10 minutes XXX Common Every few minutes XXXX Abundant Almost all frames or multiples within some frames XXXXX 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: Transect end: Orientation: Video duration: 82222 817562 82777 817308 NW to SE 23:52 08:48:00 09:11:52

Video SACFOR Common Name Latin Name Status Screen shot Time Frame Co-ordinate Frequency JNCC Scale

Rare X Great Scallop Pecten maximus No Special Status 08:50:11 02:11 82250 817532 1/ 1000m2 Rare 15 cm

Rare 08:50:42 02:42 82259 817537 X Edible Sea Urchin Echinus esculentus IUCN Red List - Near Threatened 1/ 1000m2 08:58:15 10:15 82451 817455 Rare 15 cm

Rare X Seven- Armed Starfish Luidia ciliaris No Special Status 09:02:39 14:39 82551 817405 1/ 1000m2 Rare 15 cm Rare 09:03:51 15:51 82574 817390 X Common Starfish Asterias rubens No Special Status 1/ 1000m2 09:04:54 16:54 82601 817376 Rare 15 cm

Rare X Curled cirrhosa No Special Status 09:10:47 22:47 82750 817325 1/ 1000m2 Rare 15 cm

Rare X Hermit Pagurus bernhardus No Special Status 08:53:32 05:32 82333 817505 1/ 1000m2 Rare 3 - 15 cm

Rare X Brittlestar Ophiura ophiura No Special Status 08:57:06 09:06 82420 817471 1/ 1000m2 Rare 3 - 15 cm

Rare X Tube Anemone Cerianthus lloydii No Special Status 09:00:11 12:11 82496 817435 1-9/ 1000m2 Rare 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 82500 817586 NE to SW 11:53 09:57:00 10:08:53

Video SACFOR Common Name Latin Name Status Screen shot Time Frame Co-ordinate Frequency JNCC Scale

Occasional 09:57:09 00:09 82404 817374 XX Edible Sea Urchin Echinus esculentus IUCN Red List - Near Threatened 1-9/ 1000m2 10:06:27 09:27 82479 8175453 Occasional 15 cm

Rare 09:57:18 00:18 82404 817377 X Cuckoo Wrasse Labrus mixtus IUCN Red List 1/ 1000m2 10:07:08 10:08 82487 817558 Rare 3 - 15 cm Rare 09:57:43 00:43 82407 817386 X Great Scallop Pecten maximus No Special Status 1/ 1000m2 10:04:24 07:24 82466 817512 Rare 15 cm

XXXX Occasional UK BAP Priority 09:58:33 01:33 82418 817403 Patchy 5-9% cover Northern Sea Fan Swiftia pallida PMF Component Species 09:58:47 01:47 82421 817411 Abundant 1- 9/ m2 Meadow

Rare 09:59:10 02:10 82422 817421 X Common Dragonet Callionymus lyra No Special Status 1/ 1000m2 10:00:30 03:30 82432 817447 Rare 15 cm Rare 10:01:56 04:56 82442 817470 X Tube Anemone Cerianthus lloydii No Special Status 1-9/ 1000m2 10:03:30 06:30 82458 817497 Rare 1 - 3 cm

Rare X Brittlestar Ophiura ophiura No Special Status 10:03:28 06:28 82458 817497 1/ 1000m2 Rare 3 - 15 cm

Rare 10:29:06 09:06 82477 817537 XX 1% cover Sponge Halichondria panicea No Special Status 10:29:46 09:46 82481 817550 Occasional 1-9/ 100m2 Massive

Rare X Seven- Armed Starfish Luidia ciliaris No Special Status 10:06:08 09:08 82477 817537 1/ 1000m2 Rare 15 cm Rare X Spiny Starfish Marthasterias glacialis No Special Status 10:06:34 09:34 82479 817547 1/ 1000m2 Rare 15 cm

Rare X Common Starfish Asterias rubens No Special Status 10:07:17 10:17 82488 817561 1/ 1000m2 Rare 15 cm

XXXX Common Macrophyte and 09:58:18 01:18 82415 817397 Patchy 10-19% Various Species PMF Hydroid Turf 10:07:59 10:59 82492 817573 Abundant cover Turf

Occasional XXXX 10-19% 09:58:48 01:48 82421 817411 Patchy Devonshire Cup Coral Caryophyllia smithii PMF Component Species cover 09:58:51 01:51 82421 817413 Abundant 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 82666 817502 NE to SW 15:51 10:20:00 10:35:51

Video SACFOR Common Name Latin Name Status Screen shot Time Frame Co-ordinate Frequency JNCC Scale

Rare 10:21:35 01:35 82568 817310 XX Tube Anemone Cerianthus lloydii No Special Status 1-9/ 1000m2 10:25:20 05:20 82601 817371 Occasional 1 - 3 cm

Rare 10:24:58 04:58 82601 817365 X Common Starfish Asterias rubens No Special Status 1/ 1000m2 10:28:53 08:53 82637 817417 Rare 15 cm Rare 10:33:14 13:14 82657 817473 XX Brittlestar Ophiura ophiura No Special Status 1-9/ 1000m2 10:33:34 13:34 82657 817476 Occasional 3 - 15 cm

Rare X Spiny Starfish Marthasterias glacialis No Special Status 10:33:48 13:48 82659 817478 1/ 1000m2 Rare 15 cm

Rare 10:33:48 13:48 82659 817478 XX 1% cover Sponge Halichondria panicea No Special Status 10:34:22 14:22 82663 817482 Occasional 1-9/ 100m2 Massive Frequent 10:33:54 13:54 82660 817479 XXX Edible Sea Urchin Echinus esculentus IUCN Red List - Near Threatened 1-9/ 100m2 10:35:27 15:27 82665 817498 Common 15 cm

Rare X Seven- Armed Starfish Luidia ciliaris No Special Status 10:34:08 14:08 82660 817482 1/ 1000m2 Rare 15 cm

Rare X Great Scallop Pecten maximus No Special Status 10:22:05 02:05 82569 817319 1/ 1000m2 Rare 15 cm

XXXX Common Macrophyte and 10:33:53 13:53 82660 817479 Patchy 10-19% Various Species PMF Hydroid Turf 10:35:10 15:10 82665 817495 Abundant cover Turf Appendix 2. Species present summary sheet

Species Present Transect 1 Transect 2 Transect 3

Echinus esculentus X XX XXX

Ophiura ophiura X X XX

Cerianthus lloydii X X XX

Luidia ciliaris X X X

Asterias rubens X X X

Pecten maximus X X X

Marthasterias glacialis X X

Eledone cirrhosa X

Pagurus bernhardus X

Labrus mixtus X

Callionymus lyra X

Macrophyte and Hydroid Turf XXXX (patchy) XXXX (patchy)

Swiftia pallida XXXX (patchy)

Caryophyllia smithii XXXX (patchy)

Halichondria panicea XX XX 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 6RX 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