Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 501 The distribution of Priority Marine Features and MPA search features within Lochs Linnhe, Eil, Leven and Etive: a broadscale validation survey (Part A) COMMISSIONED REPORT Commissioned Report No. 501 The distribution of Priority Marine Features and MPA search features within Lochs Linnhe, Eil, Leven and Etive: a broadscale validation survey (Part A) For further information on this report please contact: Laura Clark Scottish Natural Heritage Inverdee House Baxter Street Torry ABEDEEN AB11 9QA Telephone: 01224 266522 E-mail:
[email protected] This report should be quoted as: Nickell, T,D., Hughes, D.J, Hausrath, J., Gontarek, S. and Clark, L. 2013. The distribution of Priority Marine Features and MPA search features within Lochs Linnhe, Eil, Leven and Etive: a broadscale validation survey (Part A). Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 501. This report, or any part of it, should not be reproduced without the permission of Scottish Natural Heritage. This permission will not be withheld unreasonably. The views expressed by the author(s) of this report should not be taken as the views and policies of Scottish Natural Heritage. © Scottish Natural Heritage 2013. COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary The distribution of Priority Marine Features and MPA search features within Lochs Linnhe, Eil, Leven and Etive: a broadscale validation survey (Part A) Commissioned Report No. 501 Contractor: Scottish Association for Marine Science Year of publication: 2013 Background Priority Marine Features (PMFs) are a collection of important habitats and species that have been identified by SNH and JNCC for nature conservation. With the implementation of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be designated using information obtained from identified MPA search features.