Serpulid Reefs

Serpulid reefs are built by the tube worm Loch Creran Serpula vermicularis which in its solitary form, SAC is widespread around Britain, leaving white Oban tubes on rocks and shells on the beach. Each tube houses a single worm that, when feeding, extends a double horseshoe of vibrant crimson, orange or pink feathery tentacles to

filter the water for passing plankton. In certain Lo c h CRe ra n Glasgow conditions, which are not yet fully understood, the worm tubes grow up off the seabed, twisting around each other and branching to form fragile bush-like structures (reefs) up to 75 cm high and 1 m in diameter.

Where are the reefs?

In Loch Creran, serpulid reefs have formed around the edge of the loch in depths of 6 - 13 m below chart datum. The serpulid reefs of Loch Creran were first reported in 1882 and have recently been found to cover an area of around 108 hectares - about 100 football fields!

For further information see www.argyllmarinesac.org

Text: Marine and Coastal Development Unit - Argyll and Bute Council An ideal home Photography: Argyll and Bute Council, Hugh Brown, Neil MacQueen, Andrew McKenna, Paul Naylor The reefs provide protected living space and (from the book Great British Marine Animals), Graham Saunders (SNH), SNH and Colin Moore food for many other creatures such as hermit A Guide to Anchoring crabs, squat lobsters, feather stars, starfish, (Heriot-Watt University) whelks, crabs, fish, prawns and sponges. Design: DeeVA in the Loch Creran Print: Printed on environmentally friendly paper by CGL Research has shown that a typical serpulid Oban Marine Special Area reef colony can be home to over 70 different species and 2500 individual animals and plants! of Conservation Funding support from: Loch Creran Why do we need designated anchorages? A survey of Loch Creran was undertaken by Scottish Natural Heritage as part of the ongoing Site Condition Monitoring A Protected Site programme. The assessment of the site used a combination of diver surveys and side scan sonar techniques.

The Loch Creran marine Special Area of The data produced has made it possible to develop an accurate map of the extent of serpulid reefs in Loch Creran and has Conservation (SAC) is protected under the revealed areas of seabed around mooring blocks that have been cleared of reef by the scouring action of mooring chains. European Habitats Directive because it Anchor chains have the same effect, along with the physical impact of the anchor. Therefore it is important that mariners only contains habitats that are rare, vulnerable or use the designated anchorages marked on the map below, where no serpulid reefs exist, unless in an emergency situation. endangered in the European Community.

This site has been designated for biogenic reefs (reefs produced by living organisms) constructed by the serpulid tubeworm Serpula vermicularis and the horse mussel Modiolus modiolus. The site also contains some 3 4 small but important areas of bedrock reef.

Loch Creran is currently the most notable 1 site in Europe for serpulid reefs, which have only been reported from three other Anchorages locations in the world: Ardbear Lough in Mariners should only use the following marked Ireland, a saline lagoon near Taranto in Italy, and anchorages. 2 more recently from Loch Teacuis in Morvern. 1 Glaceriska Bay 2 South Shian Bay (West of Sgeir Caillich) 3 Off the Creagan Inn Site Management 4 Upper Basin - Head of Loch Conservation Interests Serpulid Reef Serpulid reefs are very fragile and anchoring, Horse Mussel beds along with many other marine-related Bedrock Reefs activities, could destroy large areas of this Strategy of emergency only anchoring in operation precious habitat in a very short period of time. within areas of serpulid reef and horse mussel beds.

Alongside the development of a statutory zoning plan for fishing, the production of a Dive Code of Conduct and a mooring Damage caused by installation guide, a group of local and scouring from statutory stakeholders called the Argyll mooring chain Marine SAC Management Forum has identified anchorages in Loch Creran that can be used without damage to the special habitats.

Position of mooring block

Area of scour from moorings

Original outer reef margin

Serpulid reefs