Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 502 The distribution of selected MPA search features within Lochs Linnhe, Etive and Eil: A broadscale validation survey (Part B) COMMISSIONED REPORT Commissioned Report No. 502 The distribution of selected MPA search features within Lochs Linnhe, Etive, Leven and Eil: a broadscale validation survey (Part B) For further information on this report please contact: Laura Clark Scottish Natural Heritage Great Glen House INVERNESS IV3 8NW Telephone: 01463-725237 E-mail:
[email protected] This report should be quoted as: Moore, C. G., Harries, D. B. & Trigg, C. (2012). The distribution of selected MPA search features within Lochs Linnhe, Etive, Leven and Eil: a broadscale validation survey (Part B). Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No.502. 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 2012. ii COMMISSIONED REPORT Summary The distribution of selected MPA search features within Lochs Linnhe, Etive, Leven and Eil: a broadscale validation survey (Part B) Commissioned Report No. 502 Contractor: Heriot-Watt University Year of publication: 2012 Background Provisions to designate new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within Scottish waters were introduced through the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. To help target nature conservation action SNH and JNCC have generated a focused list of habitats and species of importance in Scottish waters - the Priority Marine Features (PMFs).