Scottish Natural Heritage Loch Laxford SAC Site Condition Monitoring

The principle purpose of this project is to carry out site condition monitoring (SCM) of the Annex 1 features littoral and sublittoral 'reef' and 'inlets and bays' at Loch Laxford SAC site. SCM was inaugurated at this SAC site in 2009, providing a baseline for future SCM surveys. The study approach taken aims to enable re-surveying of 135 video stations in inlet and bay habitat and 11 relocatable transects spanning littoral and inshore sublittoral reef and sediment biotope habitats that are representative of the biological and environmental diversity of the qualifying features within the SAC. The purpose of this work being to 1) establish a baseline biological dataset to facilitate future assessment; 2) identify any deterioration in the condition of the habitats; and 3) to form a judgement on the habitats current condition.