2016 Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) Sound of Barra underwater video and benthic infaunal grab survey

Benthic habitat survey within, and adjacent to, the Sound of Barra SAC. This work consisted of 35 quantitative drop-down video drift survey sites and 72 infaunal grab samples and granulometry samples for Particle Size Analysis. This was targeted to 9 sampling boxes located within and outside the eastern side of the Sound of Barra SAC. Digital still photographs were taken at intervals of the video survey to enable description of seabed structure and species assemblages. The main aims of this investigation were to: (1) improve knowledge of the occurrence and distribution of species and habitats of recognized conservation importance (in particular, refining the distribution of Habitats Directive Annex 1 habitats); (2) determine the current condition of the maerl and coarse sediment habitats on the eastern side of the Sound of Barra SAC; and (3) contribute towards site condition monitoring of the SAC. This constituted the FRV Alba Na Mara cruise 0616A. SNH GUID GB-SCT-SNH-ME-000313 Marine Recorder surveyID's: MRSNH03600000002 and MRSNH0300000001F