In October 2008, Fisheries Research Services (Aberdeen) collected video and photographic stills imagery from 61 stations in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Islands.
This formed part of a wider marine survey programme requested by Scottish Government, to inform potential marine renewables development in this region. This
report provides a description of the seabed habitats, species assemblages and biotopes evident from the video and stills footage along with a preliminary assessment of their conservation importance and potential sensitivity to renewable energy schemes in the area.
In order to assess the likely environmental impact of the development of renewable energy schemes in the Pentland Firth and around the Orkney Islands, the Scottish
Government commissioned Fisheries Research Services, Aberdeen (FRS) to map some areas of the seabed. FRS subsequently requested Scottish Natural Heritage
to provide some early commentary on the conservation status of benthic species and habitats in the area. This report provides a preliminary description of the habitats observed by video during surveys carried out by FRS in 2008. It aims to inform SNH on the habitats and species of the area, with a view to assessing their conservation importance.