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Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) contributing to the MPA network (SNH WMS) (OSCP)

 

A Marine Protected Area (MPA) network in Scotland’s Seas is designed to conserve a selection of marine biodiversity (species and habitats) and geodiversity (the variety of landforms and natural processes that underpin the marine landscapes), offering long-term support for the services our seas provide to society.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) are those areas of land and water (to the seaward limits of local authority areas or MLWS) that Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) considers to best represent our natural heritage - its diversity of plants, animals and habitats, rocks and landforms, or a combinations of such natural features. They are the essential building blocks of Scotlands protected areas for nature conservation. Many are also designated as Natura sites (Special Protection Areas or Special Areas of Conservation). The national network of SSSIs in Scotland forms part of the wider GB series. SNH designates SSSIs under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. SSSIs are protected by law. It is an offence for any person to intentionally or recklessly damage the protected natural features of an SSSI.

This layer is a Web Map Service (WMS) displaying Scotland's SSSI's that contribute to the MPA network.
Marine Directorate Seabed photo locations

Marine Scotland has undertaken survey and monitoring work to provide expert scientific and technical advice to support Scottish Government policies and regulatory responsibilities. The videos and images produced during these seabed surveys are useful for a wide range of activities and research.  These datasets have been georeferenced and mapped using Google Earth. This layer depicts the seabed video track locations.
Marine Directorate Seabed Tows

This dataset contains the location of all tows carried out between 2010 and 2013 whilst gathering footage and images during TV tows. (TV tows collected from 2010 to 2013.)
Marine Directorate Survey Areas

Polygon outlines indicating bathytmetric data collected by Marine Scotland in support of the offshore renewables industry in Scottish waters.
Continental Shelf (CS) Limits adjacent to Scotland - Continental Shelf (CS) (Designation of Areas) Order 2013

The UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) comprises areas of the sea bed and subsoil beyond the territorial sea over which the UK exercises sovereign rights of exploration and exploitation of natural resources. The Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) Order 2013 (made 31 March 2014)  delineates the shelf and replaced two previous Orders, dating to 2000 and 2001 that had been made under powers in The Continental Shelf Act 1964.

This is modified version from the UKHO Law of the Sea department data, available via https://www.gov.uk/guidance/inspire-portal-and-medin-bathymetry-data-archive-centre
Annual Mean Wave Power - Full Wave Field (kW/m)

Sea surface waves are mainly caused by the effects of wind on the surface of the sea. Their height is predominantly determined by the fetch (i.e. distance wind has blown over) and length of time of the wind forcing. Some local modification of wave height can be caused by tides. The seabed also influences waves in shallow water as waves will become steeper and higher as they approach the shore. Wave power is the quantification of the power transmitted by a wave moving across the sea surface. In general, larger waves are more powerful but wave power is also determined by wave speed, wavelength, and water density. Within Scottish waters, the wave climate is mainly influenced by conditions in the North Atlantic ocean, where the fetch is long enough to establish large, regular waves known as swell. The north and west of Scotland (Hebrides, Orkney and Shetland) are most exposed to these conditions. On the east coast of Scotland, conditions in autumn and winter may also be rough in the North Sea because the wind direction can lead to a large fetch. Moreover, the Moray Firth is also relatively exposed because of its shoaling bathymetry and exposure to the North Sea.

Data source: Atlas of UK Marine Renewable Energy Resources (see https://www.renewables-atlas.info/)
SEPA Tide Gauge Network

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) Tide Gauge Network, provide a long time series of sea level data.

This layer shows tidal gauges or river gauges below MHWS. 
Annual Mean Significant Wave Height (m)

Annual Mean Significant Wave Height - The average height of the highest 1/3 of waves. The wave height is greatest in the Atlantic, moderate in the North Sea and least in the immediate coastal zone where the values are generally <1.2m.

Data source: Atlas of UK Marine Renewable Energy Resources (see https://www.renewables-atlas.info/)
Bathing Waters (current) (SEPA WMS)

This layer shows the extents of bathing waters defined by The Scottish Government and SEPA as required by The Revised Bathing Waters Directive (2006/7/EC. This sets standards for faecal indicator organisms in waters at designated bathing beaches. Bathing beaches are designated on the basis of their recreational use and hence risk to the public of exposure to faecal indicator organisms.
Standing approvals for use of chemical dispersants in response to oil spills

Areas where standing approvals permit the application of a limited quantity of chemical dispersants, without the permission of Marine Scotland, to respond to an oil spill. Two areas exist at the Sullom Voe Oil Terminal (Shetland) and Hound Point (Firth of Forth). Data is intended for illustrative purposes and should be used at a maximum scale of 1:10,000.

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