Mission accomplished on marine publication series
Marine Nature Conservation Review:
Sector 13, Sealochs in west Scotland, is published
The Marine Nature
Conservation Review (MNCR) was initiated by the Nature Conservancy
Council in 1987, and subsequently undertaken by JNCC from 1991. The
MNCR has drawn together information on marine ecosystems around
Great Britain with the objectives of:
- extending our knowledge of
marine habitats, communities and species in Great Britain; and
- identifying sites of nature
conservation importance.
Eleven years of surveying
the UK’s inshore seabed habitats, plants and animals have yielded
spectacular insights into this mysterious world, and supported the
identification of Special Areas of Conservation for the Habitats
Directive.
The marine biology of the
coast of west Scotland, from the Mull of Kintyre to the Point of
Ardnamurchan, is described in 24 area summaries in this final
publication of the series. Each summary covers a marine inlet, such
as a sealoch or lagoon, or a stretch of open coast, and gives
details of its physical and biological character, the habitats
present, current nature conservation designations, the main human
influences and relevant literature.
Maps show the sites surveyed
and the distribution of each habitat. A summary of the habitats
present in each area and a list of species recorded are also
given.
David Connor, Head of Marine
Information Team, who has overseen the publication of the fifteen
volumes in the MNCR series said: “The MNCR programme provided the
foundations for our current understanding of inshore marine
habitats around Britain and has supported the country agencies in
their marine site designations, monitoring and management from the
early 1990s. It is therefore very pleasing to have the final volume
published to act as a permanent record of the programme’s
achievements.”
Copies of the publication
are available through NHBS.