Loch Eriboll Priority Marine Feature Review of 2020

This report reviews available data for the Loch Eriboll marine environment in the context of the Scottish Government’s aim to protect Priority Marine Features (PMFs) outwith the Marine Protected Area (MPA) network (The Scottish Government 2019). We consolidate the existing data from marine ecosystem surveys conducted in Loch Eriboll from 1970 to 2019 and extract species and habitat records relevant to Scottish PMFs. This consolidated dataset was used to compile an inventory of PMFs and map their locations. The report then compares the Loch Eriboll inventory to protected features in other sites designated as Nature Conservation MPAs (existing measures designed to protect some PMFs), reviews which PMFs would be protected within a 0.5 nautical miles (NM) prohibition of bottom contacting mobile fishing gear, and makes recommendations for future work.