2018/09/22-29 Maerl Beds

The channel between the two summer islands, Fada and Tanera beg was identified it as a good site for a third maerl transect in these dives. This was partly due to the concern about its proximity to a salmon farm site as well as the growth of filamentous algae on it. (The question was whether this growth was seasonal or was created by nutrient enrichment and might smother the marls photosynthesising capabilities leading to it gradually deteriorating over time). It was also a concern because the mearl was in an unusually ‘mobile’ area but still healthy enough to have a chance of being recovered - which the MPA was set up to achieve.

We sent photos to Nature Scot and began focusing on the issue of filamentous algae and whether this was connected to nutrient enrichment.