The waters between the Hebridean islands has strong tidal currents that interact with Atlantic water drawn inshore, a process which creates turbulence and contributes to extensive blooms of plankton. This abundant food source draws a wide variety of marine predators, most notably high densities of basking shark and minke whale in the summer months. The area is also held in high regard for its wildlife and fish and shellfish resources. Highly productive seabed communities such as maerl and mussels capture carbon from the seawater to produce their hard carbonate shells, and over time these shells are broken down into shell rich sediment in shelf areas, some of which is transported onshore to create stunning white-shell beaches and dune-machair systems.
Marine Scotland (part of the Scottish Government) is responsible for managing Scotlands marine and fresh water environment. With such a rich diversity of life, and so many important and vulnerable species, it is vital work to protect and monitor these vast stretches of water. Marine Scotland Science are currently undertaking projects that include the impact of industrial and shipping noise on the distribution of common and grey seals and other marine mammals with their COMPASS network of research buoys.
The COMPASS project is a 5 year project, which will establish a network of oceanographic and acoustic moorings within and adjacent to cross-border marine protected areas (MPAs), which will produce new marine monitoring data for emerging areas of environmental concern including ocean acidification and the long-term impacts of anthropogenic noise on marine life. It will also help fulfil international, European and national biodiversity obligations. As part of the COMPASS project, Marine Scotland Science are leading research which combines existing and new data on the distribution of seals at sea and shipping activity. This allows them to pinpoint areas of potential conflict where they are monitoring underwater noise levels and frequencies. Their scientists then assess whether and to what extent shipping noise affects how seals use a protected area. In April of 2022 a new metocean buoy was deployed by Marine Scotland Science as part of the COMPASS network of buoys in Scottish waters. COMPASS aims to assist with the effective monitoring and management of Marine Protected Areas across the 3 regions, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and West Scotland. The project will develop long-term monitoring strategies for protected species such as whale, dolphin, trout and salmon. The buoy was deployed off the NLV Pole Star, a vessel operated by the Northern Lighthouse Board within the South of Arran nature conservation Marine Protected Area in the Clyde Sea.