Distribution mapping and baseline monitoring survey of sea caves around Fair Isle

The aim of the current study was to create an inventory of the location, extent and nature of sea caves around Fair Isle. Additionally, the study set out to gather detailed biological data from a series of selected caves. The purpose of this was to gather information relevant to the distribution and quality of the Annex I habitat ‘submerged or partially submerged sea caves’ (as defined by the Habitats Directive) around Scotland. This information is also relevant to Fair Isle’s designation as a Demonstration and Research MPA.

Due to the extreme wave exposure of Fair Isle, it was necessary to consider a series of contingency survey targets in the event of weather conditions preventing access to the primary target. Weather conditions severely limited time available for surveying the primary target so some attention was diverted to the contingency targets of seagrass beds, flame shell beds and horse mussel beds around Orkney (not included in this report).