ACTIVE PROJECTS

Seagrass are not seaweeds but are flowering plants which can live in and out of seawater. They have leaves, roots and shoots and can produce flowers and seeds. There are three main types we have in Scotland, the common eelgrass Zostera marina, the dwarf eelgrass Nanozostera noltei and a tassleweed grass Ruppia Maritima. In Scotland the common eelgrass can form beds in the subtidal (up to ~10 m) unlike the dwarf eelgrass and tassleweed which prefers the intertidal zones (areas of coast covered by sea at high tide but exposed during low tide).

‍

Seagrass is an essential keystone species, providing habitats and spawning grounds for many other species such as juvenile fish, molluscs and shrimp.

Scotland is meant to contain about 20% of all the Zostera in North West Europe. However, there has been a huge loss due to poor water quality, dredging and a wasting disease. We are finding that much of the seagrass habitats in the Moray coastline have not been mapped. Since we formed Moray Ocean Community, we have been out mapping the extent of the seagrass we find and uploading this data to Nature Scot. We also record sightings and absence on the Project Seagrass app, Seagrass Spotter.

‍

‍

We have also been recording the densities of the seagrass beds so that we can determine the health of the beds and in the hope that we can start to monitor long term in certain areas.  We completed some baseline surveys for the Findhorn Watershed Initiative this year and hope to continue into the future.

Another way to survey seagrass without getting so wet is from a Stand Up Paddleboard (SUP) which we trialled this year. Thanks to funding from Sea-Changers, we were able to purchase 2 SUP’s. A bathyscope (a big funnel with Perspex viewing base – see photo) can also aid subtidal surveying.

Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) is a species that has been intentionally or unintentionally introduced to a new environment through human activity and has established itself beyond its original introduction site. INNS are characterized by their ability to spread rapidly and can cause significant ecological damage.

In autumn this year Moray Ocean Community heard via Nature Scot that slipper limpet shells (Crepidula fornicata) had been found along the Fortrose coastline somewhere (on the Black Isle). From what we know this invasive species from North America had not yet established in Scotland but had formed dense beds in the south of England and Wales over the last few years.

‍

With help from our volunteers, we have carried out several low tide searches along the Fortrose coastline from Chanonry Point to Avoch. We have found both living slipper limpets and empty shells all along however, in small numbers. Yet we can sadly determine that the gastropods have started to establish in this region.

‍

Next step is to determine how many more are below the low tide. We would like to snorkel Fortrose harbour and see if there is a local dive club who would be keen to carry out shallow dives in this area.

All sightings are being recorded and added to the iRecord app as recommended by Nature Scot. They have also advised that we remove all shells of this species, in the hope that we can slow down the rate they are populating. This has been a wonderful example of how citizen/community science has helped inform authorities in order to formulate an action plan at national level.

‍

If you see any of these slipper limpets, please follow the guidelines and use the iRecord app.

‍