Loch SweenMarine Protected Area

The many arms and sea loch habitats of Loch Sween

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Loch Sween, a fjordic sea loch situated on the west coast of Scotland near Lochgilphead, has a complex shape with a number of arms branching off a central basin. Tidal movement through the main body of the loch and these narrow arms creates a range of different physical conditions in which a diversity of seabed habitats thrive.

Deep, still waters throughout the loch are home to dark, quiet, mud habitats. Here, large, green volcano worms live in burrows beneath the sea bed. The only physical evidence of their presence are impressive dome-shaped mounds on the surface of the mud created when they excrete the sediment they have ingested. The volcano worms share their muddy domain with other animals including Norway lobsters, shrimps and burrowing gobies.

Loch SweenMarine Protected Area

Location: 55° 57.259' N 005° 40.375' W Area: 41 km2

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The tidal narrows at Taynish and Caol Scotnish provide the perfect environment for maerl beds. Maerl is red seaweed with a hard, chalky skeleton. There are two types found in Scottish waters, described as either pink, branched twiglets or pink hedgehogs. A dense bed of hedgehog maerl runs down the central part of the Caol Scotnish Narrows and beds of both types are interspersed in very shallow waters in the Taynish Narrows. The branched structure of the maerl creates a complex habitat in which many other species such as feather stars, scallops, sponges, crabs and fish can shelter. The narrows also support luxuriant stands of seaweeds scattered amongst the maerl. These are home to an array of brightly coloured sea slugs and bushy sea firs upon which they feed.

Native oysters occur patchily throughout Loch Sween, as evidenced by the shells on the beach discarded by feasting otters. Once common in Scotland and supporting a grand shellfish export industry, beds of native oysters now only exist in a few scattered locations. The population within Loch Sween is considered to be of national importance.

The Marine Protected Area (MPA) also encompasses the tide-swept waters of the Sound of Jura at the mouth of the loch that surround the Isle of Danna and the McCormaig Isles. Here the sea bed comprises much coarser sediments, reflecting the higher energy conditions present.

Protected Features& Conservation Objectives

Biodiversity: burrowed mud; maerl beds; native oysters; sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities.

The aim is to conserve these features in order to make a long lasting contribution to the MPA network.

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The rich tapestry of marine life in Loch Sween

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Further Information Further information on Nature Conservation MPAs, the wider network and protected areas management is available at www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/marine-environment/mpanetwork

For Nature Conservation MPA site documents and more on the fascinating range of marine life to be found in Scotland’s seas, please visit

www.snh.gov.uk/mpas - for territorial waters

www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/scottishmpas - for offshore waters