Infralittoral Reef Biotopes with Kelp Species - Volume 7 - Overview and Sensitivity Characteristics for Conservation Management of Marine SACs

Sep 29, 2026

Infralittoral reef biotopes with kelp species are examined to support conservation and management of marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The report frames kelp forests as ecologically important habitats whose distribution, underpinning biology and ecology, and sensitivity to natural and anthropogenic change are required for effective monitoring and guidance. It outlines the legislative rationale from instruments such as the Habitats Directive and describes project aims linked to assessing sensitivity characteristics and defining conservation objectives for selected sub-features.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages178

Reading Time7 h 29 min

AccessFree to download

Preface

Conservation policy and rationale

Role of marine protected areas and SACs

Habitats Directive and sub-features concept

UK Marine SACs LIFE Project context

Executive Summary

Introduction

Study aims

What is kelp and why is it important

Definitions

Conservation significance of kelp forests

Kelp distribution in European and UK waters

Environmental requirements and physical attributes

Natura 200○ Volume VII Infralittoral reef biotopeswith kelp species An overview ofdynamic andsensitivity characteristics forconservation andmanagement ofmarine SACs 502.72(26)(410) Scottish Natural HeritageInformation and Library Services Oban Office SS 0682 BARCODE- INFORMATION &LIBRARY SERVICESSCOTTISH NATURAL HERITAGE2 ANDERSON PLACEEDINBURGHEH65NP TEL:01314462479 曲502.72(26)(410) LOCATION- CLASS NO- | INFRALITTORAL REEF BIOTOPES WITH KELP SPECIES
An overview of dynamic and sensitivity characteristics for
conservation management of marine SACs | | --- | D.A.Birkett,C.A.Maggs,M.J.Dring &P.J.S.BoadenQueen's University of Belfast Marine Laboratory August 1998 Prepared for Scottish Association of Marine Science(SAMS)for theUK Marine SACs Project,Task Manager,A.M.W.Wilson,SAMS Citation D.A.Birkett,C.A.Maggs,M.J.Dring and P.J.S.Boaden.R.Seed.1998.Infralittoral ReefBiotopes with Kelp Species(volume VII).An overview of dynamic and sensitivitycharacteristics for conservation management of marine SACs. Scottish Association ofMarine Science(UK Marine SACs Project).174 pages. CONTENTS PREFACE 5 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 I.INTRODUCTION13 A.STUDY AIMS13 B.WHAT IS KELP AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?13 C.DEFINITIONS14 D.CONSERVATION SIGNIFICANCE OF KELP FORESTS15 E.KELP DISTRIBUTIONIN EUROPEAN AND UK WATERS17 F.KELP BEDS-THE ADVANTAGES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE MNCR BIOTOPECLASSIFICATIONS28 G.KEY POINTS FROM CHAPTER I33 II.ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS AND PHYSICAL ATTRIBUTES35 A.INTRODUCTION35 B.SUBSTRATUM35 C.LIGHT,DEPTH AND WATER CLARITY36 D.WATER MOVEMENT39 E.TEMPERATURE41 F.CHEMISTRY43 G.KEY POINTS FROM CHAPTER II.44 II.BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONING45 A.INTRODUCTION45 B.BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS45 C.ECOLOGICAL ROLES IN KELP BIOTOPES51 D.BIODIVERSITY ASPECTS66 E.KEY POINTS FROM CHAPTER Ⅲ.71 IV.SENSITIVITY TO NATURAL EVENTS73 A.DISCUSSION OF SENSITIVITY73 B.EXAMPLES OF THE SENSITIVITIES OF KELPS74 C.KEY POINTS FROM CHAPTER IV.80 81 V.SENSITIVITY TOHUMANACTIVITIES A.INTRODUCTION81 B.DIRECT EFFECTS -KELPHARVESTING81 C.MARINE AQUACULTURE EFFECTS ON KELP BIOTOPES91 D.INDIRECT EFFECTS92 E.KEY POINTS FROM CHAPTER V.100 VI.MONITORING AND SURVEILLANCE OPTIONS103 A.INTRODUCTION103 B.OVERVIEW OF OPTIONS104 C.CASE STUDIES105 D.METHODOLOGYILLUSTRATIONS106 E.KEY POINTS FROM CHAPTER VI.110 VII.GAPS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH111 A.INTRODUCTION111 B.SOME SPECIFIC GAPS IN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF UK KELP BIOTOPES 112 C.KEY POINTS FROM CHAPTER VII.123 VIII.CONCLUDING COMMENTS ON THE APPLICATION OF INFORMATIONFOR CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT RELEVANT TO MARINE SACS.125 A.INTRODUCTION125 B.BASIC MANAGEMENT GUIDANCE125 C.PARALLEL CONSERVATION MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES127 D.KEY POINTS FROM CHAPTER VIII.127 BACKGROUND READING AND LITERATURE CITED127APPENDICES150 # PREFACE The 1990s are witnessing a“call to action”for marine biodiversity conservation through wideranging legislative fora,such as the global Convention on Biodiversity,the European Union's“Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna andflora”(the Habitats Directive)and more recently in developments to the Oslo and ParisConvention(OSPAR).These landmark legal instruments have in turn provided sufficientscientific rationale,legal mandate and social synergy to rally governments,NGOs,privateindustry and local communities into a new era of unprecedented conservation action. Each of these initiatives identifies marine protected areas as having a key role in sustainingmarine biodiversity.To manage specific habitats and species effectively there needs to be arelatively clear understanding of their present known distribution,the underpinning biologyand ecology and their sensitivity to natural and anthropogenic change.From such afoundation,realistic guidance on management and monitoring can be derived and applied.

FAQs

Why does the report emphasize sensitivity characteristics of kelp biotopes?

Effective conservation management requires a clear understanding of how habitats respond to both natural and human pressures, so monitoring and guidance can be realistically derived from sensitivity knowledge.

What legislative framework motivates the need for SAC management described in the preface?

The preface links marine biodiversity conservation to instruments such as the Convention on Biodiversity and especially the EU Habitats Directive, which requires maintenance or restoration of habitats and species at favourable conservation status.

What is the UK Marine SACs LIFE Project’s role in the work?

The project, a multi-partner partnership over several years, aims to facilitate management schemes for candidate SAC sites, and includes assessing sensitivity characteristics and conservation requirements for selected Annex I sub-features.

Sep 29, 2026

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