The variables in biota_stations.csv describe the biota monitoring stations used to construct the National Performance Framework Clean Seas Indicator 2019. The stations are also used for the assessment of the status and trends of selected contaminant and biological effect groups for Scotland's Marine Assessment 2020. The column headers are:

region
Description: assessment region
Unit:
Type: categorical
Levels: 4
Note: the regions are the Scottish component of the biogeographic regions used for Charting Progress 2 and for UK MSFD reporting purposes. There are 5 regions in Scottish waters, but there are no stations in the Atlantic North-West Approaches because it is difficult to sample. The Northern North Sea, Minches and Western Scotland and Irish Sea (Clyde & Solway) are used in the Clean Seas Indicator. The Scottish Continental Shelf is not used in the Indicator because it is difficult to get sufficient spatial coverage for regional assessments for both biota and sediment.

station
Description: station identifier
Unit:
Type: categorical
Levels: 104
Note:

latitude
Description: station latitude
Unit: decimal degrees
Type: continuous
Range: 54.75, 61.1
Note: these are nominal positions: sampling occurs in a pre-defined area centred on this position.

longitude
Description: station longitude
Unit: decimal degrees
Type: continuous
Range: -7.05, 1.2
Note: these are nominal positions: sampling occurs in a pre-defined area centred on this position.

MSTAT
Description: station type
Unit:
Type: categorical
Levels: B, RH, I
Note:
B = baseline stations in remote areas subject only to diffuse inputs of contaminants
RH = representative stations broadly representative of contaminant levels in the region
I = impacted stations located close to a point source

WLTYP
Description: stratum typography
Unit:
Type: categorical
Levels: Estuary, Coast, Open Sea
Note:
Estuary = WFD transitional water
Coast = WFD coastal water
Open Sea = marine water (stratum not covered by WFD)