Marine Scotland Science (MSS) undertakes a wide range of monitoring covering many aspects of the Scottish marine ecosystem.
Monitoring is undertaken in Scottish Inshore Waters, using networks of volunteers and automatic recording equipment, as well as in Scottish Offshore Waters, using the MSS research vessels MRV Alba na Mara and MRV Scotia.
Marine Scotland Science also participates national monitoring programmes, such as:
This group provides published data from monitoring these activities. For many activities, there are national or international standards for how the monitoring is undertaken.
The 2017 assessment of the UK's Clean Seas Environment Monitoring Programme described the status and trends of contaminant concentrations and biological effects measurements in biota and sediment at monitoring stations in waters around the UK....
The 2016 assessment of the UK's Clean Seas Environment Monitoring Programme described the status and trends of contaminant concentrations and biological effects measurements in biota and sediment at monitoring stations in waters around the UK....
Loch Maddy is a large ecosystem of shallow lochs ecompassing a wide range of habitats and features including reefs, lagoons, mudflats and sandbanks. The area has been proposed as a UK Marine Special Area of Conversation and the local community...
The Ythan is a shallow estuary on the East Coast of Scotland that has site of special scientific interest status. Samples are taken by staff from Aberdeen University's Oceanlab. The data collected goes towards their research into the ecosystem of...
Scapa Pier is a fairly sheltered location within Scapa Flow. The temperature logger is suspended from the pier, and surface nutrient, salinity and phytoplankton samples are also taken from the pier. The environmental unit of the Orkney Islands...
St Abbs is located on the south-east coast of Scotland. The temperature logger is suspended from the harbour wall. Staff at the St Abbs marine station collect the weekly samples at this site.
This is a moderately exposed site on the south-west coast of Shetland. The temperature logger is suspended under a floating pontoon at Scalloway Boat Club. Surface nutrient, salinity and phytoplankton samples are collected by staff from North...
This data set comprises the monitoring data collected as part of the Scottish Coastal Observatory. Data used in the report are monthly averages, with full reoslution data being published separately in other datasets.
The sampling site at Loch Ewe is located in a sheltered fish farm hosted by Jane and Willie Grant. The minilogger, which records temperature at the site, is deployed below a buoy at a depth of 3 metres. All of the other readings are taken weekly...
Samples are collected offshore from Stonehaven using Marine Scotland Science's catamaran, the Temora. The Stonehaven site has many student projects and supplementary projects carried out parallel to the regular monitoring due to its short...