Coastal and Marine

STATUS & ECOLOGY The Edinburgh coastline, which extends for 26 km from South Queensferry eastward to Joppa, is an extremely important part of the Firth of Forth. This Plan covers all those habitats which are directly influenced by the sea: subtidal areas, intertidal mudflats and sandflats, rocky shores and islands are notable but saltmarsh, sand dunes and coastal grassland are poorly represented in Edinburgh, largely because they have been lost to development. The Firth of Forth is perhaps best known for its bird populations. The Forth is of international importance for its wintering wildfowl and waders, ranking 7th of the UK estuaries for its wildfowl, 14th for its waders and 11th overall in terms of total numbers. Several species for which the Forth is of international or national importance, such as great crested grebe, eider, redshank, knot and bar-tailed godwit are concentrated in Edinburghs coastal habitats. The Forth is also of international importance for its breeding seabirds and some important colonies are in Edinburgh. This importance to birds has been recognised in the notification of almost the entire coastline as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The total area of coastal SSSIs within Edinburgh is 902 ha with only 50 ha of Edinburghs intertidal land lying outwith these. On account of their bird populations these coastal SSSIs are also included as part of the Firth of Forth potential Special Protection Area (SPA) and potential Ramsar site, whose boundaries are still to be determined. Inchmickery SSSI is part of the Forth Islands SPA.

Distribution of Coastal & Marine habitats along Edinburghs coastline

Comparatively little is known about the subtidal biodiversity off Edinburgh. Most of the Inner Firths subtidal habitat consists of soft sediments, chiefly shallow muds that may have a shelly surface layer. A large part of the inner Firth has an impoverished fauna of deposit feeding communities including Abra nitida (a bivalve mollusc) with the scale worm Pholoe inornata, and a number of polychaete worms. Fish populations are diverse. Approximately fifty species which use the Firth as either an overwintering or nursery ground, or are permanently resident here. The commercial fishery targets exclusively shellfish, including lobster, velvet crabs, edible crabs and prawn. The edible mussel is collected from the intertidal areas of Cramond and Granton as stock for on-growing in other coastal areas. There is a creel fishery for common whelk in parts of the estuary not characterised by hard, rocky seabed. Rocky habitats, confined mainly to the coastal fringes and to the islands such as Inchmickery, are much higher in species diversity, with a predominance of filter feeding sedentary organisms and macroalgae. However, little information exists on the biodiversity associated with the Forths islands. The following Edinburgh Biodiversity Action Plan species can be found in Coastal & Marine habitats: Animals: knot, great crested grebe, roseate tern, common tern, river lamprey, Atlantic salmon, six-spot burnet, henbane flea beetle, Glyphipterix minorella (a micromoth). Plants: sea rocket, autumn gentian, common centaury and eelgrass.

There is a perpetual mystery and excitement in living on the seashore, which is in part a return to childhood...the child sees the bright shells, the vivid weeds and red sea anemones of the rock pools with wonder and the childs eye for minutiae. Gavin Maxwell

FACTORS CAUSING LOSS OR DECLINE Impacts Significant areas of coastal habitats have been lost over the last 300 years as a result of human activity, usually to land claim such as at Leith Docks where an estimated 450ha of habitat has been lost. Changes in habitat type or quality may also result from trawling, dredging, trenching or laying of pipelines on the sea bed, dumping of material and mechanical beach-cleaning. Edinburgh Sewage Treatment Works discharges primary treated effluent through a long sea outfall at Seafield and is the largest source of sewage effluent to the firth. The quantity of sewage effluent discharged into the Firth of Forth has risen with increasing population. However, monitoring has shown little environmental impact from the sewage treatment works on the seabed in recent years, and only minor effects on the size and composition of phytoplankton blooms in the Inner Forth. Levels of dissolved oxygen only fall below environmental quality standards in the upper Forth Estuary during periods of low river flow in the summer. Industrial discharges have also had a significant impact in the past but are now less important - spent grain from breweries, piped directly into the Forth, once supported huge numbers of sea-ducks. Chronic oil pollution is still found at all ports and busy shipping routes but serious oil spill incidents are made less likely by strict legal controls. Litter is another persistent problem. The prevalence of slowly degrading plastic waste is a recent development - these can act as traps for wildlife, can contribute to the chemical load in the water and can exacerbate physical processes such as accretion on saltmarshes and sand dunes. Contaminated groundwater, particularly by agricultural run-off, is a major cause of nutrient enrichment in the upper Forth estuary and the Firth of Forth. Urban run-off, particularly from the surface drainage of roads, also enters the Firth along the Edinburgh coastline with relatively unknown impact on the coastal and marine habitat. The fishing industry has had an enormous influence on the Forths habitats and wildlife populations. Overexploitation led to the complete demise of the herring fishery and others, such as the haddock fishery, are severely restricted by regulation to protect remaining stocks. The Firth also once supported Scotlands largest oyster fishery, but no live oysters are to be found today. Virtually the only fishing that still takes place within the Forth is trawling for Norwegian lobster and creel fishing for lobsters and crabs. Imbalances in fish predator-prey relationships may have had a knock-on effect on seabirds and seals and the seabed has been profoundly altered in places by repeated trawling.

Threats Further proposals for coastal landclaim are under consideration at Granton and Leith. This is of particular concern given the likelihood of sea level rise and the probable associated calls for sea defence strengthening. Sea level rise is now considered a significant issue in the Firth of Forth. If so, habitats will change and saltmarsh and sand dunes may not translocate up the land/sea interface as seawalls and built development will prevent this from happening. This coastal squeeze is liable to be particularly significant in Edinburgh, as only westward of the River Almond is the capitals coastline not protected by sea defences. Increased storminess is another prediction from global climate change and this may increase the erosion of mudflats and saltmarsh as well as fragile communities below low water mark. Marine sand extraction proposals are also currently being considered. Increased turbidity, the removal of benthic organisms and a proliferation of scavenging creatures attracted by the availability of dead and dying organisms are potential effects. The effects in the Firth of Forth of hormone-disrupting chemicals are unknown, although elsewhere they have been shown to induce sex changes in fish and other organisms. They enter the ecosystem via sewage and industrial discharges. The introduction, deliberate or accidental, of alien species to coastal and marine environments is an ever-present threat. Alien species of phytoplankton, which may be introduced by shipping traffic through discharge of ballast water, are of particular concern at Hound Point. Some of the highest levels of paralytic shellfish poisoning in Scotland are found within the Forth. A sandeel fishery has recently opened on the Wee Bankie and has been cited as the main cause for the decline in numbers and breeding success of terns, which depend on sandeels to feed their chicks. This fishery could also affect other seabirds, seals, cetaceans and other commercial fish species, which feed on sandeels. Proposals for its seasonal closure to protect breeding seabirds have been made by the UK Government but have yet to be accepted by the EU. Bait and shellfish collection may also be increasing since restrictions have been placed on collecting from many sites in north-east England. Public attitudes to coastal and marine habitats are important. Mudflats are frequently perceived as being smelly, dangerous, unattractive and worthless habitats that lack vegetation and whose animal inhabitants are hidden or unseen. Marine habitats are often viewed as homogeneous and extensive, so that loss or deterioration in quality of a small part may be thought of as insignificant, whereas the cumulative impacts of many small losses may be considerable.

CURRENT ACTION Nature conservation designations and associated planning policies afford a measure of protection from damaging development through the development control process and by imposing obligations on site owners to manage their land in certain ways. Below low water mark the Crown Estate, as owners of the seabed, issue licences for activities such as minerals dredging or pipeline installation. A prerequisite to the issue of a licence is a favourable Government View issued by the Scottish Executive. Government has announced plans to change these arrangements. Responsibility for pollution control rests with the Scottish Environment Protection Agency. Discharges to the sea have been reduced considerably in recent years and East of Scotland Water Authority have embarked upon a programme of upgrading all sewage outfalls and treatment works in line with the requirements of the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive. The RSPB and Forth Seabird Group monitor seabird colonies. Nonbreeding wildfowl and waders are counted as part of the Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS) and Beached Bird Surveys are co-ordinated by the RSPB.

The Forth Estuary Forum, a non-statutory voluntary partnership, has produced an integrated management strategy to help guide present and future activities. This will be of particular importance in helping to understand, maintain and enhance coastal and marine habitats in Edinburgh as well as helping to reconcile the multiple, and often conflicting, uses of the estuarine waters.

ACTION PLAN OBJECTIVES & TARGETS Objective To maintain and enhance the extent and quality of Edinburghs coastal and marine habitats through targeted conservation action. Targets Increase understanding and awareness of the extent and quality of Edinburghs coastal and marine habitats, the natural processes on which they depend and the threats to their conservation. Achieve legal protection for all important intertidal habitats and prevent their further loss or damage. Maintain and enhance dune grassland. Identify and maintain major bird roost sites as suitable and free from disturbance.

Actions

Progress the designation of the potential Special Protection Area (pSPA) and supporting Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) in the Firth of Forth where appropriate, from Winter 2000.
(Actioned by: Scottish Executive & Scottish Natural Heritage)

Review existing information on the location, importance and threats to bird roost sites along Edinburghs coastline by Autumn 2000, introducing management actions as necessary.
(Actioned by: Royal Society for the Protection of Birds & Scottish Natural Heritage)

Interpret the importance and biodiversity of coastal and marine habitats through ranger activities and the production of interpretative material, from Spring 2002.
(Actioned by: City of Edinburgh Council Recreation Department & Forth Estuary Forum)

Prepare and publish an audit of current and ongoing research in the Firth of Forth by Summer 2002 and a GIS-based inventory of the extent and quality of Edinburghs coastal and marine habitats by Autumn 2004.
(Actioned by: Forth Estuary Forum)

Prevent damage to the dune grassland at Hound Point and Silverknowes through the introduction of appropriate management by Winter 2003.
(Actioned by: Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Conservation Projects & City of Edinburgh Council)

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CHAMPIONS Key Contacts Forth Estuary Forum Scottish Natural Heritage Scottish Executive Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Scottish Conservation Projects City of Edinburgh Council (Recreation) Mark Jennison Julie Dewar Cameron Easton Peter Gordon Fran Keith Carol Huston

THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL