Marine
There are three units within the marine function in SEPA,
namely marine ecology, marine chemistry and oceanmet.
Working across these areas, our marine science staff provide
data and scientific expertise on all aspects of Scotland's coastal
and estuarine waters, including:
- advice to customers;
- advice to SEPA's Environmental Protection and Improvement (EPI)
officers on the limits for new and revised consents to
discharge;
- developing models and predicting possible effects of discharges
on the marine environment;
- undertaking monitoring as required by international
conventions, European directives, and UK and Scottish law.
The marine team is truly multi-disciplinary, operating a complex
sampling and monitoring programme through close co-operation of
scientific staff and vessel crew members. Our monitoring of
biology, chemistry and the physical dynamics of controlled waters
aims to establish environmental status in relation to established
environmental quality standards.
Marine science has strong external links with the Scottish
Government, Scottish Natural Heritage and other non-governmental
organisations, and provides expert advice during formal
consultations. We also contribute to UK and international
programmes and in our adherence to internationally recognized
quality standards.
Marine ecology unit
The marine ecology unit consists of 19 staff working
across offices in Aberdeen, Dingwall, East Kilbride and
Edinburgh. Specialist analysis is carried out primarily in relation
to the Water Framework Directive (WFD), OSPAR and other UK and
international programmes, and also in support of the Water
Environment (Controlled Activies) (Scotland) Regulations.
In addition, marine ecology plays a particularly
important role in the provision of advice for the management
and regulation of impacts from aquaculture. Much of this work
is located at Dingwall.
Laboratory and field expertise is held in relation to the
following:
- Bottom (Benthic) invertebrates
- Fish
- Macroalgae (seaweeds)
- Plankton
Some staff are also trained in particle size analysis and other
related supporting analysis, including the use of satellite
imagery.
Marine chemistry unit
The marine chemisty unit has twelve staff working
across offices in Dingwall, East Kilbride and
Edinburgh. Our main focus is monitoring and assessment
of the quality of the marine environment for the Water
Framework Directive (WFD), OSPAR and other UK and
international programmes, and also in support of the Water
Environment (Controlled Activities)
(Scotland) Regulations.
Particular areas of expertise are eutrophication monitoring,
hazardous substances in waters, sediments, biota and sediment
characterisation. Marine chemistry staff also provide
advice to support the management and regulation of
aquaculture.
Analytical skills are maintained for:
- nutrients;
- chlorophyll;
- organic carbon in sediment;
- trace metals in waters, sediment and biota;
- polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in sediments and
biota;
- particle size analyses;
- suspended solids;
- salinity;
- dissolved oxygen;
Oceanmet unit
The oceanography/meterology (oceanmet) unit
has seven staff located across offices in Dingwall, East
Kilbride and Edinburgh. Specialist skills are maintained in
mathematical modelling for waters and air, ocean processes and
meteorology. Work is carried out in relation to the regulation
of discharges and pollutants, environmental impacts and, in
addition, the models can assist in emergency response to
environmental incidents.
Oceanmet plays a particular role in the support of the
management and audit of the regulation impacts from
aquaculture through the use mathematical models.
Survey vessels
SEPA's fleet consists of our flagship vessel the Sir John
Murray, and four smaller boats. The Sir John Murray is a
24-metre scientific survey vessel, a unique boat based on a proven
steel hull design. It is designed to meet the needs of SEPA's
marine scientific commitments, with two deck-level laboratories and
a range of mechanical and electronic sampling gear. To support our
work in near-shore water areas, there is also a range of smaller,
trailerable boats that are used to collect samples.
The fleet supports the work of SEPA's marine scientists, who
provide data and scientific expertise on all aspects of Scotland's
coastal and estuarine waters. Internally, we advise SEPA's
Environmental Protection and Improvement (EPI) officers on the
limits for new and revised consents to discharge, by modelling and
predicting possible effects of discharges on the marine
environment.
The Sir John Murray
The Sir John Murray is based at the port of Troon and designed
to operate all year round, anywhere on Scotland's coast and islands
as far away as Shetland. She is equipped to carry a team of
scientific staff, chemists and biologists, who measure and monitor
water quality using a wide range of scientific methods. Equipment
carried on board includes underwater camera systems and grabs for
collecting sediments.
The vessel is also equipped with a comprehensive array of
navigation and position-fixing equipment, including a Global
Positioning System (GPS), radar, sonar, radio and fish finding
equipment. These are all used to collect data on fish stocks, and
potential problems that may occur due to inputs of chemical
substances into the marine environment.
The supporting fleet
The four support vessels can be deployed anywhere around
the Scottish coast as part of a planned programme of sampling. The
main storage base and operations centre for these is Inverkeithing
in Fife. Each vessel is capable of carrying four staff, they
are:
- Kelpie, a 7.9m catamaran
- Smolt II, a 6m fibreglass Day Angler 19+ monohulled
workboat
- Tern, a 6.8m Ridged Inflatable Boat (RIB)
- Swift, a 5.3m RIB
- There is also a 5.3m RIB carried aboard the SJM, which is
a registered workboat in its own right
- Kelpie, a 7.9m catamaran.
The mix of vessels allows SEPA to operate at a wide range of
sites and conditions. The range of sizes and the fact they can be
carried and launched from trailers, even Kelpie, which
has been taken to Orkney, gives SEPA a flexibility that
also allows staff to react to incidents in the marine environment
that might need investigation.