Abstract
Sabellaria spinulosa is a gregarious tube-dwelling marine polychaete, which can form extensive reef habitats that have been identified as a priority for protection under the OSPAR Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic and Annex I of the Habitats Directive. Until recently there was little evidence that these habitats occurred in Scottish waters. However, S. spinulosa aggregations with reef-like properties have recently been observed in seabed imagery collected through a variety of sources from the east coast of Scotland. Video footage, still images and ROV clips collected from five such sites were analysed comprehensively to determine the status of the S. spinulosa habitats by applying existing ‘reefiness’ criteria. Four of the five sites were found to support significant areas of reef, with the best examples being located at the Rattray Head and Southern Trench study sites. A new and unique S. spinulosa reef habitat sub-type was identified at the fifth site surveyed during an Oceana research cruise, which supported a diverse reef community. S. spinulosa aggregations in this area are limited in their extent by the available substrate, with well-developed reef ‘bommies’ occurring on isolated cobbles and boulders in an otherwise fairly featureless soft bottom habitat. Recommendations regarding the conservation and management of S. spinulosa reefs in Scotland as well as more general modifications to existing reefiness assessment criteria are proposed.