Scottish reef under threat
after two million years

August 07, 2002. Taken from The Times
By Anthony Browne, Environment Editor


ONE of the world’s rarest and most spectacular marine reefs, which has been growing in a Scottish loch for more than two million years, is set to be given official protection after fears that it may disappear.
The serpulid reef, which covers most of the circumference of Loch Creran, near Oban, is widely regarded as the best developed reef of its kind in the world. It has turned the otherwise muddy and lifeless seabed into a rich habitat with more than 70 different species of sea creatures.

However, conservationists believe that the reef faces a variety of threats, including global warming, divers and boats, and fear that it will follow the same fate as a similar reef at Loch Sween. That died about a decade ago. Scottish Natural Heritage is devising a management plan for the reef and has applied to give it special protection under European law as a Special Area of Conservation.

The reef is made up of calcium tubes made by the tiny Serpula vermicularis worm, which is common in temperate regions, but makes reefs in only a very few. The other reefs in Europe are in Ireland and Italy, but they are far smaller than Lock Creran.

The reef lies between 15ft and 40ft below sea level, providing the habitat for wildlife including the featherstar, a starfish with big feathery arms, bright yellow sponges, the butterfish and variegated scallops.

Graeme Smith, manager of the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary, which is on Loch Creran, said: “People find it is incredible that you get something like this in British waters. It is an amazing and colourful spectacle. We don’t know whether it is shrinking or stable, but it is facing threats from changing water temperatures because of global warming, organophosphates coming into the water from farms, and anchors being dropped.”

Peter Meadows, a marine scientist at Glasgow University, said: “If it is receding because of global change, then we may not be able to do anything about it. Even a minute sea temperature change can have a massive effect on breeding. It would be a terrible loss. We could lose entire species.”

The move to make it a Special Area of Conservation will make Loch Creran, also home to otters and seals, one of Europe’s most important wildlife sites.