Foreword
The seas around Scotland are home to an amazing and dazzling array of wildlife. Here is one of the best kept secrets of our outstanding wealth of natural heritage; it is a testament to just how well kept a secret it is that many people in Scotland probably know more about the wonders of the Great Barrier Reef or the Red Sea than of places like St Kilda and the sea lochs of the west coast. In fact, the marine wildlife of Scotland is every bit as diverse and colourful, and this booklet is a celebration of a small part of this natural and cultural heritage.
More often than not, Scotland appears encircled by a forbidding, often steely grey and stormy sea, although there are those rare, magical calm and sunny days when its surrounding seas take on an altogether more inviting hue. A look just beneath the surface can reveal a wealth of hidden treasures. Nowhere is this more so than in the great forests of kelp that are perfectly adapted to thrive in these stormy conditions, and are host to a multitude of other creatures. The stipes of the kelp are draped with other seaweeds and a wide variety of animals and the underlying rock surfaces are an explosion of colour and form with many of the animals having no counterparts on land. Within the water column of this submarine forest, fish cruise around and seals and otters hunt for prey.
A trip through these forests is a voyage of discovery, with something new to excite the senses at every turn. This booklet in the SNH series ‘Scotland’s Living Landscapes’ presents a brief insight into the life of the kelp forests and is the latest in this series which aims to inform and engage readers in a greater appreciation of our outstanding natural heritage. For many readers it will, I believe, provide a tantalising glimpse into a seriously under-rated part of our natural world.
Jeff Watson
SNH Director with responsibility for the marine environment.