The quantity and quality of organic matter in the sediments of the Firth of Clyde: A new tool to assess the vulnerability of “blue carbon hotspots” in Scotland’s inshore waters.

The UK and Scottish Governments have committed to improve and preserve marine habitats including protecting 10% of Scottish waters through the creation of new Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). Within these commitments, an innovative management perspective was introduced where areas are proposed for protection based on their blue carbon value.  Understanding the physical properties of these environments and establishing evidence for their vulnerability to human impacts is therefore becoming increasingly important. This research identifies “blue carbon hotspots” in the Firth of Clyde. The Firth of Clyde is a sheltered fjord on the west coast of Scotland which has been fundamental to Scottish industry and fishing for hundreds of years. In this study, the vulnerability of these marine carbon stores from direct seabed disturbances is investigated to highlight areas most at risk of carbon loss due to human impacts. Elemental analysis of surface sediment samples were used to identify “blue carbon hotspots” across the basin. Furthermore, the carbon stored in different sediment types was determined using particle size analysis combined with existing broad-scale mapping of this region.  Thermogravimetric analysis indicated the stability of organic carbon within marine sediment providing a useful assessment of the quality of the carbon present. The impacts of benthic fishing (indicated by VMS data) were used to assess the existing pressures on these blue carbon stores together with MPA mapping and environmental properties (such as bathymetry and sedimentology). Mapping results produced in this research can be used in policy and decision making for the prioritisation of protecting blue carbon alongside other designation criteria for the protection of marine habitats in Scotland. Growing recognition of the climate benefits from protecting long-term natural carbon stores mean these findings can be integrated to highlight a blue carbon climate service in addition to implications for local and national management of marine habitats.