Skip to Content

Special Areas of Conservation

Solan Bank Reef

Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Country Scotland Offshore
Unitary Authority Extra-Regio
Centroid* HX231166
Latitude 59.0008
Longitude -5.08
SAC EU Code UK0030386
Status Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Area (ha) 85593
* This is the approximate central point of the SAC. In the case of large, linear or composite sites, this may not represent the location where a feature occurs within the SAC.
Location of Solan Bank Reef SAC

General site character

  • Marine areas, Sea inlets (100%)

Download the Standard Data Form for this site (PDF <100kb)

Note When undertaking an appropriate assessment of impacts at a site, all features of European importance (both primary and non-primary) need to be considered.

Annex I habitats that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • 1170 Reefs

    Solan Bank presents highly topographic bedrock and smooth, undulating bedrock reef outcrops and stony reef (comprising boulders and cobbles) in a range of depth zonations from the infralittoral to deep circalittoral and within a range of energy levels with a resulting broad range of ecological communities and faunal diversity. The reefs support encrusting bryozoans, encrusting coralline algae, caryophyllid cup corals and ophiuroids. Highly sediment-scoured bedrock is mainly colonised by the keel worm Pomatoceros triqueter. Less-scoured bedrock support a range of sponges, bryozoans and hydroids. In shallower areas with increased water movement there is an increasing abundance of the soft coral, Alcyonium digitatum, the cup coral, Caryophyllia smithii and the jewel anemone, Corynactis viridis, with red algae and kelp in the shallowest areas.

Annex I habitats present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species that are a primary reason for selection of this site

  • Not Applicable

Annex II species present as a qualifying feature, but not a primary reason for site selection

  • Not Applicable

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.