Scottish inshore waters are monitored by two main Fisheries Research Services (FRS) initiatives: The Coastal Long Term Monitoring Programme The Stonehaven/Loch Ewe Ecosystem Monitoring In order that we can understand exactly what is happening in the seas around Scotland we need to undertake regular measurements over several years.  This ensures that we can take account of recognized seasonal trends when interpreting the monitoring data.  It is also important to measure a range of biological, chemical and physical parameters so that a change in any one measurement can be considered in the wider context.  At FRS, we undertake regular measurements of e.g. temperature, salinity and nutrients at our coastal long-term monitoring sites.  In addition, FRS operates two coastal ecosystem monitoring sites where additional measurements are made of e.g. phytoplankton and zooplankton.  The data gathered as part of the coastal monitoring programme contributes to our understanding of the changes in the seas around Scotland and provides the basis for aspects of the advice that we give to the Scottish Government.      Temp sites Salinity sites Nutrients sites Chlorophyll sites Phytoplankton sites Zooplankton sites  Marine Ecosystems    Ecosystem Monitoring   Location Site Name Temp Salinity Nutrients Chlorophyll2 Phyto- plankton1 Zoo-plankton3 Year when monitoring commenced ECOSYSTEM MONIORING   East Coast 5 Stonehaven       1997 West Coast 2 Loch Ewe          Phyto - 2000 Full Prog - 2002 COASTAL LONG TERM MONITORING   West Coast 1 Mallaig            1999 West Coast 3 Keppel Pier / Millport           Temp - 1953 Phyto - 9/2005 West Coast 4 Torridon   4     North Uist Loch Maddy          2003 Orkney Scapa Pier               1999 Phyto - 2000 Fair Isle North Haven          2003 Shetland Scalloway             1999 Phyto - 2000 East Coast 1 Findon            1996 East Coast 2 Ythan Estuary Site          2005 East Coast 3 Cromarty            2003 East Coast 4 North Berwick             2006 1Weekly sampling; one sample per month analysed according to WFD requirements and data submitted to SEPA 2Starting April 2008 3Weekly sampling 4Currently monitoring phytoplankton species only. Full community analysis as of April 2008