Wildlife
Part of the sound is as Special Area of Conservation (SAC), in part due to the high concentration of Otters. The Shetland populations are possibly the densest in Europe and up to 2% of the British population may live in the site. The low-lying peaty coastlines provide easy access to fresh water, extensive algal beds in the marine environment and large numbers of otter holts. There is also a significant population of the Common Seal with the local colony representing over 1% of the UK population. Sullom Voe is a separate SAC, qualifying due to the numerous large shallow inlets and bays, coastal reefs and lagoons.
There are Horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) beds both within Sullom Voe and on the Mainland coast near Colla Firth. Ceteceans are regularly sited in the inner sound, especially Harbour Porpoise, Minke Whale and Killer Whale and there are a wide variety of breeding seabirds, divers and ducks including Eider.
Read more about this topic: Yell Sound
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