Off the west coast, very rare Fan Mussels were found - at up to 48 cm long, this is Scotland's largest sea shell. Around the Small Isles more than 100 specimens were discovered, the largest aggregation in UK waters.
In the waters off Tankerness in Orkney, the prehistoric Amphioxus was uncovered - a strange fish with no specific brain or face. With a nerve chord down its back, the elusive, rarely seen species is regarded as a modern representative of the first animals that evolved a backbone.
The largest Horse Mussel bed in Scotland was revealed in waters near Noss Head, Caithness. Horse Mussels stabilise mobile seabeds and provide a critical ecosystem for other species. Known as 'Clabbydhhu' in Gaelic (translates as 'enormous black mouth') the slow-growing molluscs can live to nearly 50 years old.
Other finds included Flame Shell beds in Loch Linnhe, Argyll, a cryptic species only found in a very few west coast locations with bright orange feeding tentacles. Meanwhile new communities of Northern Feather Star - a brightly coloured species with 10 feather-like arms fanning out from a central disc - were revealed off the Sound of Canna.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said the marine survey work had been ramped up, with plans being prepared for new surveys in 2012.
The survey this year benefited from the use of the latest technology, with acoustic multi-beam scanners used to create 3D images of the seabed. As a result, first-ever marine maps of many new areas was possible, including waters around Rockall, to the west of the Outer Hebrides, around the Isle of Canna and within Sinclair Bay in Caithness.
The survey methods included use of acoustic multi-beam scanning to create a 3D image of the seabed, underwater videoing and photography, and sea bed sediment sampling. Marine Scotland coordinated the survey in collaboration with Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Northern Lighthouse Board, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, British Geological Survey (NERC) and Scotland's science institutions.
Leading Spanish economist Luis Fernandez has joined environmental solutions provider ACWA Emirates as Chief Officer Concessions for the MENA region to provide in-depth support for the company’s drive into the public-private partnership (PPP) sector.
for use in chlorine monitoring equipment after similar pumps were found less reliable. 
Welsh Water’s challenge to upgrade the sewage infrastructure within the £multi-million brownfield Swansea Waterfront re-development was facilitated with an innovative Hydro Vortex Drop™ shaft solution from Hydro International.
