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Shallow kelp community found on muddy sand, in moderately exposed or sheltered, fully marine conditions, with weak tidal currents. The community is characterised by a reasonable covering of Saccharina latissima. Frequent Chorda filum may also form part of the canopy although not at the abundance in SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatCho. Beneath the canopy the community is characterised by the red algae Gracilaria gracilis, and various brown algal species particularly Dictyota dichotoma. Other members of the understory may include a variety of other filamentous and foliose red algae in particular Ceramium nodulosum and the green alga Ulva. The muddy sand substrate supports a variety of faunal species including polychaetes such as Lanice conchilega and gastropods such as Tritia reticulata.

Shallow kelp community found on stony sediment, in extremely sheltered, variable salinity conditions, with moderately strong tidal currents. The community is characterised by a sparser covering of Saccharina latissima, particularly when compared to the fully marine version of this sub biotope (SS.SMp.KSwSS.SlatGraFS). Beneath the canopy the community is characterised by the red algae Gracilaria gracilis, and a variety of faunal species in particular sponges Suberites ficus and Halichondria panacea and ascidians Ascidiella aspersa and Dendrodoa grossularia. The stony substrate provides a surface for attachment for these and many other filter and suspension feeding species, particularly barnacles Balanus crenatus, hydroids Urticina feline and Hydractinia echinata and anemones. Other members of the understory may include a variety of filamentous and foliose red algae in particular Pterothamnion plumula, and the green alga Ulva.