Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scotland's seas

 

JNCC and SNH have now submitted their formal advice on the selection of Nature Conservation MPAs for the development of the Scottish MPA network to Scottish Ministers and Marine Scotland.  An assessment of the data underpinning the identification and selection of each MPA proposal within offshore waters are available here.

 

Seamount communities of the Hebrides Terrace Seamount © JNCC    Orange roughy on Anton Dhorn Seamount © JNCC    Anton Dhorn Seamount © JNCC

 

The Marine (Scotland) Act and the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act include powers for Scottish Ministers to designate Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scotland’s seas as part of a range of measures to manage and protect Scotland’s seas for current and future generations. These, together with existing Natura and other protected site designations, will form a network of MPAs and help contribute to Scottish Government's vision for "clean, healthy, safe, biologically diverse marine and coastal environments, managed to meet the long-term needs of both people and nature".  This network will also help Scotland meet its contribution to UK commitments under international conventions and legislation such as the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the OSPAR Convention for an ecologically coherent network of MPAs.

The Marine (Scotland) Act outlines provisions to designate MPAs for the following purposes within Scottish territorial waters (within 12 nautical miles):

 

  • Nature Conservation MPAs for the conservation of nationally important marine wildlife, habitats, geology and undersea landforms.
  • Demonstration/Research MPAs to demonstrate or research sustainable methods of marine management or exploitation.
  • Historic MPAs for features of historic/ cultural importance such as shipwrecks and submerged landscapes.

 

The UK Marine and Coastal Access Act includes equivalent provisions for Scottish Ministers to designate MPAs for the conservation of nationally important marine wildlife, habitats, geology and undersea landforms in offshore waters (outside 12 nautical miles) adjacent to Scotland.  For consistency, they will collectively be referred to as Nature Conservation MPAs and will be established using the same Site Selection Guidelines.

 

Nature Conservation MPAs will be delivered through the Scottish MPA Project.