Marine Protected Areas in Scotland

In Scotland, Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are areas of sea defined so as to protect to habitats, wildlife, geology, undersea landforms, historic shipwrecks, and to demonstrate sustainable management of the sea. As of December 2020, approximately 37% of Scotland's seas are covered by the Scottish MPA network, which comprises 244 sites in total.[1]

A map showing the location of Marine Protected Areas in Scottish waters as of December 2018.

Designation

The Loch Carron MPA is the site of the world's largest flame shell bed.[2]

As of December 2020 Scotland's MPA network comprises 244 sites protected by a variety of different conservation designations,[3] many of which are the same as those used on land, such as Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).[4][5] This figure includes four sites designated in December 2020:[6][7] North-east Lewis; Shiant East Bank; Sea of the Hebrides; and the Southern Trench.

The legal framework for designating MPAs depends on the designation: for example SSSIs are designated under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.[8] Where not designated under other conservation legislation MPAs are designated under one of two acts of parliament, depending on their location:

• The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 is an act of the Scottish Parliament which gives the Scottish Government the power to designate MPAs in Scottish Territorial Waters (waters up to 12 nautical miles off the coastline).
• The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 is an act of the UK Parliament which gives the Scottish Government the power to designate MPAs in Scottish Offshore Waters (waters lying further from the coast than 12 nautical miles, and defined as Scottish by the Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999).[9][10]

Sites are designated as MPAs under these acts for one of three purposes:[11]

• Nature Conservation MPAs are defined to protect biodiversity
• Historical MPAs are used to protect sites such as marine wrecks and artefacts
• One Demonstration and Research MPA has been defined to test novel approaches to marine management

In addition to the statutory MPAs, five sites are recognised as forming part of the Scottish MPA network, being categorised as "other area based measures": such areas, although not specifically created for nature conservation purposes, are considered to contribute to the protection of marine biodiversity. The makeup of the network as of December 2020 is detailed in the table below:[3]

Purpose Designation Number Nature Conservation Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 58 Nature Conservation Special Protection Area (SPA) 56 Nature Conservation Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 65 Nature Conservation Ramsar 16 Nature Conservation Nature Conservation MPA 35 Total MPAs for nature conservation purposes 230 Demonstration and Research Demonstration and Research MPA 1 Historic Historic MPA 8 Other Area Based Measures 5 Total sites in Scottish MPA network 244

Management

The lead body for management of the MPAs is Marine Scotland. For nature conservation sites within territorial waters NatureScot is responsible for developing the network and providing scientific advice to Scottish Government on the selection of sites, and providing advice to Marine Scotland on management once sites are designated. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee fulfils this role for sites in offshore waters, and also has a coordinating role for nature conservation in all the UK's offshore waters.[8] Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for historic MPAs.[12]

Activities undertaken in an MPA can be managed through voluntary measures, or by implementation of Marine Conservation Orders or Inshore Fishing Orders. Management measures (such as restrictions on the type of fishing gear that can be used) may be in place for all or part of an MPA, and may only apply at certain times of year.[11] Environmental groups have criticised the government for failing to enforce fishing rules around MPAs.[13]

List of MPAs

These tables list those MPAs not covered by other designations (i.e. excluding SACs, SPAs, and SSSIs etc.) as of December 2020.[14][15]

Historic MPAs

Name Size (ha) Date Type Advisory body HMS Campania 7.1[16] 1 November 2013[17] Historic HES HMS Dartmouth 0.8[18] 1 November 2013[19] Historic HES Drumbeg 7.1[20] 18 March 2013[21] Historic HES Duart Point 1.8[22] 1 November 2013[23] Historic HES Iona I 2.5[24] 26 October 2016[25] Historic HES Kinlochbervie 28.3[26] 1 November 2013[27] Historic HES Mingary 19.6[28] 1 November 2013[29] Historic HES Out Skerries 22.8[30] 1 November 2013[31] Historic HES

Nature Conservation MPAs

Name Size (km^2) Date Type Advisory body Central Fladen 925 7 August 2014[32] Nature Conservation JNCC Clyde Sea Sill 712 7 August 2014[33] Nature Conservation NatureScot East Caithness Cliffs 114 7 August 2014[34] Nature Conservation NatureScot East of Gannet and Montrose Fields 1839 7 August 2014[35] Nature Conservation JNCC Faroe–Shetland Sponge Belt 5278 7 August 2014[36] Nature Conservation JNCC Fetlar to Haroldswick 216 18 November 2016[37] Nature Conservation NatureScot Firth of Forth Banks Complex 2130 7 August 2014[38] Nature Conservation JNCC Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope 2215 7 August 2014[39] Nature Conservation JNCC Hatton-Rockall Basin 1256 7 August 2014[40] Nature Conservation JNCC Loch Carron 23 19 May 2019[41] Nature Conservation NatureScot Loch Creran 12 7 August 2014[42] Nature Conservation NatureScot Loch Sunart 49 7 August 2014[43] Nature Conservation NatureScot Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura 741 7 August 2014[44] Nature Conservation NatureScot Loch Sween 41 7 August 2014[45] Nature Conservation NatureScot Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh 37 7 August 2014[46] Nature Conservation NatureScot Monach Isles 62 7 August 2014[47] Nature Conservation NatureScot Mousa to Boddam 13 7 August 2014[48] Nature Conservation NatureScot North-east Faroe–Shetland Channel 23682 7 August 2014[49] Nature Conservation JNCC North-east Lewis 90700 3 December 2020[50] Nature Conservation NatureScot North-west Orkney 4365 7 August 2014[51] Nature Conservation JNCC Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain 164 7 August 2014[52] Nature Conservation JNCC Noss Head 8 7 August 2014[53] Nature Conservation NatureScot Papa Westray 33 7 August 2014[54] Nature Conservation NatureScot Sea of the Hebrides 1003900 3 December 2020[55] Nature Conservation NatureScot Shiant East Bank 25200 3 December 2020[56] Nature Conservation NatureScot Small Isles 803 18 November 2016[57] Nature Conservation NatureScot Southern Trench 239800 3 December 2020[58] Nature Conservation NatureScot South Arran 280 7 August 2014[59] Nature Conservation NatureScot The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount 4373 7 August 2014[60] Nature Conservation JNCC Turbot Bank 251 7 August 2014[61] Nature Conservation JNCC Upper Loch Fyne and Loch Goil 88 7 August 2014[62] Nature Conservation NatureScot West of Scotland 107773 9 October 2020[63] Nature Conservation JNCC West Shetland Shelf 4083 7 August 2014[64] Nature Conservation JNCC Wester Ross 599 7 August 2014[65] Nature Conservation NatureScot Wyre and Rousay Sounds 16 7 August 2014[66] Nature Conservation NatureScot

Demonstration and Research MPA

There is one Demonstration and Research MPA, in the waters surrounding Fair Isle. The MPA was designated on 9 November 2016.[67] The aims of this MPA designation are defined as being:

To demonstrate and research the use of an ecosystem approach, which includes the following -

a) the environmental monitoring of seabirds and of other mobile marine species;
b) the environmental monitoring of the factors which influence the populations of seabirds and of other mobile species;
c) the development and implementation of a local sustainable shellfish fishery;
d) the development of a research programme into local fisheries which includes research on species composition, size, distribution and temporal and spatial changes in fish stocks;

e) based upon the research undertaken under sub-paragraph (d), the development of a sustainable-use management programme for local fisheries.

— Scottish Government[68]

Other area based measures

Name Size (km^2) East Coast of Scotland (sand eels) 21,320[69] West of Scotland (blue ling) 6,009[69] Rosemary Bank (blue ling) 8,955[69] West Rockall Mound 5,124[69] North West Rockall 346[69]

Proposed NCMPAs

Two further Historic MPAs are also proposed as of 2020, with an Historic Environment Scotland consultation exercise having closed on 27 November.[70] The two proposed sites are:[71]

• The wreck of the Swedish East India Company ship Queen of Sweden in Bressay Sound, Shetland
• 10.7 km² of Scapa Flow, Orkney, including the site of the scuttled German High Seas Fleet.

References

Bibliography

• "Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report" (PDF). Scottish Government. December 2018. Retrieved 15 August 2019.

Citations

1. "Scotland's Marine Protected Areas". NatureScot. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
2. "Plan to give Loch Carron permanent protection". BBC. 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
3. "Scotland's Marine Protected Area Network". NatureScot. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
4. Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 11.
5. Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 32.
6. "New sites given special status to protect marine life". BBC. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
7. "2019 possible Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas consultation". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
8. "Different types of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scotland" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
9. Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 5.
10. Javier González-Álvarez (November 2012). "Valuing the Benefits of Designating a Network of Scottish MPAs in Territorial and Offshore Waters" (PDF). p. 3. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
11. "Possible Marine Protected Area Consultation - Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. June 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
12. "Scotland's Historic Marine Protected Areas". Historic Environment Scotland. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
13. "Fines to rogue fishermen fall and illegal fishing escapes prosecution". The Ferret. 2019-10-06. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
14. "SiteLink". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
15. "Search". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
16. "Historic Marine Protected Area: Campania". Historic Environment Scotlan. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
17. "Campania Historic MPA (HMPA4)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
18. "Historic Marine Protected Area: Dartmouth". Historic Environment Scotlan. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
19. "Dartmouth Historic MPA (HMPA6)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
20. "Historic Marine Protected Area: Drumbeg". Historic Environment Scotlan. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
21. "Drumbeg Historic MPA (HMPA1)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
22. "Historic Marine Protect Area: Duart Point". Historic Environment Scotlan. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
23. "Duart Point Historic MPA (HMPA7)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
24. "Historic Marine Protected Area: Iona I". Historic Environment Scotlan. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
25. "Iona I (HMPA8)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
26. "Historic Marine Protected Area: Kinlochbervie". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
27. "Kinlochbervie Historic MPA (HMPA3)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
28. "Historic Marine Protected Area: Mingary". Historic Environment Scotlan. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
29. "Mingary Historic MPA (HMPA2)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
30. "Historic Marine Protected Area: Out Skerries". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 23 October 2020.
31. "Out Skerries Historic MPA (HMPA5)". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 18 August 2019.
32. "SiteLink: Central Fladen MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
33. "SiteLink: Clyde Sea Sill MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
34. "SiteLink: East Caithness Cliffs MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
35. "SiteLink: East of Gannet and Montrose Fields MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
36. "SiteLink: Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
37. "SiteLink: Fetlar to Haroldswick MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
38. "SiteLink: Firth of Forth Banks Complex MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
39. "SiteLink: Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
40. "SiteLink: Hatton-Rockall Basin MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
41. "SiteLink: Loch Carron MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
42. "SiteLink: Loch Creran MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
43. "SiteLink: Loch Sunart MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
44. "SiteLink: Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
45. "SiteLink: Loch Sween MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
46. "SiteLink: Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
47. "SiteLink: Monach Isles MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
48. "SiteLink: Mousa to Boddam MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
49. "SiteLink: North-east Faroe-Shetland Channel MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
50. "SiteLink: North-east Lewis MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
51. "SiteLink: North-west Orkney MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
52. "SiteLink: Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
53. "SiteLink: Noss Head MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
54. "SiteLink: Papa Westray MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
55. "SiteLink: Sea of the Hebrides MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
56. "SiteLink: Shiant East Bank MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
57. "SiteLink: Small Isles MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
58. "SiteLink: Southern Trench MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 10 December 2020.
59. "SiteLink: South Arran MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
60. "SiteLink: The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
61. "SiteLink: Turbot Bank MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
62. "SiteLink: Upper Loch Fyne and Loch Goil MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
63. "SiteLink: West of Scotland MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
64. "SiteLink: West Shetland Shelf MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
65. "SiteLink: Wester Ross MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
66. "SiteLink: Wyre and Rousay Sounds MPA(NC)". NatureScot. Retrieved 7 October 2020.
67. "Fair Isle MPA(DR)". NatureScot.
68. Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 45}}
69. Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 31.
70. "Proposal to designate two historic marine protected areas: consultation. Appendix A". Scottish Government. Retrieved 10 December 2019.
71. "Proposal to designate two historic marine protected areas: consultation. The Proposals)". Scottish Government. Retrieved 10 December 2019.

External links

• Scotland’s Marine Protected Area network - NatureScot
• Marine Heritage - Historic Environment Scotland