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*The [[Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009]] is an act of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] which gives the Scottish Government the power to designate MPAs in Scottish Offshore Waters (waters lying further from the coast than 12 nm, and defined as Scottish by the [[Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999]]).<ref name=p5>Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 5.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotlink.org/files/publication/LINKReports/Valuing_the_benefits_MPA_Network_Scotland_Report_(final).pdf|title=Valuing the Benefits of Designating a Network of Scottish MPAs in Territorial and Offshore Waters|date=November 2012|author=Javier González-Álvarez|accessdate=15 August 2019|page=3}}</ref>
*The [[Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009]] is an act of the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|UK Parliament]] which gives the Scottish Government the power to designate MPAs in Scottish Offshore Waters (waters lying further from the coast than 12 nm, and defined as Scottish by the [[Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999]]).<ref name=p5>Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 5.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotlink.org/files/publication/LINKReports/Valuing_the_benefits_MPA_Network_Scotland_Report_(final).pdf|title=Valuing the Benefits of Designating a Network of Scottish MPAs in Territorial and Offshore Waters|date=November 2012|author=Javier González-Álvarez|accessdate=15 August 2019|page=3}}</ref>


Sites are designated as MPAs under these acts for one of three purposes:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2019-06/Possible%20Marine%20Protected%20Area%20Consultation%20-%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions%20-%20June%202019.pdf|title=Possible Marine Protected Area Consultation - Frequently Asked Questions|date=June 2019|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|accessdate=15 August 2019}}</ref>
Sites are designated as MPAs under these acts for one of three purposes:<ref name=faq>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2019-06/Possible%20Marine%20Protected%20Area%20Consultation%20-%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions%20-%20June%202019.pdf|title=Possible Marine Protected Area Consultation - Frequently Asked Questions|date=June 2019|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|accessdate=15 August 2019}}</ref>


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

⚫
The lead body for management of the MPAs is [[Marine Scotland]]. For nature conservation sites within territorial waters [[Scottish Natural Heritage]] 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.<ref name=types/> [[Historic Environment Scotland]] is responsible for historic MPAs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pub-prod-sdk.azurewebsites.net/enwiki/api/file/fe79b62c-e82a-474b-84fd-aa6f00dcafdf|title=Scotland's Historic Marine Protected Areas|publisher=Historic Environment Scotland|accessdate=16 August 2019|date=14 June 2019}}</ref>


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 current network is detailed in the table below:<ref name=p11>Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 11.</ref><ref name=p32>Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 32.</ref>
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 current network is detailed in the table below:<ref name=p11>Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 11.</ref><ref name=p32>Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 32.</ref>
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==Management==
⚫
The lead body for management of the MPAs is [[Marine Scotland]]. For nature conservation sites within territorial waters [[Scottish Natural Heritage]] 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.<ref name=types/> [[Historic Environment Scotland]] is responsible for historic MPAs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pub-prod-sdk.azurewebsites.net/enwiki/api/file/fe79b62c-e82a-474b-84fd-aa6f00dcafdf|title=Scotland's Historic Marine Protected Areas|publisher=Historic Environment Scotland|accessdate=16 August 2019|date=14 June 2019}}</ref>

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.<ref name=faq/> Environmental groups have criticised the government for failing to enforce fishing rules around MPAs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://theferret.scot/fines-fishermen-prosecution/|title=Fines to rogue fishermen fall and illegal fishing escapes prosecution|date=2019-10-06|website=The Ferret|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-10-06}}</ref>


==List of MPAs==
==List of MPAs==

Revision as of 10:04, 7 October 2019

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

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.[1] As of December 2018, approximately 22 % of Scotland's seas were covered by the Scottish MPA network.[2]

Designation

The Loch Carron MPA is the site of the world's largest flame shell bed.[3]

As of December Scotland's MPA network comprises 231 sites protected by a variety of different conservation designations, many of which are the same as those used on land, such as Special Protection Areas (SPA) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).[2][4] The legal framework differs depending on the designation: for example SSSIs are designated under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004.[5] Where not designated under other conservation legislation MPAs are designated under one of two acts of parliament, depending on their location:

Sites are designated as MPAs under these acts for one of three purposes:[8]

  • 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 current network is detailed in the table below:[2][4]

Purpose Designation Number
Nature Conservation Special Area of Conservation (SAC) 58
Nature Conservation Special Protection Area (SPA) 47
Nature Conservation Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) 65
Nature Conservation Ramsar 16
Nature Conservation Nature Conservation MPA 31
Total MPAs for nature conservation purposes 217
Demonstration and Research Demonstration and Research MPA 1
Historic Historic MPA 8
Other Area Based Measures 5
Total sites in Scottish MPA network 231

Management

The lead body for management of the MPAs is Marine Scotland. For nature conservation sites within territorial waters Scottish Natural Heritage 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.[5] Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for historic MPAs.[9]

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.[8] Environmental groups have criticised the government for failing to enforce fishing rules around MPAs.[10]

List of MPAs

These tables list those MPAs not covered by other designations (i.e. excluding SACs, SPAs, and SSSIs etc.) as of August 2019.[11][12]

Historic MPAs

Name Size (ha) Date Type Advisory body
HMS Campania 7.1[13] 1 November 2013[14] Historic HES
HMS Dartmouth 0.8[15] 1 November 2013[16] Historic HES
Drumbeg 7.1[17] 18 March 2013[18] Historic HES
Duart Point 1.8[19] 1 November 2013[20] Historic HES
Iona I 2.5[21] 26 October 2016[22] Historic HES
Kinlochbervie 28.3[23] 1 November 2013[24] Historic HES
Mingary 19.6[25] 1 November 2013[26] Historic HES
Out Skerries 22.8[27] 1 November 2013[28] Historic HES

Nature Conservation MPAs

Name Size (ha) Date Type Advisory body
Central Fladen 92500 7 August 2014[29] Nature Conservation JNCC
Clyde Sea Sill 71200 7 August 2014[30] Nature Conservation SNH
East Caithness Cliffs 11400 7 August 2014[31] Nature Conservation SNH
East of Gannet and Montrose Fields 183900 7 August 2014[32] Nature Conservation JNCC
Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt 527800 7 August 2014[33] Nature Conservation JNCC
Fetlar to Haroldswick 21600 18 November 2016[34] Nature Conservation SNH
Firth of Forth Banks Complex 213000 7 August 2014[35] Nature Conservation JNCC
Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope 221500 7 August 2014[36] Nature Conservation JNCC
Hatton-Rockall Basin 125600 7 August 2014[37] Nature Conservation JNCC
Loch Carron 2285 19 May 2019[38] Nature Conservation SNH
Loch Creran 1200 7 August 2014[39] Nature Conservation SNH
Loch Sunart 4900 7 August 2014[40] Nature Conservation SNH
Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura 74100 7 August 2014[41] Nature Conservation SNH
Loch Sween 4100 7 August 2014[42] Nature Conservation SNH
Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh 3700 7 August 2014[43] Nature Conservation SNH
Monach Isles 6200 7 August 2014[44] Nature Conservation SNH
Mousa to Boddam 1300 7 August 2014[45] Nature Conservation SNH
North-east Faroe-Shetland Channel 2368200 7 August 2014[46] Nature Conservation JNCC
North-west Orkney 436500 7 August 2014[47] Nature Conservation JNCC
Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain 16400 7 August 2014[48] Nature Conservation JNCC
Noss Head 800 7 August 2014[49] Nature Conservation SNH
Papa Westray 3300 7 August 2014[50] Nature Conservation SNH
Rosemary Bank Seamount 692700 7 August 2014[51] Nature Conservation JNCC
Small Isles 80300 18 November 2016[52] Nature Conservation SNH
South Arran 28000 7 August 2014[53] Nature Conservation SNH
The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount 437300 7 August 2014[54] Nature Conservation JNCC
Turbot Bank 25100 7 August 2014[55] Nature Conservation JNCC
Upper Loch Fyne and Loch Goil 8800 7 August 2014[56] Nature Conservation SNH
West Shetland Shelf 408300 7 August 2014[57] Nature Conservation JNCC
Wester Ross 59900 7 August 2014[58] Nature Conservation SNH
Wyre and Rousay Sounds 1600 7 August 2014[59] Nature Conservation SNH

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.[60] 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[61]

Other area based measures

Name Size (km2)
East Coast of Scotland (sand eels) 21,320[62]
West of Scotland (blue ling) 6,009[62]
Rosemary Bank (blue ling) 8,955[62]
West Rockall Mound 5,124[62]
North West Rockall 346[62]

Proposed NCMPAs

During 2019 SNH commenced a consultation exercise to consider whether four new areas should be designated as Nature Conservation MPAs. The four sites being considered are:[63]

The consultation is due to close on 30 August 2019.[63]

References

Bibliography

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

Citations

  1. ^ "Scotland's Marine Protected Area network". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 11.
  3. ^ "Plan to give Loch Carron permanent protection". BBC. 2018-03-21. Retrieved 2018-03-21.
  4. ^ a b Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 32.
  5. ^ a b "Different types of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scotland" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  6. ^ Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 5.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b "Possible Marine Protected Area Consultation - Frequently Asked Questions" (PDF). Scottish Natural Heritage. June 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2019.
  9. ^ "Scotland's Historic Marine Protected Areas". Historic Environment Scotland. 14 June 2019. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  10. ^ "Fines to rogue fishermen fall and illegal fishing escapes prosecution". The Ferret. 2019-10-06. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  11. ^ "SiteLink". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  12. ^ "Search". Historic Environment Scotland. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
  13. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600000720
  14. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/HMPA4
  15. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600000721
  16. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/HMPA6
  17. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600000721
  18. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/HMPA1
  19. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600000840
  20. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/HMPA7
  21. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600016160
  22. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/HMPA8
  23. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600000728
  24. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/HMPA3
  25. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600000732
  26. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/HMPA2
  27. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/document/600000737
  28. ^ http://portal.historicenvironment.scot/designation/HMPA5
  29. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10444
  30. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10414
  31. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10408
  32. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10445
  33. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10446
  34. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10409
  35. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10447
  36. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10448
  37. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10449
  38. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10543
  39. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10415
  40. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10417
  41. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10418
  42. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10419
  43. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10416
  44. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10420
  45. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10410
  46. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10450
  47. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10451
  48. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10452
  49. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10411
  50. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10412
  51. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10453
  52. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10422
  53. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10423
  54. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10456
  55. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10457
  56. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10424
  57. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10458
  58. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10421
  59. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10413
  60. ^ https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10499
  61. ^ Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 45}}
  62. ^ a b c d e Scottish MPA network - Parliamentary Report. p. 31.
  63. ^ a b "2019 possible Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas consultation". Scottish Natural Heritage. Retrieved 16 August 2019.
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