Fisheries management measures proposed in existing marine protected areas to further protect and restore ecosystems

Scottish Government has embarked on a public consultation that could ban bottom-trawl fishing across 20 offshore marine protected areas (MPAs). For 15 of these, the government is considering two options – banning bottom trawling across the whole site, or protecting only “features” – such as reefs – where they are present. For the remaining five, only site-wide bans are being proposed.