Thirty Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) have been designated in Scotland, meaning that the country’s marine species and habitats will now be better protected.
Scotland’s seas are the fourth largest in the EU and the MPAs are designed to protect species such as flameshell beds, feather stars, the common skate and ocean quahog - a large mollusc which can live for centuries.
They will also protect sandeels - a small fish that many seabirds and marine mammals depend on for food. One of the sites – the North East Faroe Shetland Channel - is estimated to be the largest Marine Protected Area in the EU.
Alistair Sinclair, chairman, Scottish Creel Fisherman’s Federation said: “The vast majority of fishermen operating around the Scottish inshore waters are creel fishermen. We support a well-managed network of MPA's as forward thinking creel fishermen recognise that practical steps are required to take better care of our inshore waters.”
The 30 MPAs were identified through a project led by Marine Scotland with support from Scottish Natural Heritage, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Marine Scotland Science, SEPA and Historic Scotland. A public consultation on MPA proposals was undertaken in 2013.
The new sites are in addition to the existing protected areas in Scotland and will mean that in total, around 20% of Scotland’s seas are now protected areas.
Further, ministers have also announced they are considering 14 new areas to protect sea birds and a further four locations to protect basking shark and species of whale and dolphin identified by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) – they are due to be discussed in due course.
