Have Your Say on the Future of Our Marine Protected Areas
Background
Scotland’s deep seas are home to a rich array of marine life, from ancient cold-water coral reefs to the long-lived ocean quahog clam. Despite their remoteness, these fragile ecosystems face mounting pressures from human activities like fishing and offshore oil and gas development, as well as the growing impacts of climate change.
In 2014, the Scottish Government took a significant step in marine conservation by designating 13 new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in offshore waters beyond 12 nautical miles. These new sites complemented the existing network of MPAs established under EU law, known as Special Areas of Conservation. Today, Scotland’s MPA network has grown to include over 230 sites, covering 37% of the nation’s seas.
However, concerns remain over damaging practices such as bottom trawling, which continue to threaten vulnerable seabed habitats within these protected areas. In response, the Scottish Government is now seeking public input on proposed fisheries management measures for 20 existing offshore MPAs. These measures aim to restrict or prohibit the use of harmful fishing gear, such as demersal mobile and static gear, in order to protect and restore Scotland's marine ecosystems.
By implementing these measures, Scotland seeks to uphold both national and international conservation commitments, ensuring the long-term health of its marine environment.
Figure: Offshore MPAs filled with blue have measured proposed as part of the consultation.
How can you contribute?
The Scottish Government is inviting everyone, from local communities to industry stakeholders, to share their views on the proposed measures (you can read about them here). Your input is invaluable in shaping the future management of these MPAs.
The consultation presents two primary approaches and asks for your feedback:
Zoned or full restrictions at 15 sites: The proposed measures would either limit or completely restrict the use of certain fishing gears in specific zones within these MPAs, depending on the conservation needs of each site.
Full site-wide exclusion at 5 sites: For five MPAs, a full exclusion of specified gear types is proposed across the entire site. This is considered the only viable option to meet the conservation objectives of these areas, ensuring that the habitats and species they protect are fully safeguarded.
Additionally, the consultation is requesting input on amendments to the boundaries of the West of Scotland MPA.
The feedback gathered will help inform the final decisions on the management measures to be adopted for these offshore MPAs.
Navigating the Consultation
Participating in the consultation is straightforward. Navigate to the consultation form on the Citizen Space platform here.
The first section asks broad questions about the proposed fisheries management measures and the related consultation documents. You can provide your overall opinions here.
There is then an interactive map provided, allowing you to explore the specific sites and proposed measures in detail. You can choose to comment on as many or as few sites as you wish. If maps aren’t your thing, you can also select sites from a list or skip them entirely.
At the end of the consultation, you will need to provide some personal information and specify how you would like your response to be handled (for example, whether you want your response to be published anonymously or with your name).
Take action now
Protecting Scotland’s deep seas is not just a government responsibility; it’s a collective one. Participate in the consultation today to ensure that our MPAs can truly safeguard the biodiversity and ecosystems we all rely on.
Remember, the consultation is open until October 14th, so be sure to submit your responses* before the deadline!
*You can also opt to participate via Scottish Environment LINK’s e-action which asks Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy to protect Scotland's deep seas.
More resources
For more detailed information on MPAs in Scotland, check out the resources below: