SNH sets process for advising on marine protected areas 23/2/12
The Board of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) has agreed a process for advising Marine Scotland and Scottish Ministers on the creation of a network of marine protected areas (MPAs).
Under the Marine (Scotland) Act and the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act Scotland is required to create a network of MPAs to meet international commitments.
A number of sites already exist in the form of marine Special Areas of Conservation or marine Special Protection Areas. Additional sites are however likely to be required to help fulfil Scotland’s international commitments for an ecologically coherent network of MPAs.
A report to Parliament on progress towards completion of the network is due in December. The process is led by Marine Scotland. SNH’s role is to provide information and advice about the marine environment to Marine Scotland and Ministers so they can decide where MPAs should be.
Proposals for areas beyond the 12nm territorial waters will be led by the UK Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).
Marine Scotland, SNH and JNCC have held three stakeholder workshops with representatives of the fishing industry, other economic interests, local authorities and communities that have expressed an interest in MPA work, to let them know what's going on and get their feedback on the search locations for MPAs.
A fourth workshop is scheduled for March and a fifth at the end of June. SNH and JNCC will finalise their advice in response to feedback from the workshops before submitting it to Marine Scotland in November.
Ron Macdonald, SNH’s head of policy and advice, said: “Even though Scotland is a relatively small country, it has one of the longest coastlines in Europe. The sea has always sustained the country economically and is crucial to its future prosperity. In terms of wildlife, habitats and geology, the marine environment is as diverse and dramatic as the land is.
“We have a duty therefore to help ensure Scotland continues to benefit economically from the sea and that this fantastic and vital resource is managed sustainably for generations to come. That is what marine protected areas are really about.”
He added: “We are encouraged by the interest and involvement we’ve had so far from a wide range of groups with an interest in the marine environment, and look forward to more of this in the remaining workshops to come. All of this will help steer our advice to Marine Scotland and Ministers, so they can decide what the final MPA network should look like and how it should be managed.”
Some community councils and associations, and environmental bodies have already submitted their own proposals for MPAs. These will be assessed against the Scottish MPA Selection Guidelines.
A network of well-