Taking Stock – Lessons learnt in 2020 and opportunities to set a clear path of Ocean recovery in 2021

Save Scottish Seas Blog ‘As 2020 comes to an end, it is time to reflect on this challenging year, and the opportunities that lie ahead! As this challenging year comes to an end, we are all lifting our heads to the horizon for glimmers of hope. The Covid-19 pandemic has demonstrated how much we all rely on nature for our health and well-being and across the globe, people are calling on governments to build back better and work together for a brighter, fairer and more sustainable future.

Toward the end of 2020 there was good news with the extension of the Scottish Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) network to cover approximately 37% of Scotland’s seas. We  firmly welcome the designation of the West of Scotland MPA, now the largest protected area in Europe [1],  the four long-awaited inshore MPAs for basking sharks, minke whales, Risso’s dolphin, northern seafan and sponge communities, burrowed mud and large seabed and geological features, accelerated thanks to the Scottish Green Party’s  2018-2019 budget deal with the Scottish Government [2], and 12 Special Protection Areas for marine birds. Although disappointed at the absence of two SPAs from Orkney, we hope to see their designation next year.

Our coast and seas are among Scotland’s greatest assets, deeply shaping communities and cultural identity and providing the foundation of the maritime economy. We have some of the most productive seas in Europe, containing crucial fishing grounds, and of international importance for many species, including seabirds, grey seals, basking sharks, whales and dolphins and habitats such as coldwater coral reefs, maerl beds and flameshell beds. Click here to read more of the Blog