The Scottish government has proposed new fisheries management measures for 20 Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scotland’s offshore waters to enhance the protection and restoration of marine ecosystems. The proposed measures include either zoned or full restrictions on the use of specified fishing equipment, such as demersal mobile and static gear, at 15 of these sites. For the remaining five sites, the consultation suggests full site-wide exclusions of certain gear types to meet conservation objectives.
Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin said: “Marine Protected Areas already provide focused protection for the species and habitats in our waters. By implementing proposed fisheries management measures, we can further guard against further biodiversity loss, help to restore high priority marine features and make a greater contribution to supporting and maintaining the marine ecosystem, which in turn supports our long-term food security.
“This will help ensure our seas remain a source of prosperity for the nation, especially in our coastal and island communities. These proposals are the result of many years of development and we will continue to consult very closely with industry and coastal communities to hear their views.”
Photographer: Graham Saunders, credit: NatureScot
However, Conservative MSP Tim Eagle said: “This consultation comes when our fishing industry is already worried that the SNP’s reckless Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) proposals will reappear under a different guise in the future.
“The Scottish Government must work with the sector to conduct an evidence-based approach to marine planning decisions at a time when 37% of Scottish waters are already protected under the existing MPA network.
Spatial squeeze is among the biggest fears within the fishing industry which is why it’s vital as many people as possible respond to this consultation.”
Hugo Tagholm, Executive Director, Oceana, UK wrote on social media “Banning destructive bottom trawling from Marine Protected Areas is crucial in delivering thriving seas and bigger fish populations.
Scottish seas are already under pressure from the climate crisis, pollution and overfishing – they urgently need areas that provide a chance to regroup and build resilience. Bottom trawling has no place anywhere in MPAs.”
Scotland’s MPA network now spans over 230 sites, covering 37% of the country’s seas. These MPAs are designed to protect diverse habitats and species, such as deep-sea sponge aggregations, ocean quahog clams, and cold-water coral reefs. Each MPA has specific conservation objectives tailored to the unique species and ecosystems it aims to safeguard.
Scottish MPA Network (as of 2024), credit: Scottish Government
This consultation has two parts:
Part 1: Seeks views on proposed fisheries management measures for 20 Marine Protected Areas in Scotland’s offshore region. Feedback is requested on key draft documents outlining the rationale, impacts, and benefits of these measures.
Part 2: Seeks views on amending the West of Scotland MPA boundary to resolve an issue with the existing site boundary.
The consultation is open until October 14, with subsequent discussions to follow on fisheries management in inshore waters.