Protected Areas
Protection of the marine environment is considered of the highest priority, as reflected by the general duty under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, 'to act in the way best calculated to further the achievement of sustainable development including the protection and, where appropriate, enhancement of the health of that area, so far as is consistent with the proper execution of that function'.
Protection is provided in a range of different designations, for example
- Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), for which a Scottish network is being designated
- Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs), usually referred to as Natura 2000 sites
- Ramsar sites
Serpulid reef, Serplua vermicularis - Copyright © SNH
Title |
Updated date |
|---|---|
| Inter-tidal Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) | 05/05/2017 |
| Local Landscape Areas - Scotland | 18/02/2019 |
| Marine Consultation Areas | 23/07/2019 |
| Marine Protected Area (MPA) network | 23/10/2023 |
| MPA and SAC management - Marine Conservation Orders (MCOs) and fisheries management measures (MPAs and SACs) | 29/09/2025 |
| Nature (National NNR / Local LNR and SNH) Reserves | 22/07/2019 |
| Nature Conservation Orders (NCOs) | 01/03/2018 |
| Priority Marine Features (PMF) consultation - July 2018 | 05/04/2023 |
| RAMSAR Sites | 31/01/2019 |
| Royal Society for Protection of Birds (RSPB) Reserve Boundaries | 01/03/2018 |
| Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) Reserves | 09/12/2015 |
| St Abbs and Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve (VMR) | 15/04/2019 |
| Video clips from MPA surveys | 24/08/2016 |
