Marine and freshwater: areas of research interest

Foreword

As Chief Scientific Adviser for Marine, it is my pleasure to present the Scottish Government's Areas of Research Interest (ARI) for our marine and freshwater environments. Scotland's seas and waters are vital national assets, covering over 462,000 km² and almost six times the size of the territorial area of Scotland.

It supports our economy, communities, and natural heritage. Our stewardship of these resources must be founded on robust scientific evidence that enables us to balance protection, conservation, and sustainable use.

This document articulates the research questions that will be crucial for delivering our Blue Economy Vision and addressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. It reflects a commitment to evidence-based policy making and our recognition that collaboration with the research community—across academia, industry, public bodies, and civil society—is essential to developing the knowledge and innovations needed for Scotland's marine future.

The research areas identified here will inform our priorities for, collaboration, and knowledge exchange. By clearly stating our evidence needs, we aim to stimulate research that will directly inform policy development and implementation, while building a shared understanding of Scotland's marine and freshwater priorities among our research partners.

I look forward to working together to advance these research interests and build the evidence base that will enable Scotland to be a global leader in sustainable marine and freshwater management.

Prof. Mark Inall

Scottish Government, Chief Scientific Adviser, Marine May 2025