Developing Scotland’s Marine Protected Area network

On 03 December 2020, Scottish Ministers classified 12 Special Protection Areas. These will provide protection in the marine environment for Scotland’s rare, vulnerable and regularly occurring migratory birds. They also designated four Marine Protected Areas sites, which will be among the first in the world providing area-based protection of minke whale and basking shark. The sites will also protect Risso’s dolphins and a range of biodiversity and geological features.

The Scottish MPA network includes sites for nature conservation, protection of biodiversity, demonstrating sustainable management, and protecting our heritage. These sites contribute to our MPA network which will now cover a total of 37% of our seas.

Business and Regulatory Impact Assessments (BRIAs)

• Seas off St Kilda Special Protection Area 
• Coll and Tiree Special Protection Area 
• East Mainland Coast, Shetland Special Protection Area
• Bluemull and Colgrave Sounds Special Protection Area 
• Ythan Estuary, Sands of Forvie and Meikle Loch (extension) Special Protection Area
• Sound of Gigha Special Protection Area 
• Rum Special Protection Area 
• West Coast of the Outer Hebrides Special Protection Area 
• Moray Firth Special Protection Area
• Outer Firth of Forth and St. Andrews Bay Complex Special Protection Area
• Seas off Foula Special Protection Area
• Solway Firth Special Protection Area