Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) - site selection: draft guidelines

Guidelines describing the proposed process for identifying and selecting Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in Scottish waters. These were drafted by our statutory nature conservation advisors, NatureScot and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).


3 Relationship with the existing MPA network

Further details on the relationship between HPMAs and the existing MPA network are provided in the policy framework. HPMAs will be selected in a way that complements the existing MPA network and is mindful of decisions that have already been made and/or are underway regarding wider marine management in Scottish waters.

It may be that HPMAs overlap either fully or partially with some existing MPAs in order to maximise the conservation benefits that could be gained with stricter management approaches in a particular geographic location. It may also be the case that HPMAs occur fully outwith existing MPAs.

Contact

Email: HPMA@gov.scot

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