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Publication - Consultation analysis

Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs): consultation analysis - final report

Published
7 November 2023
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Part of
Environment and climate change, Marine and fisheries
ISBN
9781835214763

Analysis report on the responses to the consultation on Scottish Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) which ran from 12 December 2022 to 17 April 2023.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Annex 4: Question response rates (substantive responses only)

Respondent type Organisations Individuals Total
Consultation questions No. of org % of total 289 org No. of ind % of total 2169 ind Total no. % of total 2458
1 What is your view of the aims and purpose of Highly Protected Marine Areas as set out in sections 2 and 3 of the draft Policy Framework? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 232 80% 1867 86% 2099 85%
Please explain your answer in the text box. 258 89% 1735 80% 1993 81%
2 What is your view of the effectiveness of the proposed approaches to manage the activities listed below, as set out in section 6 of the draft Policy Framework, in order to achieve the aims and purpose of HPMAs? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 175 61% 1325 61% 1500 61%
  • Commercial fishing (of any kind)
 168 58% 1323 61% 1491 61%
  • Recreational fishing (of any kind)
 166 57% 1310 60% 1476 60%
  • All other recreational activities
 171 59% 1307 60% 1478 60%
  • Aquaculture (finfish, shellfish, seaweed)
 170 59% 1308 60% 1478 60%
  • Oil and gas
 166 57% 1305 60% 1471 60%
  • Renewable energy
 162 56% 1297 60% 1459 59%
  • Carbon capture, utilisation and storage
 166 57% 1296 60% 1462 59%
  • Subsea cables
 162 56% 1284 59% 1446 59%
  • Aggregate extraction
 162 56% 1283 59% 1445 59%
  • Ports and harbours
 162 56% 1284 59% 1446 59%
  • Shipping and ferries
 165 57% 1287 59% 1452 59%
  • Military and defence
 166 57% 1287 59% 1453 59%
  • Hydrogen production
 158 55% 1283 59% 1441 59%
  • Space Ports
 160 55% 1269 59% 1429 58%
Please explain your answer in the text box below and if you think we have missed any activities, please suggest them here. 160 55% 1267 58% 1427 58%
3 What is your view of the proposed additional powers set out in section 8.3.2 of the draft Policy Framework: “Allow for activities to be prohibited from the point of designation to afford high levels of protection”? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 198 69% 1398 64% 1596 65%
Please explain your answer in the text box. 194 67% 1237 57% 1431 58%
4 What is your view of the proposed additional powers set out in section 8.3.3 of the draft Policy Framework: “Establish processes to permit certain limited activities within a HPMA on a case-by-case basis for specified reasons”? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 196 68% 1367 63% 1563 64%
Please explain your answer in the text box. 201 70% 1176 54% 1377 56%
5 What is your view of the proposed additional powers set out in section 8.3.4 of the draft Policy Framework: “Activities which are not permitted in a HPMA but are justified in specified cases of emergency or force majeure”? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 189 65% 1320 61% 1509 61%
Please explain your answer in the text box. 147 51% 980 45% 1127 46%
6 What is your view of the proposed additional powers set out in section 8.3.5 of the draft Policy Framework: “Measures for activities allowed and carefully managed in HPMAs”? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 190 66% 1332 61% 1522 62%
Please explain your answer in the text box. 175 61% 1119 52% 1294 53%
7 Do you have any further comments on the draft Policy Framework, which have not been covered by your answers to the previous questions? Please explain your answer in the text box. 197 68% 1355 62% 1552 63%
8 What is your view of the proposal that HPMA site identification should be based upon the “functions and resources of significance to Scotland’s seas,” as listed below and set out in Annex B of the draft Site Selection Guidelines? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 182 63% 1474 68% 1656 67%
  • Blue Carbon
 181 63% 1490 69% 1671 68%
  • Essential Fish Habitats
 183 63% 1490 69% 1673 68%
  • Strengthening the Scottish MPA network
 184 64% 1487 69% 1671 68%
  • Protection from storms and sea level rise
 183 63% 1483 68% 1666 68%
  • Research and education
 183 63% 1485 68% 1668 68%
  • Enjoyment and appreciation
 179 62% 1462 67% 1641 67%
  • Other important ecosystem services
 180 62% 905 42% 1085 44%
Please explain your answer in the text box, including any suggested changes to the list. 182 63% 1474 68% 1656 67%
9 What is your view of the general principles that are intended to inform the approach to HPMA selection, as listed below and set out in section 4.1 of the draft Site Selection Guidelines? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 171 59% 1179 54% 1350 55%
  • Use of a robust evidence base
 164 57% 1143 53% 1307 53%
  • HPMA scale and the use of functional ecosystem units
 163 56% 1136 52% 1299 53%
  • Ensuring added value
 166 57% 1148 53% 1314 53%
  • Delivering ecosystem recovery
 182 63% 953 44% 1135 46%
Please explain your answer in the text box, including any suggested changes to the list. 171 59% 1179 54% 1350 55%
10 What is your view of the proposed five-stage site selection process, found in sections 4.2 and 4.3 as well as figure 2 and Annex A of the draft Site Selection Guidelines? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 195 67% 1509 70% 1704 69%
Please explain your answer in the text box. 168 58% 867 40% 1035 42%
11 Do you have any further comments on the draft Site Selection Guidelines, which have not been covered by your answers to the previous questions? 169 58% 1060 49% 1229 50%
12 What is your view of the Strategic Environmental Report, summarised within sections 3 and 4 of the Sustainability Appraisal, as an accurate representation of the potential impacts, issues and considerations raised by the introduction of the draft Policy Framework and Site Selection Guidelines? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 183 63% 1459 67% 1642 67%
Please explain your answer in the text box. 145 50% 773 36% 918 37%
13 What is your view of the Socio-Economic Impact Assessment, summarised within sections 3 and 4 of the Sustainability Appraisal, as an accurate representation of the potential impacts, issues and considerations raised by the introduction of the draft Policy Framework and Site Selection Guidelines? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 194 67% 1500 69% 1694 69%
Please explain your answer in the text box. 170 59% 914 42% 1084 44%
14 What is your view of the partial ICIA screening report as an accurate representation of potential impacts, raised by the implementation of the draft Policy Framework and Site Selection Guidelines? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 175 61% 1480 68% 1655 67%
Please explain your answer in the text box. 161 56% 934 43% 1095 45%
15 Do you think that the implementation of the draft Policy Framework and Site Selection Guidelines will have any significantly differential impacts – positive and/or negative - on island communities? [Yes / No / Not sure] 175 61% 1527 70% 1702 69%
Please explain your answer in the text box. 173 60% 1249 58% 1422 58%
16 What is your view of the proposed additional powers set out in section 8.3.4 of the draft Policy Framework: “Activities which are not permitted in a HPMA but are justified in specified cases of emergency or force majeure”? [Strongly support / Support / Neutral / Oppose / Strongly oppose] 185 64% 1425 66% 1610 66%
Please explain your answer in the text box, including any additional impacts that have not been identified in the partial ICIA screening report. 164 57% 864 40% 1028 42%
17 Do you think that the implementation of the draft Policy Framework and Site Selection Guidelines will have any financial, regulatory or resource impacts – positive and/or negative – for you and/or your business? [Yes / No / Not sure] 192 66% 1432 66% 1624 66%
18 If you answered “yes” to the previous question, please specify which of the proposals/actions you refer to and why you believe this would result in financial, regulatory or resource impacts for your business. 175 61% 1135 52% 1310 53%
19 Do you have any further thoughts on the Scottish Government’s commitment to introduce HPMAs to at least 10% of Scottish waters? 234 81% 1722 79% 1956 80%

Contact

Email: HPMA@gov.scot

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