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Publication - Impact assessment

Scottish Blue Carbon action plan: islands communities impact assessment

Published
8 December 2025
From
Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Marine and fisheries
ISBN
9781806434947

Summary of the islands communities impact assessment (ICIA) undertaken for the Scottish Blue Carbon action plan.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Step two – gather your data and identify your stakeholders

Blue carbon habitats are found all around Scotland’s coast and seas. Scotland’s blue carbon habitats, as defined in the BCAP, are saltmarsh, seagrass beds, seabed sediments, kelp and other seaweeds. The below maps show known distribution of these habitats based on survey data available via NMPi.

Figure 1: Snapshot of saltmarsh distribution along Scottish coast, based on current understanding. (Please note that distribution maps are regularly updated on NMPi)
A map of Scotland showing the location of known saltmarshes along the coast. Saltmarsh can be seen all along the Scottish coast, and particularly on the west coast.
Figure 2: Snapshot of seagrass distribution, based on current understanding. (Please note that distribution maps are regularly updated on NMPi)
A map of Scotland showing the location of known seagrass beds. It shows seagrass beds are particularly concentrated along the west coast and in waters around the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland.
Figure 3: organic carbon density in Scottish waters
A map showing the density of organic carbon in seabed sediments in Scottish waters. It shows that organic carbon is found in higher densities in inshore waters along the west coast in particular.
Figure 4: Snapshot of kelp and other seaweed distribution along Scottish coast, based on current understanding. Note that low or variable salinity habitats contains the biotope ‘Kelp in variable or reduced salinity’. (Please note that distribution maps are regularly updated on NMPi)
A map of Scotland showing the location of known kelp and other seaweeds. It shows that kelp and other seaweeds are particularly concentrated along the west coast and waters around the Outer Hebrides, Orkney, and Shetland.

As highlighted in the maps of known distribution of saltmarsh, seagrass beds, and kelp and other seaweeds, these habitats are found across the coast of Scotland’s mainland and islands. Higher concentration of marine carbon stores in seabed sediments also tend to be found along the west coast, where there is a higher concentration of islands. In some areas, local understanding of distribution of blue carbon habitats and the pressures upon those habitats is better than others. For example, local efforts to map blue carbon habitats have been undertaken in Orkney[1] and the Solway coast.[2]

Survey data from the National Islands Plan Survey also shows that people living on islands also tend to rate their local environment highly, and engage in pro-environment behaviours.[3]

Island impact assessments undertaken for other marine policies have highlighted that industries such as fishing and aquaculture are significant contributors for local island and coastal economies, alongside associated activities such as fish processing.[4]

In 2023, NatureScot undertook a literature review of blue carbon habitats in Scotland, which reviewed scientific evidence relating to distribution, extent, carbon storage potential, threats, and restoration efforts of a range of habitats.[5] As a compilation of the latest evidence in 2023, this literature review has served as the main source of information on blue carbon habitats for the BCAP.

Key stakeholders for the Blue Carbon Action Plan have been identified as including: scientists, researchers, and academic institutions; environmental NGOs (including for advocacy, investment, and community organising); public bodies involved in marine; fishing and aquaculture industry bodies; and coastal communities.

Contact

Email: marineclimatechange@gov.scot

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