We use cookies to collect anonymous data to help us improve your site browsing experience.

Click 'Accept all cookies' to agree to all cookies that collect anonymous data. To only allow the cookies that make the site work, click 'Use essential cookies only.' Visit 'Set cookie preferences' to control specific cookies.

Set cookie preferences

Your cookie preferences have been saved. You can change your cookie settings at any time.

Publication - Advice and guidance

Offshore Marine Protected Areas - fisheries management measures: supporting guidance on coordinates and restrictions:

Published
1 September 2025
From
Director of Marine
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Marine and fisheries
ISBN
9781806430871

Detailed guidance on site-specific fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas, including restricted gear types, gear codes, and precise area coordinates, to support compliance and promote sustainable use of marine resources in designated protected zones.

Part of

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Firth of Forth Banks Complex MPA

Location: ICES area 4b

Measures: Demersal mobile gear (other than demersal seines) prohibited in three zonal areas.

Gear types subject to restrictions

Demersal Mobile Gear:

  • Bottom trawl: OTB, OTT, PTB, TBN, TBS, and TB
  • Beam trawl: TBB
  • Dredge (boat and mechanised): DRB and HMD
Figure 9: Map of Firth of Forth Banks Complex MPA. Demersal mobile gear (except seines) is banned within the three hatched areas.
This map shows the Firth of Forth Banks Complex MPA, located off the southeast coast of Scotland. The site is split into three areas, each outlined in blue. Hatched zones show where demersal mobile gear, except seines, is not allowed. Yellow shading indicates offshore sands and gravels. Red dots mark ocean quahog aggregations.

First Area – Berwick Bank (Demersal mobile gear, except demersal seines, prohibited)

Boundary Line Set of co-ordinates of points which the boundary line joins Topographic description of boundary line
1. A to B Loxodrome
2. B to C Geodesic
3. C to D Geodesic
4. D to E Loxodrome
5. E to F Loxodrome
6. F to A Geodesic

Where—

“A” is 56° 12.854' N, 001° 37.201' W,

“B” is 56° 16.934' N, 001° 23.128' W,

“C” is 56° 11.260' N, 001° 12.065' W,

“D” is 56° 01.898' N, 001° 26.133' W,

“E” is 56° 06.315' N, 001° 33.618' W, and

“F” is 56° 05.490' N, 001° 37.211' W

Second Area - Scalp Bank and Wee Bankie (Demersal mobile gear, except demersal seines, prohibited)

Boundary Line Set of co-ordinates of points which the boundary line joins Topographic description of boundary line
1. G to H Loxodrome
2. H to I Geodesic
3. I to J Geodesic
4. J to K Geodesic
5. K to L Geodesic
6. L to M Geodesic
7. M to N Geodesic
8. N to O Geodesic
9. O to P Geodesic
10. P to G Geodesic

Where—

“G” is 56° 25.230' N, 002° 01.297' W,

“H” is 56° 25.233' N, 001° 50.661' W,

“I” is 56° 24.276' N, 001° 50.054' W,

“J” is 56° 17.838' N, 001° 49.805' W,

“K” is 56° 10.510' N, 001° 46.254' W,

“L” is 56° 09.128' N, 001° 50.512' W,

“M” is 56° 11.657' N, 001° 55.965' W,

“N” is 56° 10.081' N, 002° 03.258' W,

“O” is 56° 12.929' N, 002° 06.162' W, and

“P” is 56° 23.619' N, 002° 01.090' W

Third Area - Montrose Bank (Demersal mobile gear, except demersal seines, prohibited)

Boundary Line Set of co-ordinates of points which the boundary line joins Topographic description of boundary line
1. Q to R Geodesic
2. R to S Geodesic
3. S to T Geodesic
4. T to U Geodesic
5. U to V Loxodrome
6. V to W Geodesic
7. W to Q Loxodrome

Where—

“Q” is 56° 50.410' N, 001° 21.232' W,

“R” is 56° 50.401' N, 001° 15.849' W,

“S” is 56° 48.599' N, 001° 13.768' W,

“T” is 56° 43.225' N, 001° 12.266' W,

“U” is 56° 34.856' N, 001° 12.316' W,

“V” is 56° 32.421' N, 001° 17.644' W, and

“W” is 56° 32.393' N, 001° 28.064' W

Contact

Email: Marine_biodiversity@gov.scot

Back to top