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

Fishing Gear Restrictions: Site-by-Site Summary

This list provides a high level overview of the restrictions in place across the relevant MPAs. It outlines the categories of fishing gear affected and the extent to which these restrictions apply within each site.

Anton Dohrn SAC

  • Demersal mobile and demersal static gear prohibited from full site

Braemar Pockmarks SAC

  • Demersal mobile and demersal static gear prohibited from full site

Central Fladen NCMPA

  •  Demersal mobile gear prohibited in two zonal areas

Darwin Mounds SAC

  •  Demersal mobile and demersal static gear prohibited from full site

East of Gannet and Montrose Fields NCMPA

  •  Dredge and beam trawling prohibited from full site. Demersal mobile gear (other than demersal seines) prohibited in one zoned area

East Rockall Bank SAC

  •  Demersal mobile gear prohibited in two zoned areas. Demersal mobile and demersal static gear prohibited in four zoned areas.

Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt NCMPA

  •  Demersal mobile gear prohibited from one zoned area. Demersal mobile gear and demersal static gear prohibited in one zoned area

Firth of Forth Banks Complex NCMPA

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

Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope NCMPA

  •  Demersal mobile gear prohibited in three zonal areas

North West Rockall Bank SAC

  •  Demersal mobile gear and demersal static gear prohibited in one zoned area.

North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA

  •  Demersal mobile gear prohibited from one zoned area. Demersal mobile gear and demersal static gear prohibited in one zoned area.

Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain NCMPA

  •  Dredge, beam trawl, and demersal trawl prohibited from full site. Demersal seines prohibited in one zoned area

Pobie Bank Reef SAC

  •  Demersal mobile gear prohibited from one zoned area

Scanner Pockmark SAC

  •  Demersal mobile and demersal static gear prohibited from full site

Solan Bank Reef SAC

  •  Full site exclusion of mechanised dredge and beam trawling
  • Full site exclusion of demersal trawls and seines, except during September and October when permitted in one zoned area

Stanton Banks SAC

  •  Demersal mobile gear prohibited from three zoned areas

The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount NCMPA

  •  Demersal mobile gear prohibited from one zoned area. Demersal mobile gear and demersal static gear prohibited in one zoned area.

West of Scotland MPA

  •  Demersal mobile and demersal static gear prohibited from full site

West Shetland Shelf NCMPA

  •  Dredge and beam trawling prohibited from full site. Demersal mobile gear prohibited in two zoned areas.

Wyville-Thomson Ridge SAC

  • Demersal mobile gear prohibited from one zoned area. Demersal mobile gear and demersal static gear prohibited in one zoned area.

Contact

Email: Marine_biodiversity@gov.scot

Back to top