Proper protection for Scotland’s marine wildlife

What is the problem?

Many marine species are in decline and marine habitats have been degraded or destroyed, due to various human activities.

Human induced changes to the marine ecosystem result not only in the permanent loss of wildlife, but also in damage to the economy, as fishing, wildlife tourism and other industries suffer the consequences.

Currently, Scottish Ministers have limited powers to establish areas for marine protection – these are mainly limited to the fulfilment of EU requirements under the Habitats and Birds Directives. Existing European marine Natura 2000 sites are not nearly enough to protect our marine wildlife, as they protect only a few species and habitats of European significance and do not cover important Scottish marine wildlife.

The Marine (Scotland) Bill includes provisions for a new power to designated marine protected areas (MPAs). LINK welcomes this new power and believes that the designation of Nature Conservation MPAs must be based on the best available scientific advice and on biodiversity needs alone. We are therefore reassured that Scottish Ministers may have regard to social or economic consequences of designation only where the desirability of designating 2 or more areas is equal.

However, it is important to recognise that protection and restoration of marine fauna, flora, habitats and ecosystems cannot be achieved by designating stand-alone MPAs. Rather an ecologically coherent network of sites is required, designated on the basis of the best available science. Such a network is an international commitment under OSPAR, the World Summit on Sustainable Development and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

What is the solution?

The Marine (Scotland) Bill should be amended to include a duty on Scottish Ministers to create an ecologically-coherent network of Marine Protected Areas, in line with our international commitments.

LINK therefore strongly welcome the recommendation in the Stage 1 Report of the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee that the Bill should impose a duty on the Scottish Ministers to create a [ecologically coherent] network [of Marine Protected Areas]...

LINK also believes that the following improvements would considerably strengthened the Bill:

A duty to produce a marine management scheme for all MPAs. It is important that all interested parties understand the management requirements for each site and the implications in respect of their own functions and activities.

A clear commitment that the powers in the Inshore Fishing Act can, and where appropriate will, be used to exclude fishing activities that could be damaging to the protected features of an MPA.