Deliver additional protection for spawning and juvenile congregation areas where needed, and for species with are integral components of the marine food web.
Objective 1: Accelerate ecosystem restoration and regeneration
Priority Action 2. Introduce a Programme of Ecosystem Restoration
No specific new protections have been introduced for spawning or juvenile congregation areas, and no dedicated programme or policy framework has been published targeting these habitats directly.
Existing measures such as Marine Protected Areas and fisheries management regulations may provide indirect protection in some locations, but there is no evidence of a standalone initiative, consultation, or targeted policy development focused specifically on identifying and protecting spawning or juvenile aggregation areas at a national level.
NatureScot and fisheries management guidance show that spawning and juvenile habitats are ecologically critical for marine food webs, but current protection is mainly indirect. Marine Protected Areas and fisheries regulations may provide some spatial or seasonal protection, but there is no dedicated national programme specifically identifying or safeguarding spawning or juvenile aggregation areas. As a result, protection of these habitats is inconsistent and not systematically targeted, with ecological outcomes depending on overlap with existing measures rather than purpose-built management.
Scottish Government – Marine Environment
Scottish Marine Protected Area advice
Scotland’s fisheries management strategy 2020 to 2030: delivery plan update 2025
Collate, review and prioritise all the landscape scale nature restoration projects across Scotland. Using this spatial evidence, NatureScot will identify and help facilitate partnership projects for six exemplar large scale landscape restoration areas with significant woodland components by 2025. By the end of 2026 those projects will have engaged with communities; developed deliverable action…
Develop the new Register of Ancient Woodlands, to include locational data, a definition of the required ‘protected and restored’ condition of ancient woodlands, and a process for recording ancient woodlands that reach the required standard.
Ensure support mechanisms are in place for landowners to restore priority ancient woodlands by 2030, focusing initially on protected/designated woodlands in unfavourable condition.
Implement Scotland’s strategic approach for Scotland’s rainforest which aims to improve its condition and health so that it can regenerate and expand whilst providing benefits to communities.
Develop upland-specific, best practice guidance on measures for upland restoration to regenerate peatlands, increase nature woodland cover, manage grazing, protect certain target species and priority habitats and increase habitat heterogeneity.
Develop a national peatland monitoring framework that incorporates on-site and remotely sensed assessments of biodiversity indicators, climate resilience and associated functions within the wider landscape, hydrological and ecological network contexts.
Transition 4 of the pilot RLUPs (Cairngorms National Park, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and South of Scotland (Dumfries and Galloway and Scottish Borders Councils, NorthWest 2045 Region (Highlands Council)) to formal initiatives as we seek to continue to develop our understanding of how partnership work can help to optimise land use in a fair and inclusive way meeting local and…
Following consultation in 2023, continue ongoing work towards implementing a ban on the sale of horticultural peat in Scotland.
Publish a plan for marine and coastal ecosystem restoration, including identifying actions to help prioritise habitats and locations suitable for restoration.
Develop new approaches to marine biodiversity monitoring, covering both state and pressure assessment and aligned with the UK Marine Strategy.
Develop a Blue Carbon Action Plan to identify where the Scottish Government can most effectively address evidence gaps and progress actions to support the protection, restoration, and enhancement of blue carbon habitats.
The RBMPs aims and objectives for the 2021-27 period, and the associated programme of measures aim to ensure that 81% of all Scotland’s waterbodies (rivers, lochs, groundwater, transitional (estuary/ firth) and coastal waters) achieve a ‘good’ or better classification by 2027 and continue to improve as natural conditions recover beyond that date.
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