Maintain the long-term monitoring of the freshwater environment in addition to being enhanced and supplemented by new developing technologies such as eDNA when available.
Objective 1: Accelerate ecosystem restoration and regeneration
Priority Action 6. Enhance water and air quality. Undertake water management measures to enhance biodiversity
Scotland has a well-established long-term freshwater environmental monitoring network, delivered primarily through SEPA under frameworks such as river basin management planning. Alongside this, new monitoring approaches are being developed and tested, particularly environmental DNA (eDNA). In Scotland, this includes research supported through the Centre of Expertise for Waters, which has explored how eDNA can be used to detect priority species and improve monitoring of freshwater ecosystems. At UK level, eDNA has already been used operationally for species such as great crested newts and is being trialled for fish and invasive species detection. These studies show that eDNA can detect species that are often missed by traditional survey methods, including rare, cryptic and low-abundance species, and can provide faster, more cost-effective biodiversity data. However, these methods are still being tested and standardised, and are not yet consistently integrated into SEPA’s routine regulatory monitoring network.
SEPA’s long-term monitoring provides robust data on water quality and ecological status. Targeted studies (e.g. CREW-supported work on emerging monitoring tools and UK-wide eDNA applications for species detection) demonstrate that eDNA can significantly improve biodiversity detection, particularly for fish, invasive species and protected species. These approaches increase sensitivity and spatial coverage compared to conventional sampling. However, integration into regulatory monitoring is still limited, meaning the benefits are currently incremental rather than system-wide. Embedding eDNA into routine monitoring could transform biodiversity assessment by improving detection accuracy, enabling earlier identification of ecological change, and supporting more responsive management across catchments.
The River Basin Management Plan for Scotland 2021 – 2027
href=”https://www.crew.ac.uk/sites/www.crew.ac.uk/files/publication/CRW2022_06_Emerging%20contaminants%20report%20and%20appendices_0_0.pdf”>CREW – Emerging contaminants and monitoring research
SEPA – Water monitoring (statutory monitoring framework)
SEPA – Environmental data and monitoring programmes
Ensure contaminants of emerging concern that may impact on biodiversity are identified through existing mechanisms with an additional system in place that uses Scottish data to identify new problems.
Represent Scottish interests in UK chemicals regulation to ensure impacts on wildlife from chemical risks are reduced (eg work towards extending current restrictions on lead in ammunition), and contribute to UK chemicals regulatory reform.
Support projects and programmes that complement regulation to address emerging or novel contaminants in the water environment, e.g. The One Health Breakthrough Partnership on pharmaceuticals and the water industry’s Chemical Investigation Programme.
Take an adaptive approach to abstraction and flows management to protect freshwater biodiversity from the impacts of water scarcity in response to future climate change pressures, using the Controlled Activity Regulations and review of abstraction.
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