The deep sea is one of those mysterious parts of planet earth – or should that be planet ocean? It’s so far away and out of reach that most people only hear about it occasionally in the news or on wildlife documentaries. But did you know that deep sea ecosystems have a powerful influence on your everyday life and the environment around you? In this blog, we will take a dive into the importance of the deepest and most unexplored parts of our ocean, and look at what urgently needs to be done here in Scotland to protect the species and habitats that live in these hidden havens.
Stretching far beyond the familiar shorelines of Scotland’s coasts, beaches and cliffs, the offshore waters encompasses everything from the continental shelf to the deep sea abyssal plains, from 12 to 200 nautical miles. This vast and largely unexplored region is home to some of the most unique and fascinating species and habitats on Earth.
Along the continental shelf and within the dark, cold depths of Scotland’s seas, life thrives in extraordinary ways. Species such as the bizarre-looking deep-sea anglerfish (Lophius piscatorius), the majestic sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), and the elusive porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) call these waters home. Habitats in Scotland’s offshore waters include cold-water coral reefs, which provide shelter and breeding grounds for numerous marine species. Seamounts and submarine canyons add to the complexity and diversity of these underwater landscapes.
These creatures have adapted to extreme conditions—immense pressure, frigid temperatures, and perpetual darkness. However, these conditions make for a much more stable environment than the busier and more dynamic inshore and coastal area. As a result, species and habitats tend to be slow-growing and long-lived. The orange roughy, a medium sized fish that lives at depths of up to 1,800m, can live up to 200 years! The ocean quahog, a species of clam found in Scottish waters, can live even longer, with the oldest recorded individual aged at 507 years old!
Image: Ocean quahog (credit: NatureScot on Flickr)
The continental shelf and deep sea environment plays a crucial role in global ecological health. It acts as a massive carbon sink, helping to regulate the Earth’s climate by storing vast amounts of carbon dioxide. The biodiversity of these environments contributes to the overall health of ocean ecosystems, supporting fisheries, helping to cycle nutrients to shallower waters and maintaining the balance of marine life. Deep-sea organisms are also a source of novel compounds with potential applications in medicine, biotechnology, and other fields. Recently, it was even discovered by Scottish scientists working at the Scottish Association of Marine Science, a pioneering institute on deep-sea research, that deep sea minerals produce oxygen! Until then, oxygen was only thought to be produced by plants and other living things that use photosynthesis and require sunlight.
Despite its remoteness, the offshore and deep-sea environment is not immune to threats. Human activities such as deep-sea fishing, mining, and oil and gas exploration pose significant risks. These activities can lead to habitat destruction, overfishing, and pollution, disrupting the delicate balance of fragile ecosystems. Climate change and ocean acidification further exacerbate these threats, altering the physical and chemical environment that deep-sea species rely on. Marine litter is also being increasingly found in deep-sea environments. A plastic bag has been discovered in the Marianas Trench – the deepest place on earth – at a mind-blowing 10.8 km deep, and deep sea creatures have been found entangled in or attached to plastic waste in multiple locations.
Most of these threats are already affecting Scotland’s offshore ecosystems, and some have done so for a long time. In the northwest area of Scotland’s offshore waters, a population decline of up to 90% has been estimated for orange roughy due to fishing activities. Strandings of deep-diving whales on Scottish beaches have been increasing over the last 60 years, including species such as Cuvier’s beaked whale (Ziphius cavirostris).
Protecting Scotland’s deep sea is not just about preserving the unknown—it’s about safeguarding the planet’s future. The health of our oceans is intricately linked to the health of our planet and human health and wellbeing. By conserving these environments, we ensure the continuation of critical ecological processes and the survival of unique species that could hold the key to scientific and medical breakthroughs. Whether we can see it or not, the deep sea is a vital part of our natural heritage.
In 2014, 13 new marine protected areas were created in Scotland’s offshore waters, adding to some of the MPAs already established under EU law (known as Special Areas of Conservation), such as the Anton Dohrn seamount and the Wyville Thompson Ridge. The West of Scotland deep sea marine reserve was also designated in 2020. However, as we have explained before, it’s not enough to just create the MPA without addressing the risks to the species and habitats that live there. During 2016, we participated in government meetings to discuss the fisheries management measures that should be established in the 13 offshore MPAs, plus 7 of the existing offshore Special Areas of Conservation. Those management measures still have not been adopted, apart from some voluntary protection currently being observed by fishers in the West Shetland Shelf MPA (long story involving cod and historic EU protections).
Delayed by Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic amongst other things, the Scottish Government has now launched a public consultation seeking views on proposals for fisheries management in offshore MPAs. In the midst of a global ocean crisis, this consultation is a significant turning point for Scotland’s MPA network, the majority of which has remained open to seabed-contacting fishing activities that pose a direct risk to some of the delicate habitats and species these MPAs are designed to protect. Over the next six weeks, you have the power to make a difference. The current consultation on offshore MPA management is a crucial opportunity for us to protect our precious marine environments and ensure they thrive for future generations.
The consultation proposes two options in some of the MPAs: restricting fishing only in areas where the protected species or habitats are found, or restricting all towed seabed-contacting fishing across the whole MPA. The latter option will provide the greatest opportunity for the recovery of offshore ecosystems, from the continental shelf into the deep sea, and in the long-term will provide greater benefits to nature, people and sustainable businesses. By supporting proposals to restrict damaging fishing activities in these areas, we can help protect and restore the health of our vulnerable ecosystems. This isn’t just about preserving nature—it’s about safeguarding the resources and services we all depend on, from sustainable fisheries to climate regulation.
Proper protection for our offshore MPAs is already long overdue, and recovery of nature takes a long time in these environments – we need to give it the best chance possible before it’s too late. Your voice can help secure stronger protections for Scotland’s offshore MPAs. We urge you to participate in the consultation, support the proposed measures, and advocate for a future where both nature and people can prosper.
Nature restoration is a primary objective of many LINK members and we are pleased that in general the imperative of restoring Scotland’s biodiversity is increasingly recognised and that the Scottish government has committed to action. We are of course deeply concerned about the recent announcements regarding short term cuts to the local authority Nature Restoration Funds.
Scotland’s nature is in a poor and declining state. TheState of Nature report (2023) finds one in nine species at threat from extinction. Centuries of habitat loss, over-exploitation, intensification of farming, development, invasive species and persecution of wildlife means Scotland ranks 28th from bottom out of more than 240 countries/territories in terms of biodiversity.
Scotland has committed to theMontreal-Kunming Global Biodiversity Framework and Scotland’s (draft)Biodiversity Strategy sets out a clear ambition: for Scotland to be nature positive – to have halted and reversed nature decline by 2030, and to have restored and regenerated biodiversity across the country by 2045. A key target is ‘30 by 30’ – to protect 30% of our land, freshwater and sea by 2030.
These are exciting commitments and aspirations, but we are well aware that delivery is going to be thorny; not least the issue of how it is funded. In our paper,How to finance nature, we discuss this and set out a number of recommendations.
What is it going to cost? The nature finance gap (the gap between the cost of nature restoration and current levels of funding) was considered to be in the region of £20 billion over 10 years byThe Green Finance Institute in 2021. The inclusion of land purchase costs in the calculations has been questioned and smaller figures proposed as being more realistic. LINK members are keen not to get bogged down in discussing the exact size of this gap but, as described in our paperHow to finance nature, it is clear that costs considerably outweigh current funds. What’s more, and importantly, these costs will change over time with early action and complimentary policy reducing the long-term financial burden.
With costs vastly exceeding current levels of funding, alternative ways to pay for nature restoration are being considered. The cost of delivering global biodiversity goals was highlighted in the Global Biodiversity Framework which refers to the need to increase funding from all sources including the leverage of private finance; and a growing number of organisations and initiatives have been putting their minds to how this might work. Scottish government published itsInterim principles for responsible investment in natural capital and established theFIRNS programme which funds projects to ‘shape and grow the use of private investment and market-based mechanisms to finance the restoration of Scotland’s nature’.
There are several inherent characteristics of biodiversity that confound its suitability for investment seeking a return, principally it generally doesn’t generate an income and it takes many years to establish. Not all private finance is looking for a return and there are also options for private investment from organisations wanting to make up for their impact on biodiversity. For these organisations, measuring the amount of biodiversity enhancement is important – another thing that is difficult.
All in all, although LINK members believe there is an absolute need for additional funding including from the private sector, there is also a realisation that private sector investment at scale is likely to be a long time coming and its desirability is dependent on the development of a framework and supporting policies and standards to ensure the investment contributes to long-term ecological restoration, and benefits local communities.
We therefore need to think more widely about how to pay for nature restoration. Some general principles: landowners should be expected to look after land in the public interest, including by protecting and restoring nature. That said, where vital public policy objectives, like climate change mitigation and nature restoration, require concerted action for which it isn’t reasonable to expect landowners to pay, these are best pursued by public programmes and funding. Although this is preferable, the urgency and scale of the nature crisis means that a pragmatic approach needs to be taken and different financing mechanisms need to be pursued concurrently.
The Scottish government should continue to significantly increase the overall level of public investment in nature and, importantly, ensure that existing funding is used more effectively by ending subsidies for activities which degrade biodiversity. The most obvious, and probably most effective, intervention would be to reform agricultural subsidies; but all public budgets should be scrutinised to ensure they are compatible with nature restoration aims and this should extend to grants and loans.
Other fiscal measures like tax policy and charges can be used to both raise money and incentivise the necessary actions – see LINK’s new paper,Paying for nature: Options for fiscal reform.
Although, as mentioned, there are complications with private money (aside from philanthropic support), the possibility of investment in ‘biodiversity enhanced carbon units’ is probably one of the front-runners. The IUCN isdeveloping a procedure for biodiversity crediting alongside thePeatland Code andWoodland Carbon Code programmes, aiming for completion in March next year. Governments need to ensure that the operation of carbon offset credits in Scotland enhances biodiversity; and that they comply with strict additionality and integrity conditions.
An additional source of private finance is throughPlanning related biodiversity enhancement. The introduction of the requirement for development to deliver biodiversity enhancement, through NPF4 Policy 3, is potentially game-changing in ensuring that development contributes to leaving nature in a better state, rather than to its decline. With a robust system of enhancement design, targeting and enforcement, biodiversity enhancement could significantly bolster Scotland’s ability to meet its priority nature conservation objectives. See this RSPB paper.
The Scottish government is currently drafting a Biodiversity Investment Plan which should give due consideration to the advantages and disadvantages of different mechanisms to finance nature and the various roles that they might have.
This Investment Plan must set out a strategic approach to financing nature, making the best use of the various mechanisms available and matching them to ecological priorities. Such priorities should be laid out in a spatial plan of restoration needs and priorities. This plan of restoration needs and priorities and supporting data is a fundamental precursor to the Investment Plan.
LINK members look forward to working with Scottish government and others on ensuring that we make the best possible use of all options available to pay for nature protection and restoration. We emphasise that this needs to be led by a spatial plan of ecological needs and priorities and coordinated by Scottish government and regional bodies.
Blog by Phoebe Cochrane, Sustainable Economics Officer at Scottish Environment LINK
Scotland’s response to lockdown was to fall in love with nature. The more we were limited to our homes, the more we realised how much nature meant to us and how much it helped us feel better when the world felt bleak. Have we forgotten that?
The natural world is essential to our wellbeing and quality of life. Nature underpins our food production, supports our economy, and is our first line of defence against climate change.
As parliament comes back from summer recess, the imminent Programme for Government will be a key test of whether the environment is being treated with the seriousness it deserves.
The Scotland Loves Nature campaign, supported by over 40 environmental groups, is calling on the Scottish government to address this through a Natural Environment Bill in the upcoming Programme for Government, which would set legally binding targets for nature recovery, as well as putting more funding in place to restore nature and helping communities protect and restore their local environment.
The Scottish Government has accepted that nature is in crisis and has pledged to tackle it. But earlier this week we learned that investment has been cut from one of the flagship programmes, the Nature Restoration Fund.
The scientific evidence is clear that Scotland has suffered a decades long decline in biodiversity. Today, 1 in 9 species in Scotland is at risk of extinction. There are concerning declines in seabirds, in pollinators, in species rich grassland, in native woodland extent, and in peatland condition. The Nature Restoration Fund is a key tool we have to invest in reversing these declines, which although limited in scale, was starting to have some impacts.
Communities from right across Scotland are seeing these impacts even at this early stage: river restoration in Ross-shire, wetland restoration in Stirlingshire and Orkney, meadow restoration in the Borders, and seagrass restoration on the west coast. More than 140 projects have been supported by £40 million – a tiny amount of investment when measured against the scale of the challenge.
But it is investment not just in restoring nature, but in making Scotland more resilient to climate change, preventing flooding, and protecting pollinators of farmed crops. It is money well spent for today’s local community to enjoy and benefit and as a legacy for future generations to experience the delights of Scotland’s nature.
All this is why these cuts to nature spending is such bad news. At a time where every financial decision must be scrutinised for its impact today and tomorrow, cutting the small amount of funding available for nature restoration, which delivers services way beyond wildlife, is a backward step.
Scotland’s people know this too. A recent poll showed that 8 out of 10 people had noticed the impact of environmental harm in their local area. The same poll also showed us that people want to see more effort, not less, going into nature restoration.
Scotland’s environmental sector is calling on Scottish Ministers to urgently reconsider this cut and protect Scotland’s future. Even in difficult circumstances, failure to invest in Scotland’s environment will harm us all and will undermine Scotland’s ambitions to be an environmental leader. Investment in nature restoration is investment in our future – and it’s cheaper doing it today than tomorrow.
By Deborah Long, Chief Officer at Scottish Environment LINK
Marine protected areas (MPAs) are like nature reserves underwater. They are defined areas of the sea set aside to protect and restore important or vulnerable marine species, habitats or ecosystems (communities of living creatures). Usually certain activities are managed (restricted or changed) within MPAs to reduce or prevent damage and there can be different types of management depending on what the MPA is designed to protect.
Why do we need MPAs?
Our seas are in crisis. In 2019, Scotland declared a twin global climate and nature emergency. Climate change and human activities are causing widespread damage to marine life and habitats. Declines in species like cod, haddock, and seabirds are just some examples of the pressures our seas are facing. Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Progress to tackle these crises and reverse the widespread decline in nature is slow.
MPAs are essential for protecting and restoring our marine environment. They provide safe havens for marine life to help prevent further decline in nature. Evidence from around the world shows that MPAs can help to rebuild fish stocks, protect biodiversity, and improve the overall health of our oceans.
Scotland’s MPA network already covers 37% of its seas – this is great, isn’t it?
While Scotland has a large MPA network on paper, these are simply lines on a map without effective management. To truly protect our seas, we need to restrict harmful activities within MPAs. Species and habitats for protection (Priority Marine Features – PMFs) have been identified based on the risks they face, so it’s crucial to put in place measures to prevent damage. The majority of Scotland’s MPAs don’t have restrictions in place for some of the most damaging or widespread pressures in the sea.
What activities need to be restricted within MPAs?
The main focus for MPA management is currently on fishing activities, particularly bottom-towed gears that can damage seabed habitats. Other activities like aquaculture and renewable energy are already managed through licensing processes (although the combined effect of all activities on MPAs and the features they protect is still not well understood and assessed).
Does MPA management pose a risk to small scale fishing businesses who may have more limited options for fishing grounds?
We understand the concerns of small-scale fishing businesses. While some changes may be necessary, the long-term aim is to enable sustainable, lower impact fishing practices, at levels where the environment can thrive. We believe sustainable fishing activities should be supported through any transition and should be able to benefit from improved opportunities provided by a healthier environment.
Are these management measures the same as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs)?
No. The current MPA management proposals have been developed through extensive consultation with stakeholders since 2014. The commitment to HPMAs was introduced more recently in 2021 though the Bute House Agreement, in keeping with EU and international targets to strictly protect 10% of land and sea, and proposals were largely developed by the Scottish Government.
While the idea of strictly protected areas has merit in principle for the recovery of nature, we believe it’s essential to first focus on completing and effectively managing our existing MPA network. This should be a priority and has been delayed for a decade.
Exploring any further actions that will be needed to enable nature recovery and align with global law/commitments should be done in collaboration with all stakeholders, including communities.
Who will benefit from well-managed MPAs?
Everyone stands to benefit from healthy seas. Well-managed MPAs can improve species, the habitats they live in, and ecosystem health, which in turn supports commercial fish stocks. Beyond economic benefits, healthier seas contribute to improved wellbeing, stronger coastal communities, and increased opportunities for tourism and employment.
If these MPA management measures are implemented, will Scotland’s seas become more healthy?
MPAs are one important tool for improving ocean health, but they are not a silver bullet to all the problems in the ocean. To fully restore our seas, we need a combined approach that includes MPAs, species conservation efforts, and wider measures such as effective marine planning and management of fishing beyond MPAs. By working together, we can create a thriving marine environment for future generations.
What needs to happen next to get the MPA management measures in place?
Urgent action is needed. The Scottish Government must prioritise and better resource the publication of outstanding fisheries management proposals for public consultation. Once these proposals are finalised, they must be implemented without delay.
Right now, the Scottish government is asking for people’s views on proposed restrictions for our ‘offshore’ marine protected areas – those between 12 and 200 nautical miles from the shore.
By Esther Brooker, Fanny Royanez (Scottish Environment LINK) and Rebecca Crawford (Scottish Wildlife Trust)
It has been 10 years since a suite of 30 new nature conservation marine protected areas (MPAs) were designated in Scotland’s seas under Scottish and UK law. These were in addition to the MPAs already designated under European law. The purpose of MPAs is to protect fragile species and habitats by restricting damaging activities, which allows marine ecosystems to recover and thrive.
At the time, it signalled a clear and ambitious intention to deliver real conservation outcomes, which would help to halt the decline of Scotland’s marine nature, enable more sustainable economic opportunities and contribute to thriving coastal communities. But 10 years on, has that actually happened? We reflect on the progress made and what urgently still needs to be done to safeguard our seas now and for future generations.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Scotland’s marine biodiversity is not in good health.1 We are living through a global climate and biodiversity crisis, with the UK named as one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. There is a significant body of evidence that clearly shows current levels of human activities are not sustainable and that biodiversity will continue to decline if nothing changes. Only last week, news of a dramatic decline in breeding shag on the Isle of May nature reserve in the Firth of Forth hit the headlines, the latest in a seemingly endless conveyor belt of bad news stories about nature and climate.
A word cloud with responses to the question: “What three words would you use to describe the current health of Scotland’s seas?”, asked of delegates at the Sea Scotland conference, 2024.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a proven conservation measure that is widely used around the world, and the benefits both to nature (improving biodiversity) and people (better economic opportunities) are widely evidenced. The development of a “well-managed” network of MPAs has been an obligation for Scotland and the UK for decades. There have been a series of international and national deadlines over the years that have all been missed. For example, under the Oslo-Paris Convention (OSPAR), for which the UK is a contracting party and which covers the northeast Atlantic area, a recommendation set out in 2003 called for a well-managed network of MPAs to be established by 2010. The previous Scottish Government set a target of 2016 to ‘complete’ the network, which then slipped to 2020.
Following the designation of the 30 MPAs under Scottish law in 2014, the Scottish government set about working with stakeholders to develop management measures for high risk activities that are outside the licensing and consents system. In 2016 the first batch of fisheries management measures was adopted, following a public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny. LINK campaigned to ensure these measures were sufficient for the purpose of protecting Priority Marine Features (PMFs), as many of the proposals were being suggested for areas where fishing activities were already low. In fact, the Scottish government’s own marine science unit recently published research showing that less than 1% of areas that have been historically fished by bottom-towed (seabed impacting) fishing activities are actually protected within MPAs. In the period since 2016, there has been some stakeholder engagement around additional proposed measures and development of assessments required by law (such as Socio-Economic Impact Assessment), but we are no closer to adopting measures for MPAs and PMFs beyond MPAs.
The Scottish government is now 10 years late in bringing forward the remaining majority of the fisheries management measures for the MPAs that we currently have. This means that activities that have been identified as posing a risk to many of the habitats and species the MPAs are designed to protect – primarily bottom towed fishing – continue to operate within these MPAs. Furthermore, monitoring and resources to understand the ongoing impact of the management measures not being in place is lacking, and environmental conditions have already changed significantly since the measures were first developed. Such is the imperative of the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, that we should be progressing more ambitious measures to reverse these issues, never mind still waiting for basic protection measures that should have been in place years ago. These fisheries management measures are not an optional extra step – they are a fundamental requirement for MPAs, without which an MPA cannot even begin to achieve its conservation objectives. We can no longer afford to delay properly protecting our seas and allowing depleted species and habitats to recover.
LINK and some of its partners recently commissioned a report evaluating the effectiveness of Scotland’s MPAs network. The report, written by Professor James Harrison (an expert in marine and environmental law), underscores deficiencies in the MPA network including the lack of fisheries management measures in most of the inshore and all of the offshore sites. The report also highlights uncertainty around how it will contribute to Scotland and the UK’s global nature protection commitments and how it will meet current ecological and societal needs.
Infographic showing the steps needed to properly establish and protect Scotland’s network of marine protected areas, with annotations showing the progress made so far and where it has stalled.
In April 2024, the Scottish government announced the end of the power sharing agreement with the Scottish Green Party. The draft policy programme, published in 2021 and known as the Bute House Agreement, contained many essential policies for the marine environment. Critically, it again committed the Scottish government to finally implementing the long-awaited fisheries management measures, with a target of spring 2024 for those measures to be legally adopted. It’s now July 2024, and we are still waiting for the proposed measures to be published for public consultation. We’re concerned that the dissolution of the Bute House Agreement is just the latest thing to delay these consultations even further. Including the time for the consultation to run and the results to be analysed, we’re looking at a timescale of at least a year before any new measures may be adopted. This means if the consultations have not been published by around March 2025, there won’t be much chance of the fisheries measures being adopted within this parliamentary term (which ends in May 2026). This is a scenario we want to avoid – it’s not in anyone’s interest to delay this process any further.
Delayed management measures seems to be a chronic problem that is not unique to Scotland. For example, the Dogger Bank Special Area of Conservation in the English north sea was designated in 2011, but fisheries management measures weren’t adopted until 2022 when a complaint was brought to the European Commission against the UK government for not meeting the requirements of the law. Designating MPAs looks great, but they don’t do any good if damaging activities are not appropriately restricted, leading to ‘paper parks’. Not only does bottom-contacting fishing damage seabed habitats, there’s evidence to suggest that it contributes to climate change by disturbing carbon that is stored in the seabed. If it takes years to properly protect MPAs, could some of the ecological decline that has been evidenced in recent years be slowed or halted already if action had been taken sooner?
We’re calling on the Scottish government to progress management measures for inshore and offshore MPAs as soon as possible.
There is significant public appetite to see Scotland’s seas better protected2, and these MPA measures are a vital step towards this. Community involvement and transparency in policy making are extremely important to avoid situations like the backlash to Highly Protected Marine Areas (HMPAs) which caused a high level of anxiety and uncertainty within island and coastal communities. The proposed fisheries management measures for existing MPAs have already been subject to stakeholder discussion and the process has been supported by many marine interests, including the fishing industry who recognise the importance of protecting the resources on which they rely for their businesses. Protecting our environment and operating sustainable industries is mutually inclusive, and yet is often portrayed publicly as a false dichotomy that conservation measures come at the expense of economic opportunities. The reality is the opposite, if conservation measures are implemented within the principles of sustainable development – a global framework for improving the way environment, social, cultural and economic goals are achieved.
While it has been a tumultuous few months for Scottish and UK politics, we must not lose sight of the vital importance of environmental protection and the threats Scotland faces from climate change. As we move forward from the recent UK election under new national leadership toward the next Scottish election in 2026, our natural environment from which we derive so much must be the priority. Far from being only a Green Party issue, a healthy, productive, clean, safe environment is essential for our future and we must not lose sight of that. It is paramount that the Scottish government continue their commitment in responding to the climate and nature crises and creating a fairer, greener future.
What we need to progress MPA process and improve health of Scotland’s seas:
Management measures in MPAs to be progressed ASAP
Targets for nature recovery and for improving MPAs/marine protection in law
Clear leadership, including from industry and communities
Monitoring and resourcing as a priority (public and private finance) – healthy seas is in the public interest, huge influence on ecosystem service benefits that everyone needs
A more strategic approach to marine nature conservation – site protection alone is not enough ( species conservation and wider seas measures should also be considered, in line with Scotland’s Nature Conservation strategy)
By Phoebe Cochrane, Sustainable Economy Officer at Scottish Environment LINK
It has been a long journey for those of us in the environmental NGO sector who have been campaigning for a circular economy bill. The 2016 SNP manifesto included a commitment to a circular economy bill and the funding of our Circular Economy for a Fairer Footprint project by Friends Provident Foundation in 2018 enabled LINK to focus on making sure this bill was delivered.
Various LINK members were already working on specific aspects of circular economy, such as the Marine Conservation Society on measures that would reduce marine litter, Fidra on chemicals, Friends of the Earth Scotland on incineration, and APRS who were leading the Have You Got the Bottle campaign for a Deposit Return Scheme.
Beyond this, the increasing realisation that it is the sheer scale of our consumption of materials, and the associated habitat destruction and pollution, that is at the heart of the nature and climate crises, meant that a more circular economy had become of interest across the environmental NGO sector.
So we put our minds to thinking about what should be in a circular economy bill. Internal thinking, a number of scoping papers and considerable discussion led us to the conclusion that much of what needed to change could be done with existing powers – i.e. primary legislation wasn’t needed. However, the main thing that was missing was a setting of direction and a framework to drive action, like the climate change legislation does through the statutory greenhouse gas reduction targets and associated Climate Change Plan.
In Summer of 2019 we published a paper – A Call for a Strong Circular Economy Bill for Scotland. In it, we stressed the link between raw material consumption and the nature and climate crises and laid out our key asks of a bill: consumption reduction targets, reporting duties, a 5 yearly plan on delivery of the targets, a committee to provide advice, a duty on public bodies, and action on specific problematic materials. This paper was supported by a number of LINK members and other organisations who became members of an informal coalition, ‘Circular Scotland’.
In November 2019, Scottish Government published and consulted on proposals for a circular economy bill, which fell well short of what we were campaigning for. We were not altogether surprised as our engagement with government had revealed a lack of appetite for the type of measures we wanted to see. We responded to the consultation and published a guide to help others respond.
Then COVID-19 arrived and on 2nd April, Roseanna Cunningham, the then Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, announced that the Circular Economy Bill would not be progressed due to COVID 19 and the necessary prioritisation of legislation. We were told ‘We are grateful for all your input into the development of our legislative proposals. This will still be available and ready to use, should similar legislation be brought forward in the future.’ For a while we focussed on getting circularity embedded into other policies, such as the COVID Recovery Plan and the Climate Change Plan, and the National Strategy for Economic Transformation; as well as engaging in the development of single-use plastic bans and litter strategies.
In terms of the Bill, it felt like we were back to square one. LINK included a circular economy bill with consumption reduction targets in our asks for party manifestos for the 2021 Holyrood election (and we were largely successful). Following the election, and the appointment of a Minister with Circular Economy in her title, we began to feel more hopeful.
In April 2022, we published an updated version of our paper calling for a Strong Circular Economy Bill for Scotland. Our main asks remained the setting of targets to drive consumption reduction and an associated plan; with additional duties on public bodies; but we also included various measures that, although they didn’t need primary legislation, we wanted to use the Bill to speed up their delivery – things like banning single use cutlery or crockery from closed loop settings (eg cafes, airports, conference centres), requiring retailers to take back end-of-life products, phasing out non-essential single use items, planning for the circularity of transition minerals; and, not forgetting the bioeconomy and the ‘restorative’ aspect of circularity, nutrient budgeting and other commitments on soils.
In May 2022, Scottish Government published new proposals for a circular economy bill and, in parallel, a draft route map which included planned circular economy actions that didn’t need legislation. This second iteration of proposals for a bill was much more comprehensive in that it included the provisions for setting targets, reporting and a 5 yearly strategy, with an emphasis on reducing consumption of materials, as well as a few additional measures. Our response highlighted areas where we felt the bill could go further.
The Circular Economy Bill was introduced to parliament by Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, in June 2023. The Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee scrutinised the bill, calling for written evidence and views. LINK responded and several of us were also invited to give oral evidence. We were pleased that the Committee’s report included most of the points that we made, although the Minister’s response suggested that only a few would be considered for Government amendments.
Having already been thinking about and drawing up specific amendments to the draft bill, we were ready to start working with MSPs on a number of amendments during Stage 2. All was set for the Stage 2 debate when the Bute House Agreement was abruptly terminated and the Greens left Government, including the Minister responsible for the Bill. We were unsure of what the ramifications of this might be.
Luckily the hiatus was short-lived and Gillian Martin MSP took over the Bill and Stages 2 and 3 progressed. Due to a huge amount of work, the voting on amendments at Stages 2 and 3 saw a good proportion of the amendments that we had been working on being adopted. These strengthened the bill in a number of ways, including:
The waste hierarchy, Just Transition Principles, product stewardship plans, international impact, and education and skills included as matters that must be considered in producing the mandatory circular economy strategy;
Reducing the life-cycle carbon impacts of goods and materials included as an aim in developing the strategy and setting the targets;
Managing waste in Scotland as an aim in developing the strategy and setting the targets;
Strengthened reporting requirements;
Prioritising sectors and systems based on environmental impact.
So, the Circular Economy Bill was a long journey with ups and downs, lulls and periods of frenetic activity. Working on the Bill involved workshops, a public opinion survey, and a film and petition, and consultation response guides, as well as lots of written submissions; and, very importantly, working with others. Successes were definitely a team effort – working with LINK members and with other organisations. In particular, Kim Pratt from Friends of the Earth Scotland worked tirelessly on the Bill, Miriam from LINK and other creative colleagues helped with comms, and James MacKenzie from APRS was a huge help with amendments.
The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill was passed on 26th June 2024. A milestone indeed; but for most of the measures to come into effect, secondary legislation is needed. It is a painfully slow process when there is such urgency. However, for now we should be glad we have a circular economy bill, maybe not perfect but one that is much the better for our involvement.
Please see the project webpage if you are interested in seeing any of the outputs from this project – there are many I haven’t mentioned in this blog.
Blog by Fanny Royanez, Marine Policy and Engagement Officer at Scottish Environment LINK.
Today, on the 15th of July, we celebrate the 10th World Youth Skills Day, a day dedicated to empowering young people by equipping them with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship as well as for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development.
The climate and nature crisis deeply affects young people globally. Studies1 reveal that most youth feel distressed by climate change, believing their futures hinge on environmental fragility and policy decisions. With 1.8 billion individuals aged 10 to 24, this is the largest youth generation in history, making them key actors in addressing the climate and nature crises that will significantly impact their lives.
Empowering young people to face a fast-changing environment
Marine ecosystems are experiencing unprecedented changes such as warming and acidification due to anthropogenic pressures. These changes are happening so fast that many species may struggle to adapt, facing high risks of extinction.
In Scotland, similar trends can be observed. Despite being renowned for their rich biodiversity, our seas are in sharp decline. Most of the seabed is in poor condition, with vital habitats such as seagrass and flame shell beds now covering only a fraction of their former areas. Seabird populations are also in steep decline, with the abundance of 11 key species dropping by an average of 49% since 1986.
In a world where the health of our oceans is more critical than ever, upskilling young people in marine science, policy and sustainable industries is not just beneficial—it’s essential. By upskilling the next generation of marine leaders, we can ensure they are equipped to tackle these challenges head-on, fostering a sustainable and thriving marine environment for years to come.
LINK asked young people to share their experiences:
“As a young person willing to begin a marine career, I fear to never be or feel qualified enough for a career in the marine sector, because there is SO much at stake, and because “saving the ocean” will depend on us, young people starting a career in marine sciences. This is what terrifies me also, to be in charge of saving our blue planet, and to not meet this target. However, despite this fear, I have hopes, the main one being that we will achieve this, altogether, with the help of policy-makers (one day when they will finally listen to us scientists and young people), and everyone else. I also hope that one day I will feel empowered and purposeful in the marine sector, because although passion is what is driving me now to continue, I don’t yet feel that I have a voice loud enough to make a change.”
Agathe Moreau, Graduate of the University of Aberdeen and MSc Candidate at Université Côte d’Azur
Sea Scotland story – Breaking down barriers to young people’s engagement in policy discussions
Engaging and including youth voices in today’s discussions and decision-making processes is crucial, as it not only empowers them to face tomorrow’s challenges but also ensures that their unique perspectives and ideas are considered today in the actions and decisions that may shape their future. However, young people often encounter significant barriers, and can be frequently overlooked in decision-making spheres. Barriers can be socio-economic constraints. Young people also expressed a lack of confidence and a feeling of not belonging to forums that are traditionally dominated by scientists, conservation professionals and industry representatives.
“I grew up in a landlocked, rural town in East Ayrshire. My connection to the sea only arose from trips to the beach with my parents and the ocean became my everything. I began volunteering for marine conservation organisations while studying my marine biology degree, trying to make change, but had to do a lot of self-teaching to understand marine policy and what’s in play in Scotland. I wanted to engage, but I didn’t really know how, and at the same time wrestled with imposter syndrome – did I even belong in the rooms where these discussions were happening?”
Caitlin Turner, Sea Scotland young task force member
“These barriers have long kept me from raising my voice and taking part in conferences or events that (to me at least) require “more knowledge” or “more skills” in marine sciences and policy than I have. However, I recently took part in a marine policy capacity-building programme for young people called Turning the Tide (delivered by Young Sea Changers Scotland), which helped me shift perspective on this, and equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to say that I, too, belong in such conferences and events, and I can raise my voice to make a change!”
Agathe Moreau
Creating inclusive platforms that address these issues and facilitate meaningful youth participation is essential. The Sea Scotland Conference is an annual series created in 2016, aiming to gather the marine community and create a space of discussion on marine policy issues. The team has been acting over the years to make the conference inclusive to young people and create an environment where they feel welcomed and empowered to actively engage in shaping the future of marine policy.
In 2022, Sea Scotland established a youth-led taskforce, and held the inaugural youth Sea Scotland Voices event in 2023. This year we ran the second edition of “Making Waves: Sea Scotland Youth Voices”. The two events, online on 17th April and in person on 3rd June, covered everything from understanding policy jargon, reflecting on the Sea Scotland 2024 theme “Sharing our Blue Space”, and helping young people to develop a personal strategy on how to get the most out of their conference experience. The young events report will soon be available on Sea Scotland website.
“I am a student at Heriot-Watt University studying marine biology. I hope to gain comprehensive knowledge and broaden my skillset in the diverse field of marine biology. However, with hope comes fear—the fear of stepping out of my comfort zone and facing rejection. This is why events like the Making Waves: Sea Scotland Youth Voices conference helped me begin networking and take the first step in embarking on my professional journey.”
Pratik Digavadekar
Conclusion
Addressing the ocean emergency is fundamentally apeopleproblem, requiring human transformative actions to ensure our marine ecosystems are restored and resilient to climate change. The health of our ocean hinges on the actions and decisions we make today, and equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge to tackle these challenges is essential.
As we reflect on the significance of World Youth Skills Day, let’s consider the vital role each of us can play in empowering young people to become the marine scientists and policy experts of tomorrow. By supporting educational initiatives, participating in community conservation projects, and advocating for inclusive platforms like Sea Scotland, we can help break down barriers and foster a generation of informed, confident, and engaged marine stewards:
“I believe that the thing most needed to help us young marine scientists feel empowered, is not only a larger skill set in all areas that relate to the sea, but most importantly, it is to tell us that we belong in this sector, in conferences and events, and that we are more knowledgeable and capable already than we think. I think that encouraging us, rather than saying “you are not qualified enough” when we apply for a job position, an event, a conference etc will help more than anything else, to make us feel still worthy and capable, even after a rejection for a job that we truly wanted to do because we want to save the ocean.”
Agathe Moreau
Together, we can create a future where our oceans are thriving, and our young people are equipped to sustain this precious resource. Join us in this mission—whether by mentoring a young scientist, contributing to marine conservation efforts, or simply spreading awareness. Every action counts in making waves for a better, more resilient marine world.
Deborah Long, Scottish Environment LINK Chief Officer retraces Sea Scotland 2024, which was held on 3rd and 4th June at Stirling Court Hotel.
Sea Scotland 2024 kicked off with our morning youth event, Making waves: Sea Scotland Youth Voices. An enthusiastic, knowledgeable and thoughtful group of 15 young people came together to find out more about how to make waves at conferences like this one. They are all starting their marine career, or anticipating one, and are keen to get involved. We were pleased that some of them were able to stay for the entire conference and practice their new knowledge and skills.
This year’s conference explored “Sharing our blue space”. Catherine Gemmell, Marine Conservation Society, started us off with her insightful and inspiring keynote assessment of what it means to share our blue space. We followed on with an expert panel discussion around marine policy. Speakers looked at where we are in marine policy, expressed all our frustration at the slow rate of progress but also stressed the absolute need to keep going. They outlined the challenges we face, and the actions needed, including public and private investment, using SMEEF as a current model for this. Audience questions explored how we can make more and speedier progress, and what the reality of change looks like and needs to achieve.
Later in the afternoon, delegates chose one of 3 sessions: an “Industry with Ambition” session looked at sustainability and the role of innovation in ecosystem restoration and supporting strong communities. The Marine Just Transition workshop underlined the fundamental need for a just transition and offered hope as well as wider scope for fair and just change. The nature restoration session looked at the challenges and opportunities in restoration and concluded that we need to do much more to meet our nature restoration goals.
Day 2 of the conference started with a message from the Cabinet Secretary. This helpfully reiterated her and the Government’s commitment to the nature and climate goals as well as outlining Government ambitions for Scotland’s blue space. The audience poll afterwards reflected the poor condition today of Scotland’s’ seas but also contained optimism for the future.
The morning expert panel session tackled marine planning. Speakers looked at Government plans for the National Marine Plan 2; the importance of coastal literacy and the potential of community-led partnership building with members of the public, schools and industry. The power of community-led action was illustrated through the community-led State of the Coast for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Speakers also looked at what the future of marine planning could and should look like, especially related to offshore wind and how marine planning works for mobile species, like minke whales. Audience questions focussed on the speed of change already happening in Scotland’s marine environment and the need for policy to catch up with the speed of those changes. Comments underlined how we cannot afford to linger any longer. The audience was also interested in coherence and coordination for National Marine Plan 2, particularly the need to learn lessons from National Marine Plan 1, and to ensure it delivers community-informed decision-making.
The three afternoon workshops looked at managing diverse views and perceptions and how we can use our own feelings to help us understand others; using the community voice method in the Oceans of value project and using art for activism: how visualising the key issues in new ways engages more people, and builds creative new collaborations.
If I was to sum up the key points from our two days:
The need for speed: we’ve been talking about the need for protection and effective spatial planning for 20 years now. In that time, our marine environment has changed and deteriorated while becoming more pressured. While Scottish Government ambition remains high, delivery is far too slow. This is challenging but because ecological changes are already happening, we can’t afford to wait any longer to tackle it.
A Just Transition: one of our panellists said: Healthy, happy communities [should be] able to have a good life and protect their environment at the same time. Marine has long been an obvious gap in the Government’s Just Transition work, and it is very welcome to see the start of direct work on it. Some common themes of this year’s Sea Scotland echo themes in the visits the Just Transition Commission are making:
we need to learn the lessons of the past and avoid past mistakes that led to severe and ongoing injustices;
we need professionally facilitated conversations;
we need better communication and real engagement with local communities, to avoid the pervasive ‘consultation overload’;
we need to have the hard conversations about what has to change and who has to pay
and finally, we need to hear all voices.
There are 5 F’s that I took from the conference:
First F is for Food. It breaks the ice, brings people together and is the start of productive conversation
Second F is for Films: these inspire and communicate with a very wide audience
Third F is for Feelings: if we can be brave enough to harness the power of feelings, our own feelings help us understand our own perspectives as well as understand others and that mutual understanding builds better joint outcomes.
Fourth F is for Finding new ways; art is a great way to express complex and sometimes depressing environmental issues. But art visualises the issues we face in the marine environment in new and surprising ways, which helps us build understanding and support for action.
Scotland’s stunning coastline and rich marine biodiversity are celebrated worldwide. To better protect these fragile ecosystems, the Scottish Government has established a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). However, a new research report has recently shed light on the pressing need for greater protection within this network. In this blog post, we’ll delve into this research and its implications for Scotland’s marine environment.
Scotland’s Marine Protected Areas
Scotland’s MPAs are designated areas where specific conservation objectives aim to safeguard the diverse range of species and habitats within their boundaries. These areas are designed to play a pivotal role in conserving and restoring marine biodiversity, offering havens for numerous species, from seals and seabirds to rare fish and invertebrates, and providing resilient habitats that can withstand the impacts of a changing climate.
Scotland has an extensive existing network of MPAs, with a new suite of MPAs for nature conservation created in 2014. However, most still allow damaging forms of fishing, as the Scottish Government process to put fishing restrictions in place is on-going.
The Research Findings
Recent scientific research, conducted by James Harrison, Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Edinburgh, has unveiled sobering findings regarding the effectiveness of Scotland’s MPA network, providing no less than 28 recommendations to improve the current approach. The research underscores that current protection measures in place are not adequately safeguarding these critical marine habitats and Scotland’s MPA network currently falls short of international targets and best practice.
The Convention on Biological Diversity – an international treaty to which the UK is a party – emphasises the importance of including a mixture of MPAs that are strictly protected and those that allow some human activities at sustainable levels to take place. However, a significant portion of MPAs lack effective protection from the most damaging activities. These were identified in Scotland’s Marine Assessment (2020) as the impacts of climate change and commercial bottom-towed fishing activities. Without the long-awaited restrictions for fishing activities within MPAs, habitat degradation will continue to harm the ecosystems within MPAs, emphasizing the need for more stringent protection and enforcement.
The report further highlights shortcomings in the monitoring and enforcement of Scotland’s MPA network and the need for a comprehensive marine conservation strategy for Scotland, of which the MPA network would be a key part.
Climate change is affecting Scotland’s marine environments, posing additional challenges to the resilience of MPAs and coastal communities. Rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification threaten the very ecosystems these areas were established to protect. Healthier ecosystems will be more resilient to the effects of climate change and will help to ensure resource availability for current and future generations. Empowering coastal communities by increasing their role in MPA management is crucial to ensure their long-term success.
What needs to happen next
These research findings emphasize the urgent need for action to enhance protection within Scotland’s MPA network. Policymakers must revise and fortify the legal framework governing MPAs, bringing Scotland in line with international best practice, and ensuring more robust enforcement mechanisms. Adequate funding and resources are paramount for effective MPA management, including enhanced monitoring, research, and community inclusion efforts. Against the backdrop of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, and targets to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, this report underlines just how much needs to be done in the next few years. The highest priority is to get measures in place to manage the impact of fishing activities on Scottish MPAs – we’re currently running a petition calling on the Scottish Government to do this without further delay.
Conclusion
Scotland’s Marine Protected Areas are critical sanctuaries for marine life, fisheries, and climate resilience. However, the recent research underscores the pressing need to strengthen their protection. By revising legal frameworks, allocating more resources, addressing climate resilience, and involving local communities, we can ensure these precious marine ecosystems thrive and continue to benefit both Scotland’s natural heritage and its people. It’s time to act decisively to protect and preserve Scotland’s marine treasures for generations to come.
Over 2,500 people have signed our petition calling on the Scottish government to put tailored fisheries restrictions in place across Scotland’s marine protected areas by the end of 2025 – add your voice.
Image credit: Cath Bain, Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Scottish Environment LINK’s Chief Officer Deborah Long outlines seven actions Scotland can take now as a country to protect and restore nature, build our resilience to climate change and create a better place to live for current and future generations.
In 2023 average global temperatures rose above 1.5oc. Scotland’s biodiversity intactness is amongst the lowest in Europe. Without action, temperatures will continue to rise, nature will continue to decline. Now is not the time to be distracted.
These changes are impacting on Scotland’s people now. Storms last year rose in frequency, with more than twice as many named storms between September 2023 – January 2024 than the previous 6 months. Scotland loses an estimated 920,000 tonnes of soil per year, and soil erosion costs businesses £50 million annually. Flood damage to property is expected to increase by 20% by 2050 across the UK. Insurance premiums for homes that have flooded once are now almost twice as expensive as homes that haven’t flooded, up nearly 30% in cost from January 2023.
When climate change combines with biodiversity loss, the consequences are even wider reaching. Ocean warming is moving fish populations further north, while Scotland’s seabirds are affected by avian flu and having to travel further for food, resulting in lower chick survival rates. Scottish farmers are experiencing higher aphid populations, which are impacting on yield. Tick numbers are increasing, matched by a higher incidence of human infections and putting pressure on the NHS.
Against this background, while the political rhetoric has been strong, delivery on the ground has been weak. Just last month, NFU Scotland were calling for environmental regulations to be suspended because of the adverse impacts of a changing climate. Farming is the second highest emitting sector in Scotland but the sector with the highest potential to contribute to sustainable solutions.
The quickest and most logical and cost effective way out of this crisis is to work with nature, to repair nature so she can help us. Without functioning ecosystems, where river flood plains contain excessive rainwater, where forests and farmland can withstand storms, where predator populations can keep aphids in check, we have no long term solution. Our best chance is to build biodiversity and nature’s resilience to change and with that our own.
What should we be doing now?
1 Manage deer to sustainable levels
Deer numbers in Scotland are too high, having increased to about 1 million wild deer in 2024 from about half a million in 1990. This is beyond the capacity of Scotland’s ecosystems. By bringing down deer numbers, we will rebuild diverse and well adapted mountain plant communities that hold together upland soils and reduce erosion. We will also drive down tick infestations.
2 Create woodland along rivers
Creating woodland along rivers provides natural flood management by keeping river waters upstream for as long as possible. Trees along riverbanks create habitat and shade for salmon and insect populations and hold back mountain soils.
3 Reduce pesticide use and increase on-farm biodiversity
Reducing pesticides helps hoverflies, ladybirds and other insects survive in enough numbers to manage aphid infestations, for example. Increased plant biodiversity reduces soil wash out into rivers, reduces fertiliser demand and reduces river and loch eutrophication (when bodies of water become overwhelmed with algae, depleting oxygen levels).
4 Build nature networks
Creating nature networks helps strengthen the survival of rare species, builds genetic diversity by connecting individuals together, and increases habitat space so that local populations falls do not wipe out entire rare populations. They enable species to move when habitat becomes inhospitable.
5 Diversify forestry and woodland
Forests and woodlands with more species diversity are more resilient to disease and storms, limit species invasion onto adjacent habitats, support more biodiversity, create more interesting forests and support more livelihoods.
6 Involve local communities
When local communities are involved in decision making, they are more supportive of change, they have agency and choice via increased local economic opportunities and they bequeath a better legacy to future generations.
7 Set statutory nature targets
Having realistic but stretching targets to aim for drives ambition and enables us to measure progress. They help us prioritise and drive action on nature restoration, and all the points above.
These actions are all easy to implement. They need no new technology. They just need resource and application. As a crucial driver of some of these measures, the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill currently before the Scottish Parliament could, and must, support farmers in maintaining healthy soils, building resilient crops through healthy insect populations and biodiverse flora, and retaining flood waters in upland areas.
By maintaining a clear-eyed focus on doing all we can to protect and restore our natural environment, we’ll allow nature to help us build a much better future: a low carbon, high nature world.
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