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Few industries are as woven into Scotland’s coastal identity as fishing and few face a more complex management challenge. The variety of different fishing methods and patterns that make up the fleet in Scotland need to be managed in different ways to lessen their interactions and impacts on the marine environment and support sustainable opportunities and coastal livelihoods.  

In reality, the approach to management in Scottish seas plays out as a patchwork of policies delivered by different pieces of legislation and there are different rules depending on the fishing type, the health of the fish or shellfish stock, and the environmental conditions.  

On paper, these instruments ought to work together to deliver an ecosystem-based approach to marine management – meaning that fishing can operate alongside other marine industries and activities all while not harming the environment. In practice, there is a persistent and troubling tendency for fisheries policy to duck the hardest decisions, producing plans and strategies that describe the status quo rather than driving meaningful change. The most glaring omission is spatial management. 

Spatial management of fishing involves a system that specifies where, when and how fishing can take place. There are some rules in Scottish seas that implement spatial restrictions, but they tend to be insufficient and targeted to a single species, area or a particular gear type. 

The closest thing we have to a framework for spatial restrictions of fishing is actually Scotland’s Marine Protected Area (MPA) network, where different types of fishing are restricted based on the species or habitats that are being protected. The MPA network is an essential foundation for nature conservation, but it was never designed to function as a comprehensive framework for fisheries spatial management. The process for implementing MPA fisheries measures has been delayed for over 10 years and, despite this, is still seemingly used as a scapegoat for fisheries policy actions where further spatial measures would be effective at achieving management goals.  

A recent damning report by environment watchdog Environmental Standards Scotland shows that Scottish Ministers have failed implement their legal requirements to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES), a measure of marine health. They highlight that despite the existing MPA protection measures in Scotland’s MPA network and the different types of fisheries management, their scale, implementation and integration have been insufficient to achieve GES for the seabed. Persistent gaps in spatial management, weak governance and lack of data have left the health of Scotland’s seafloor habitats in continued decline, making robust spatial management the highest priority and most under-addressed solution in current fisheries and conservation policy. 

What is needed is a broader spatial management framework that builds on the MPA network rather than hiding behind it, and that designates core recovery areas closed to damaging gear. There should also be linked buffer zones around protected habitats, established preferential access zones for lower-impact methods such as creel fishing, and defined areas where trawling can continue if sustainable use can be demonstrated.  

Such an approach to management of fishing would be hugely beneficial, particularly in Scotland’s inshore (the area of sea out to 12 nautical miles from the shore). It would mean fairer opportunities for lower impact fishing gear, lower risk to vulnerable marine habitats and species, less conflict between fishers targeting the same species with different gear, and more win-win outcomes for nature and people.  

However, it’s a potential approach that is consistently sidelined in Scottish Government decision-making in favour of options that have result in minimal change to the status quo. There are numerous examples where greater use of spatial management in policy development would address both environmental and economic needs, such as the recently consulted Nephrops (langoustine) Fisheries Management Plans. Across these policy processes, spatial management appears in the margins, acknowledged but never fully confronted. When it does appear, policymakers tend to point at the MPA network as if it were sufficient. Judging by Environmental Standards Scotland’s recent findings, it is not. 

Crucially, a spatial management framework must complement MPA management and be developed in active alignment with marine planning and licensing processes, such as offshore renewables. Scotland’s National Marine Plan and the regional marine planning process provide exactly the governance architecture needed to make spatial fisheries management coherent and durable.  

Fisheries management that ignores the marine planning framework risks creating contradictions and missed opportunities, such as reducing conflict for resources, better protecting key habitats (such as fish nurseries) and making more refined and environmentally appropriate decisions about use of space.  

Large-scale spatial management of fishing stands out as the single most powerful tool available to Scotland for achieving Good Environmental Status of seafloor habitats, without which the health of the marine environment will continue to be stalled regardless of other policy measures.   

The political difficulty of spatial management is real. Changing where fishing can take place affects livelihoods and communities, and those impacts must be taken seriously. But the costs of inaction and the slow erosion of ecosystems across Scottish seas, are larger, longer-lasting, more expensive to fix, and ultimately borne by the same communities. The harder decision is ultimately the better one.  

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Environment charities have reacted with fury after the Scottish government announced yesterday that fisheries restrictions in marine protected areas, originally due to be implemented in 2016, are to be delayed for the fourth time.

Yesterday Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy, said a promised consultation on fisheries management measures for inshore marine protected areas – those within 12 nautical miles from the shore – would not happen before the May 2026 Holyrood election. 

The charities, members of Scottish Environment LINK, say repeated delays are allowing the destruction of marine life to continue, including vital seabed habitats like flame shell beds and maerl which are being torn up by bottom trawling and dredging.

Most of Scotland’s marine protected areas were designated in 2014. The Scottish government is required by law to design and implement fishing restrictions for each area, to protect the marine wildlife it contains. The original 2016 deadline for these measures was missed, as were subsequent deadlines of 2020 and 2024. Earlier this year the Scottish government said it would launch the inshore consultation in November. 

Seabed habitats in Scotland’s coastal marine protected areas are vital spawning and nursery grounds for many of the fish and shellfish on which coastal communities depend for their livelihoods. They absorb carbon which can help combat climate change. Inshore marine protected areas are also intended to protect wildlife including seabirds, whales and basking sharks.

Fisheries restrictions for offshore marine protected areas between 12 and 200 nautical miles from the shore finally came into force in October.

 Jessica Jones, living seas manager at the Scottish Wildlife Trust and acting convenor of Scottish Environment LINK’s marine group, said today:

“Without protection measures in place, marine protected areas are little more than lines on a map. Giving these areas the protections they need is a vital first step to bringing our amazing seas back to life. By repeatedly delaying these measures the Scottish government is failing not only marine wildlife, but coastal communities who have been waiting to have their voices heard and are fatigued by the repeated build up and subsequent disappointment when significant opportunities to protect our seas are yet again withheld.”

 

Calum Duncan, Head of of Policy and Advocacy at the Marine Conservation Society said:

“Scotland’s seas can’t afford further delay on this critical action to prevent damaging fishing activities happening in so-called marine protected areas. Delays will only make recovery harder and risk further damage to our seas. 

“Following global acknowledgement at COP30 that a healthy ocean is key to fighting the climate emergency, the Scottish government must act decisively to deliver these long-awaited protections and live up to crucial legal and international commitments before it is too late.”

 

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By Esther Brooker, senior marine advocacy officer, Scottish Environment LINK

If you’re reading this blog, you probably have an interest in the sea. You’ve probably heard of marine protected areas (MPAs) – patches of the sea set aside and protected by law to safeguard wildlife and habitats. You may even have heard of global nature conservation goals, such as “30 by 30”, which aims to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030. But what about the other 70%? What happens to the wildlife and habitats in the rest of Scotland’s seas that are still important? That’s where the Scottish Government’s new proposals for protecting priority marine features (PMFs) outside MPAs may help. 

These proposals will restrict certain types of seabed-contacting fishing gear from damaging small areas where vulnerable PMFs are still found in good condition.

To understand why this matters we need to go back to Loch Carron in 2017, where a scallop dredger accidentally damaged flame shell beds – a rare and ecologically rich habitat, of which most of the UK population occurs on the west coast of Scotland. The Scottish Government’s response was swift, designating Loch Carron as an emergency MPA to prevent further damage. The event was a wake-up call, showing how quickly sensitive seabed habitats can be damaged or destroyed, and how urgently Scotland needed mechanisms beyond MPAs to protect these critically important but fragile places. It also helped to sharpen the concept of PMFs – a list of 81 threatened and declining species and habitats such as maerl beds, seagrass meadows and native oyster reefs that underpin healthy marine ecosystems, but remain highly vulnerable to certain fishing gears, especially trawls and dredges.

(photo credits: Paul Naylor marinephoto.co.uk)

Until 2017, PMFs had only been protected inside existing MPAs, and even then it was only the few MPAs where fisheries restrictions had been put in place. Outside those boundaries, management has been patchy, and many of these features have been preserved either because they are not accessible to the fishing gears that damage them, or they have benefitted from indirect interventions such as fish stock management or marine infrastructure. The newly published proposals, which are expected to open for formal public consultation in November along with proposals for fisheries restrictions for inshore MPAs, are designed to help close the gap in protection. They identify areas in Scotland’s inshore waters where specific PMFs are known or likely to occur, and set out management options to reduce the impact of bottom-contacting mobile fishing gear. In plain terms, this means new measures that limit the use of dredges and trawls in the most sensitive areas – a targeted approach, rather than a blanket ban.

A small number of critics have already compared these PMF proposals to Scotland’s “highly protected marine areas” (HPMA) process, which sought to designate at least 10% of Scotland’s seas as highly protected by excluding almost all activities that extract resources from the sea. These proposals, published to consultation in 2022, were shelved by the Scottish Government following strong opposition by industry and some community groups. The recently-published PMF measures, by contrast, have emerged from a slower, more deliberate process rooted in existing legislation and scientific evidence. NatureScot’s surveys, citizen science efforts, stakeholder engagement and fisheries data have guided the identification of proposed management zones. Instead of sweeping designations, the proposals focus on protecting 11 PMFs where they are most at risk. That means a flame shell bed in one sea loch might warrant gear restrictions, while other areas with no sensitive features may see little change. It’s a finer-grained, more adaptive approach, and one which aims to protect habitats without unnecessarily constraining sustainable fishing.

The HPMA concept was about setting aside entire areas for full ecosystem recovery, effectively as marine sanctuaries. The PMF measures, on the other hand, are about risk management, ensuring that fishing practices do not damage the most vulnerable parts of the seabed that still remain. They are not new MPAs, nor do they bring sweeping prohibitions. Instead, they build on existing policy commitments in Scotland’s National Marine Plan to protect the most vulnerable seabed PMFs “wherever they occur”. In other words, this is the Scottish Government doing what it already promised to do 8 years ago, but with more transparency, data and stakeholder input.

It would be wrong to see this as a purely technical exercise. Beneath the maps and management details lies a deeper shift in how Scotland addresses conservation and sustainable use of its seas. The lesson from the HPMA process was not that protection of nature is unpopular, but that it must be co-designed and inclusive. This PMF process has sought to recognise that fishers, scientists, environmental groups and coastal communities all have knowledge that can contribute. By targeting management to where it is most ecologically justified, the hope is that conservation can proceed without alienating those who depend on the sea for their livelihoods. Indeed, the Scottish fishers recognise more keenly than most that safeguarding the habitats on which fish and shellfish depend is not just good for nature, it’s essential for the long-term sustainability of their own livelihoods.

These new measures also complement the fisheries management already in place within some of Scotland’s inshore MPAs – and must also complement those still to be put in place – helping to build a more coherent, joined-up approach to protecting habitats that sustain both biodiversity and coastal economies. Still, caution is warranted. The success of these measures will depend on how they are implemented. Enforcement and monitoring must be adequately resourced, measures should be refined with new data or local insight, and coastal communities and businesses in particular should be supported to ensure they can adjust to the new restrictions. Protecting PMFs in isolation won’t solve the pressures on Scotland’s seas – water quality, climate change and the effects of multiple human activities and developments must still be tackled. These proposals are therefore a necessary step but not the destination. If Scotland is to achieve true ecosystem recovery and resilience, future measures will need to extend more widely and account for the cumulative pressures that affect the marine environment as a whole.

In the longer view, the PMF proposals signal a maturing of Scotland’s marine policy. After years of debate over where to draw lines on maps, attention is turning to how to manage what lies within and beyond them. This approach to protecting PMFs may lack the boldness of the HPMA proposals, but it carries a recognition that healthy seas require both protection and participation, and that conservation doesn’t stop with MPAs. The new PMF measures will complement the fisheries management measures already in place within Scotland’s network of inshore MPAs, and those that are still to be implemented, helping to create a more coherent and connected system of protection across the wider sea. If Loch Carron taught us the cost of inaction, perhaps this process can show us what more careful, collaborative action looks like in practice, and why it must continue to grow in ambition over time.

Headline photo: Flame shell in maerl, Paul Naylor marinephoto.co.uk

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The Scottish government announced new fisheries management measures for offshore marine protected areas (MPAs) on 1 September, marking an important step in fulfilling its obligations to protect marine wildlife across a large area of Scotland’s seas. 

Scotland’s offshore MPAs – those beyond 12 nautical miles from the shore – were designated more than 10 years ago to conserve and recover the most vulnerable marine habitats and species in our deep and continental shelf seas. The Scottish government is required by law to secure the long-term integrity of these areas by putting in place fisheries management measures that prevent damaging activities, such as bottom-towed fishing, from undermining conservation objectives.  

Scottish Environment LINK welcomes the Scottish government’s progress in strengthening fisheries management measures across offshore MPAs. We are encouraged by the thorough approach taken, particularly in cases such as the Central Fladen MPA where burrowed mud habitats have received strengthened protection. Since burrowed mud and other seabed habitats are important blue carbon stores, it is also encouraging to see some areas of the seabed closed to bottom towed gear. We also welcome the inclusion of restrictions on floating longlines and bottom set gillnets in part of the network, given their high risk of bycatch for species like seabirds. 

However, given the scale of biodiversity decline, both globally and Scotland-wide, we believe a more consistently precautionary approach is needed. While it is encouraging to see some closures that support species and habitats, full-site prohibitions on bottom-towed fishing should have been applied more widely to safeguard ecosystem integrity and support recovery of more blue carbon habitats. While zonal restrictions are preferable to inaction, they risk leaving important habitats exposed and compromise the wider resilience of marine ecosystems.  

We are nonetheless disappointed that only select offshore MPAs received a full-site ban on bottom-towed fishing. As noted in our October 2024 consultation response, while the zonal approach is preferable to inaction, it often fails to deliver ecosystem-wide protection or meet site integrity objectives, especially for fragile seabed habitats and deep-sea features. To deliver meaningful ecosystem recovery, we need holistic, whole-site management underpinned by Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) to ensure compliance and build confidence in the protection of vulnerable habitats. 

The condition of Scotland’s seabed remains a matter of concern, as documented by the government’s own assessments. Without a more consistently precautionary approach, we are not confident these measures will be sufficient to meet Scotland’s legal obligations to achieve Good Environmental Status. The government’s current proposals fall short of the holistic management that these critical habitats and species require. Where measures are partial, they risk leaving vulnerable features and blue carbon stores exposed to damage. While we welcome progress in a few instances, Scottish Environment LINK continues to advocate for wider and more precautionary whole-site protection. 

Evidence shows that holistic, whole-site protection delivers long-term socio-economic benefits, including improved fisheries yields, greater ecosystem resilience, and enhanced blue carbon storage. Stronger measures would therefore not only protect biodiversity but also secure benefits for coastal communities and the wider Scottish economy. 

We also note the strength of public feeling on this issue, with nearly 4,000 responses to the consultation. Scottish Environment LINK’s e-action alone on the consultation received responses from over 1,700 people, reflecting widespread support for more ambitious protection of Scotland’s seas. 

We are pleased to see progress and look forward to the forthcoming consultation on inshore MPA measures as an opportunity to embed stronger, whole-site protection more widely across Scotland’s seas. 

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By Rebecca Crawford, Marine Policy Officer at the Scottish Wildlife Trust

Introduction

As a maritime nation with over 900 islands and one of the longest coastlines in Europe, the marine cultural heritage of Scotland is deeply ingrained. However, there is a disconnect between people and the ocean, with many people now calling for a better understanding of their coastal areas.  

This was one of the key findings of the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Oceans of Value workshops, which discussed barriers people experienced when trying to participate in marine decision-making conversations. Attendees to our workshops told us that “If people had access to the right information and were supported more in becoming more knowledgeable, they could feel more empowered to take part and have their say”. 

They also highlighted the need for more awareness of how to be involved in decision making, “We do lots of practical stuff, but how do we influence? What are the processes?”

One way of mending this disconnect is through ocean literacy. This blog will look at what ocean literacy is, why it is important and what is happening both globally and here in Scotland.

What is ocean literacy?

The term “ocean literacy” was first coined in the USA in 2002 by a group of educators and has been defined by UNESCO as “the process of understanding the ocean’s influence on you and of your influence on the ocean”.

Let’s de-mystify (or de-haar if you will) the term further! 

Despite how it might sound, ocean literacy isn’t about reading and writing about the ocean. It’s a process of thinking about and experiencing the coasts and seas in new or different ways, as well as deepening your connection to and knowledge of the marine environment.

Ocean literacy is centred around seven main principles:

1.       The earth has one large ocean
2.       The ocean and life within it shape Earth’s features
3.       The ocean greatly affects weather and climate
4.       The ocean makes earth suitable for life
5.       The ocean supports a wide variety of life and ecosystems
6.       The ocean and humans are deeply connected
7.       The ocean is largely unexplored

You can find out more about each of these by visiting UNESCO’s Ocean Literacy Portal.

Ocean literacy is essential to achieving the goal of a sustainable marine environment in the face of the twin nature and climate crises, as our seas underpin life on earth. It is also an important tool for building a future where people are deeply connected to their coasts and seas, and are confident and passionate about acting to protect them. To move towards sustainable marine management, ocean literacy approaches must be holistic, bringing together social and cultural themes as well as diverse perspectives.

Ocean literacy around the world

In 2018, Canada formed an Ocean Literacy Coalition with the aim of “empowering people in Canada to better understand, value, and care for the ocean”. Following this a strategy was published in 2021 entitled Land, Water, Ocean, Us: A Canadian Ocean Literacy Strategy. 

Continuing to look internationally, the United Nations Ocean Decade launched in 2020 with ambitious aspirations for our seas, which included transforming the relationship between society and the ocean. Ocean literacy was seen as a key aspect to achieving this as a mechanism for change. As we are now over halfway to 2030, this is an excellent opportunity to look at our progress towards achieving the UN Ocean Decade goals, and what more needs to be done.

Ocean literacy in Wales

Wales is storming ahead of the rest of the UK on ocean literacy. In January this year, Wales published their Ocean Literacy Strategy, Y Môr a Ni (The Sea and Us). It includes six key action areas including access and experience; knowledge and skills; and communities and culture. 

Key work towards implementing the actions in the strategy include undertaking reviews of the barriers to accessing the marine environment, developing resources aligned to the Curriculum for Wales and supporting meaningful local engagement in planning and decision-making.

In the north of Wales, the Hiraeth Yn Y Môr (HYYM) project ran from 2023-2025 and was a community-led project delivered by the Marine Conservation Society. It supported local coastal communities to connect with their coast and sea by promoting ocean literacy. It aimed to improve sustainable management of local marine heritage, as well as community health and wellbeing. 

Scotland needs to catch up

While Scotland can often be said to be ahead of the curve, we are currently lagging behind on ocean literacy. It has been almost two years since the Ocean literacy survey was undertaken in Scotland. One of the key findings of the survey was that “enhancing Ocean Literacy across society will be crucial to achieving the behaviour change needed to address the challenges facing our coasts and seas and manage them sustainably”. 

The survey also found that:

• Respondents appreciated the wellbeing effects of the sea with 83% reporting that visits to the marine environment are good for their mental health.
• The overriding emotional response to the marine environment was one of concern (51%) followed by awe/wonder (41%).
• Most respondents (85%) felt that it is important to protect the marine environment.
• On marine activism 35% of people said they had made lifestyle changes related to protecting the marine environment and 23% said they signed petitions. However, when it comes to direct action such as involvement in citizen science or contacting elected representatives this fell to 3% and 2% respectively. Furthermore 38% of respondents had undertaken none of the actions listed.

Given the findings of the survey and the government’s commitment to become an “ocean literate and aware nation”, we must do more to facilitate ocean literacy in Scotland and enhance people’s connection with the sea.

Sea the connection: an ocean literacy project for Scotland

The Scottish Wildlife Trust is excited to be delivering Sea the Connection, an innovative project that will benefit both coastal communities and the marine environment, by removing barriers to participation in marine policy conversations. We have several different streams of work, one of which is the establishment of a Scottish Ocean Literacy Coalition.

The outcomes of the coalition are open to discussion at the first meeting where we will run a scene setting exercise for what we can do to improve ocean literacy in Scotland. This will likely include creating a strategy similar to those in Canada and Wales. It may also look at embedding marine topics in the Curriculum for Excellence to improve ocean literacy at an early age. For example, Brazil recently became the first country to commit to integrating Ocean Literacy into its national curriculum, calling it the “Blue Curriculum”. This embodies the vision of the UN Ocean Decade which looks to achieve “The ocean we need for the future we want”, which clearly education is a huge part of the puzzle as well as involving young people. This objective is being led in Scotland by LINK members such as Young Sea Changers Scotland.

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To find out more about the work of the Sea the Connection project you can join the Living Seas newsletter by visiting our page.

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This article was first published in the Scotland on Sunday on 25 May 2025.

The day before David Attenborough’s film Ocean was released in cinemas worldwide, an extraordinary exchange took place in the Scottish parliament. MSPs Fergus Ewing and Jackson Carlaw agreed that the Scottish fishing fleet had been severely depleted by ‘over-regulation’. Ewing also cited ‘the influence of NGOs’ (non-governmental organisations).

In reality, the long decline of Scotland’s traditional coastal fishing fleet stems not from environmental regulation, but from a lack of fish. It can be traced back to policy decisions that have favoured industrial fishing methods over traditional, low-impact practices, allowing bottom trawlers and scallop dredgers to operate close to shore, leading to the degradation of vital spawning and nursery habitats. This shift resulted in the collapse of local fish stocks and the marginalisation of small-scale fishers.

Neither Fergus Ewing nor Jackson Carlaw is currently a government minister. But the narrative that pits environmental protection against the economic survival of fishing communities could be behind the total absence of marine nature protection from John Swinney’s programme for government.

Scotland has, on paper, a network of marine protected areas designated since 2014. The Scottish government is required by law to design and implement protections for each area, which in many cases will mean restricting bottom trawling and dredging while allowing small-scale, lower impact fishing to continue. Yet these measures have been delayed again and again, leaving our marine ‘protected’ areas largely unprotected.

Since winning the last Holyrood election in 2021, the current Scottish government has repeatedly promised to get these crucial protections in place. Its first programme for government, in September that year, committed to getting the job done by March 2024 at the latest. Marine protected areas also featured in 2023 and 2024.

Then in 2025 – nothing. The sea doesn’t even get a mention in the environment section of this year’s flagship policy announcement.

To be fair to the government, it has completed the statutory public consultation on protections for offshore marine protected areas – those between 12 and 200 nautical miles from the shore.

But it hasn’t even consulted yet on measures for inshore areas – those up to 12 nautical miles from the shore. These coastal waters are where most of Scotland’s fishing fleet operates. They are incredibly rich in marine life, and they include the spawning and nursery habitats that are vital for fish stocks – and for fishing.

Both sets of marine protected areas desperately need protection. To this day, due to the absence of protection measures, destructive bottom-towed fishing methods including trawling are permitted in most of them,  devastating fragile habitats like maerl beds and flame shell reefs where many fish breed and grow to maturity. There is also evidence that disturbing the seabed releases stored carbon, exacerbating climate change.

Attenborough’s film makes it clear that saving the sea is vital to saving the planet.

But getting the long-delayed fisheries management measures in place in our marine protected areas is not only a crucial step towards restoring our seas to health. It’s essential for the future of Scotland’s small-scale inshore fishing industry. More protection means more fish, means more local, sustainable jobs.

The idea that protecting and restoring our seas and supporting the future of fishing are opposing interests holds no water. Instead of delays and silence from the Scottish government, we need accountability and action.

Esther Brooker, marine policy and engagement officer, Scottish Environment LINK

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In a briefing event for journalists and policymakers on Wednesday, environmental and community groups jointly criticised the Scottish government’s slow progress on marine protection.

The event was hosted by Scottish Environment LINK, a coalition of over 40 environmental groups, and Coastal Communities Network, a coalition of over 30 community-led groups that support action to restore Scotland’s marine environment.

Scotland’s seas are in poor and declining health. High-impact forms of fishing, including trawling, have been very damaging to marine ecosystems, with many species in long-term steep decline. In 2024 alone, five species of seabird were added to the UK Red List of Conservation Concern.

Healthy seas are crucial to coastal communities who rely on industries like fishing and wildlife tourism. And they’re key to tackling climate change, as marine ecosystems can store vast amounts of carbon.

Esther Brooker, Marine Policy and Engagement Officer at Scottish Environment LINK, said:

“Scotland’s seas are suffering under the weight of government inaction. The sustained degradation to our marine environment is taking place amidst a backdrop of continued government delays on promised and long expected marine protection measures.

“Scotland’s existing network of marine protected areas have been lacking the necessary detailed protection measures promised by the Scottish government for over ten years, and we are increasingly concerned that these measures will not be delivered within the current parliamentary session.

“Delivering proper protections for Scotland’s marine protected area network is a crucial first step that must now be taken before it’s too late. This should be followed by a transition to a new approach to fishing and other marine industries, in which the use of all of Scotland’s seas is planned and managed in a way that enables marine ecosystems to recover and supports sustainable fishing opportunities and coastal communities.”

Sarah Doherty, Coordinator of the Coastal Communities Network said:

“Scotland’s seas are in dire straits, and we need urgent and radical action to protect and restore our marine ecosystems. This action needs to place coastal communities at its core.

“The Scottish Government have committed to supporting community leadership in marine management, and we need to see them act on this. There is huge potential and appetite for communities to have increased leadership in how their local marine areas are managed, but this also needs to be met and supported at a government level.

“All along the coasts of Scotland, communities are stepping up to restore and protect their local marine environments. Done properly, sustainable marine management can protect our seas and support livelihoods, ensuring that coastal communities are resilient and sustained in the long term.”

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By Vicki James, Protected Areas Coordinator at Whale and Dolphin Conservation

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a critical tool for protecting important areas for cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) in Scottish waters. Around the UK, 11 MPAs have been designated specifically for cetaceans. However, research into the management effectiveness of these MPAs by Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) reveals significant gaps in their management effectiveness, jeopardising their ability to deliver protection for the habitats and species they are intended to conserve.

The UK has committed to protecting 30% of land and sea for nature by 2030, with a goal to have 70% of MPAs in favourable condition by 2042. Yet, according to the JNCC, only a small proportion (83 of 374 UK MPAs) are moving towards their conservation objectives. These findings raise questions about whether these ambitions can be met without urgent changes.

Scotland’s MPAs have been designated to protect and support population recovery of harbour porpoise, Risso’s dolphin, bottlenose dolphins, minke whales and other marine life. MPAs include habitats important for survival of the species they’re designated for, providing essential breeding and feeding areas. These species are listed as Priority Marine Features (PMFs), which identifies them as a conservation priority for MPA designation. As the Scottish Government develops its National Marine Plan, fisheries measures and management of other activities, it has a key opportunity to lead in improving the management and effectiveness of MPAs.

Why evaluate the management effectiveness of cetacean MPAs?

MPAs are an essential tool for protecting cetaceans, but only if they are effectively managed. They can help safeguard crucial habitats, restrict and regulate harmful activities, and support nature recovery. However, threats from a range of anthropogenic activities including bycatch (accidental capture in fishing nets) and noise pollution (e.g. from offshore developments) will likely continue to cause harm if they are not adequately addressed.

Based on data available online, WDC assessed the UK’s 11 cetacean MPAs using the Marine Mammals Management Toolkit to evaluate the effectiveness of management measures, including stakeholder engagement and monitoring. The findings highlight significant concerns and underscore the need for immediate action.

Key findings:

1. Most cetacean MPAs lack a management plan: These are written specifically for each MPA to provide guidance on activities and ensure the conservation of the site’s protected features. In the UK, 90% of assessed MPAs are either lacking a management plan or the plan is an outdated one. In Scotland, only the Moray Firth SAC for bottlenose dolphins has an in-date management plan.

Management plans can inform decision-making by regulators and local authorities, helping to balance low impact use with conservation goals. Management plans for cetacean MPAs should outline strategies to manage activities such as noise pollution, bycatch and shipping, to prevent adverse effects on cetacean populations. They should also include an action plan detailing specific measures, responsibilities of organisations, and timelines to ensure conservation objectives are met, alongside a robust monitoring framework to regularly assess the condition of the site and the effectiveness of management measures.

MPA management plans are more detailed across a variety of activities compared to the Scottish Government’s consultation on fisheries measures. Fisheries measures across the MPA network can benefit cetaceans by reducing pressures such as bycatch, even if the focus of these measures may be other habitats or species. Therefore, MPA management plans provide wider benefits by addressing site-specific threats and prioritising conservation efforts for cetacean populations directly.

2. Noise pollution is not adequately addressed: Underwater noise from shipping, seismic surveys (use of airguns to survey the seabed), and offshore windfarm construction is the most poorly managed threat across all sites, based on available data, with minimal legally binding regulations or mitigation in place.

3. Harmful fishing practices are widespread: Bottom trawling, gillnets, and other damaging practices are still permitted within MPAs for cetaceans, resulting in risk of bycatch, habitat destruction, and prey depletion.

4. Insufficient monitoring is taking place: There are gaps in fine-scale and site-wide regular baseline monitoring of cetacean MPAs, which can be used to inform whether conservation objectives are being met as well as assessing the impacts of anthropogenic activity. The lack of regular, consistent baseline monitoring limits effective management and adaptive responses. Citizen science monitoring programmes, such as Shorewatch and Whale Track exist, which are partially addressing these significant data gaps. However, they should not be relied upon to fulfil statutory requirements for monitoring and impact assessments.

Recommendations for improvement

To ensure that harmful activities in cetacean MPAs are effectively managed to avoid or minimise impacts on cetaceans and other protected features, the following actions are crucial:

1. Develop and implement management plans: Every MPA requires an up-to-date management plan to regulate activities, reduce harm, and monitor progress.
2. Address noise pollution: Legally binding noise limits and use of proven mitigation measures, including for offshore windfarm development, are essential.
3. Reform fishing practices: Introduce a management plan approach to restrict the most destructive fishing methods, including bottom trawling and gill nets, and minimise risks from lower impact gears e.g. through seasonal closures and gear modifications. In Scotland, there is the opportunity to do this through the much-delayed fisheries management measures (under the Marine Acts and Fisheries Act) in Scottish MPAs. In addition, the National Marine Plan 2 should incorporate fisheries management policies and give priority to restoration and protection of nature and biodiversity.
4. Invest in monitoring programmes within MPAs to assess progress towards site conservation objectives and reduction of anthropogenic harms: There is a need to address the lack of baseline assessment of conservation status of priority species in sites, as well as monitoring of anthropogenic impacts. A robust monitoring programme needs to be implemented where the data is accessible in a standardised and timely manner to enable adaptive management.

The full report can be downloaded from WDC’s website

Image: Cath Bain

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We urgently need to help Scotland’s seas recover. On paper, Scotland has a network of marine protected areas, intended to help conserve our fantastic ocean wildlife. The Scottish government is required to design and implement fishing restrictions for each marine protected area. But these crucial protections are more than ten years overdue.

Scottish Environment LINK asked supporters to write personal messages to Gillian Martin, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy, telling her why they care about Scotland’s seas, and why they want the Scottish government to protect our marine protected areas without further delay.

The messages came from across the country, from people with first-hand experience of the decline of our seas, and from people concerned about the world their children and grandchildren will inherit if we don’t act now.

Here are just some of those powerful messages…

I have lived on the shores of Loch Hourn since 1975 and for much of that time I made a living from the sea (crab and lobster fishing, mussel farming). I have watched as the marine ecology has declined to the state that now there are virtually no wild Atlantic salmon, very few mackerel in the summer and almost no cod or pollock remain.
Richard, Highland

The waters around our shores are becoming barren and wasted because of pollution and over-fishing. We must take difficult decisions to ensure that the seas around our coasts can sustain our wildlife and ourselves. This is an investment in our futures.
Pauline, Na h-Eileanan Siar

Having been a keen Scuba diver for years and seen the wonders in the seas, I have appreciated being able to see the beauty of it all. We have watched fishing boats come in and devastate the floor of the sea with their trawling in protected waters. So I strongly support the protection of marine areas.
Maggie, Clackmannanshire

Living in Macduff on the Moray Firth I am aware how critical fishing is to the local economy, but as the disappearance of the herring shoals in the last century [and] dwindling stocks of many species show, protection is essential now if the industry is to survive to benefit future generations.
Neville, Aberdeenshire

As a long-time marine biologist I am concerned at delays in implementing protections for important habitats. Out of sight should not be out of mind, as often happens with marine habitats.
Clare, Perth and Kinross

Having been brought up in the north west of Scotland I’ve seen far too much evidence of the damage caused when we don’t look after the marine environment. Our sea beds are in crisis after years and years of destruction. We must do all we can to protect what’s left.
Mairi, Stirling

It takes millions of years to create a coral reef and seconds to destroy it.
Rosemary, Edinburgh

I grew up beside the sea, the son of a fisherman who gave his life to his work and helped two of his sons to follow him. Small boats and sustainable. They gave up in mid life as they could no longer make a living. Very large fishing vessels arrived and more or less destroyed the fishing by using ten times the amount of creels my family did and that was only one boat! Please do something now or it will be too late.
Peter, East Renfrewshire 

Myself and my wife go on litter picks on a regular basis to our nearest beaches. But it is the damage to the marine environment that we cannot see, cannot pick up and bin, that worries me the most.
Ian, Edinburgh 

From my house I hear the sound of scallop dredgers from the Isle of Man destroying our seabed, despite the Sound of Jura being a Marine Protected Area.
Pinkie, Argyll and Bute

As a mother, I am extremely concerned about the climate crisis and its effects on Scotland and the future of my children in this country. On a recent trip to the coast I was horrified to notice the lack of wildlife, and on further investigation to learn how depleted our seas are becoming – one of our country’s most beautiful and important assets.
Aimee, Falkirk 

Protecting our ocean habitats from the most destructive types of fishing is a no-brainer – healthier seas, healthier people, healthier wildlife, improved fish stocks and wildlife tourism, immense carbon capture… surely this has to be a priority for the Scottish Government.
Caroline, Highland

I have been sailing on the west coast of Scotland for 60+ years and have been very concerned about the reduction on all wildlife over that time. A very visual example of this is effect on phosphorescence which has nearly disappeared. As a boy I would see the light created by rowing and even more dramatic when diving into the water.
Mike, Edinburgh

 I am a scuba diver and know only too well how amazing but fragile the sea bed and marine ecosystems are. I want my grandchildren to be able to see what I have seen.
Annette, Highland

I have had the great fortune to travel to beautiful countries that prioritise nature because they know just how vital the health of the planet’s ecosystems for the future of human health. I have seen Marine Protected Areas that are truly being protected, and I have heard the stories from local fishermen who know firsthand how effective these can be for increasing fish stocks in neighbouring waters. It truly is a win-win.
Hayley, Edinburgh

I am old enough to remember angling from the piers in Oban in the 1970s and catching Cod and Pollack that were large enough to take home to eat. When was the last time anyone went angling off these piers? I have never seen anyone do so in the last 25 years. There are simply no fish to catch there since their spawning grounds were decimated by the inshore bottom trawling that has taken place since the 1980s.
Jonathan, Argyll and Bute

We live near the coast where there was seafloor vacuuming occurring for days and nights and from which it is still, 30 years later, recovering.
Beryll, Highland

Many years ago, I was on a boat using dredges to fish for scallops. I saw the damage these did to the sea bed, so I’m well aware of how much our waters need protection.
Brian, Argyll and Bute

I was really surprised and appalled to learn that trawler fishing is still allowed in marine protected areas.
Joanna, Highland

 I am a researcher working on translation and marine mammal ecology, currently on a project in the U.S. I have seen the wonders marine protection can do in North America. I wish the same for my home country, Scotland.
Sebnem, Edinburgh

I live in Orkney, so I am never far from the sea. I am increasingly concerned about the decline in animal and plant species both on land and in the sea due to habitat loss, pollution and damaging operations such as trawling. I believe we ignore these issues at our peril!
Sally, Orkney Islands

Don’t let Scotland’s marine environments become wastelands.
Julie, East Dunbartonshire

I have spent many years volunteering for Whale and Dolphin Conservation. In my time volunteering with them I have had the pleasure of seeing a multitude of marine life both above and below the water’s surface… Whales and dolphins face many threats including bycatch, entanglement and prey depletion. Implementing effective fisheries management measures throughout Scotland’s MPAs is integral to ensuring that these sensitive species thrive in our waters.
R, Na h-Eileanan Siar

All evidence suggests that when significant fishery projection measures are in place, especially those restricting bottom trawling, the wildlife, the tourism industry and ultimately the local fishermen themselves benefit from a more diverse and productive marine environment.
Paul, Aberdeenshire

I am a Scuba diver who has dived every year in Scottish waters since 1976, and have seen a decline in both species numbers and diversity in that time. I am disgusted when I see the damage done in our shallower waters by dredging activities – species and their habitats ripped up from the seabed and scattered about in ruins.
Jeff, Sheffield 

I am a teacher and how can I expect the children at school to care about the environment if they see evidence that the Scottish government isn’t doing it’s very best to help.
Amanda, East Lothian

Top image: Cath Bain, Whale and Dolphin Conservation

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Guest blog by Caitlin Paul, Marine Policy Officer at RSPB Scotland

As someone who has always had a deep love for Scottish seas and the vibrant marine life it supports, I’ve recently focused my passion on seabirds, and over the past year, I’ve become increasingly fascinated by these remarkable creatures. Every year, Scotland’s rugged coasts, islands, and towering cliffs come alive as seabirds flock to nest, breed, and raise their young. Puffins, with their striking beaks and almost clown-like appearance, perform impressive deep dives to catch fish for their chicks, known adorably as “pufflings”. Fulmars, a grey and white seabird related to the albatross, gracefully glide over the sea surface, snatching up food as they go, spitting out a surprising defence mechanism – a stomach oil they spray at predators. Meanwhile, gannets dive spectacularly into the sea, travelling as fast as 60mph into the water to catch fish.

The diversity and uniqueness of these seabirds is remarkable, yet their survival is increasingly threatened as they face a relentless wave of challenges, and it’s now widely acknowledged that urgent action is needed. Climate change and overfishing are impacting their food supplies, making it harder to feed their young. Adult seabirds die when they become caught in fishing nets as unintended bycatch, while poorly planned offshore wind farms cause death through collisions and disrupt seabird flight patterns, meaning they must fly further to feed their young. Meanwhile on land, invasive species like rats and mink wreak havoc on their breeding islands during nesting seasons when chicks and adults alike can be targeted.  And on top of all of this we saw recently that avian flu can rip through colonies wiping out huge numbers in a breeding season.

These threats have had devasting impacts on seabirds. The most recent census which counts breeding seabirds across Britain and Ireland around every 20 years, Seabirds Count, published in October 2023, revealed that 70% of Scotland’s seabird species are in decline since the last census, with as many as seven seabird species experiencing declines of over 50%. On top of that, these shocking figures were taken before the recent outbreaks of Avian flu, which decimated some colonies. Results shows that the disease had a massive impact on Great Skua, with a 76% decline, and the Northern Gannet, with a 22% decline. These studies were taken into account and reflected in the recently published Birds of Conservation Concern report which reported  the largest ever increase in the number of UK seabirds on the red list. Of the 23 out of 25 UK seabirds that make their home and raise their young in Scotland, 9 are now included on the red list, with 12 on the Amber list and only 2 on the green list.

It’s clear that we must act now to save our seabirds. The Scottish Government has launched its Seabird Action Plan which is now out for consultation, running until the beginning of March. This is hugely welcome and offers a critical opportunity to show public support for saving our seabirds. The plan sets out a series of actions that if delivered effectively, and with strong funding behind them, should start to reverse the fortunes of our beleaguered seabird populations.

To help seabirds recover, clear measures are needed that will:

• Protect seabird prey fish species to ensure seabirds have plentiful food
• End the ongoing bycatch of seabirds by fisheries to minimise adult seabird deaths
• Clear all Scottish seabird islands of invasive predators – and prevent them from returning – to defend seabirds and their young
• Protect the most important areas for our seabirds on land and sea to provide safe spaces for breeding, feeding, and rearing their young
• Ensure marine development delivers positive funding and outcomes for climate and nature

RSPB were part of the working group that helped develop the Scottish Seabird Action Plan and these elements are included, but the plan needs to be as robust and clear as possible and importantly lead to urgent action supported by strong funding.  We are urging anyone who cares about seabirds to respond to the consultation and have suggested some additional points that we feel are needed. The link below makes it easy for you to let the Scottish Government know these measures are a priority.

In taking the time to do this you can help Scottish seabird populations build resilience, enabling them to thrive and better withstand present and future threats.

Add your voice to RSPB’s action here.

Image: Paul Turner, RSPB Scotland

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