A marine protected area (MPA) is an area of sea designated so that human activities can be managed to protect important species, habitats and ecosystems. MPAs can have different objectives and different types or levels of restrictions, depending on the features being protected. MPAs are a widely used conservation tool internationally and there is good evidence for their success, such as biodiversity recovery, increase in fish stocks and greater involvement of local people in conservation.  

Science shows that, to be efficient, MPAs should:  

• Cover big enough areas of the sea to have a noticeable impact  

• Be included in a network of MPAs, and sites should be numerous and close enough to ensure connectivity between sites  

• Protect the whole range of species and habitats found in healthy seas  

• Have active management measures to make sure the MPAs are delivering the protection they are created fori 

• Should include communities and stakeholders in decision-making to support better outcomes for both people and nature.

Priority Marine Features (PMFs) are a Scottish Government list of 81 habitats and species that are particularly important for conservation (for example, seabed habitats such as coldwater coral, maerl beds and seagrass, and species such a basking shark, black guillemot and sandeel). The PMF list helps focus conservation action where it’s most needed, particularly as many of the species and habitats on the list are at risk or already declining. 

 The inshore area of Scotland’s seas is known as “territorial waters” and covers 0-12 nautical miles from the land. The Scottish Government has devolved authority over this area and can make decisions without needing approval from the UK Government. The area beyond 12nm is known as “reserved” or offshore waters and, while the Scottish Government has devolved authority for some aspects of marine management, such as fisheries, any decision made in this area requires approval by the UK Government (Secretary of State).  

 Fisheries management measures were adopted in some of the inshore MPAs back in 2016, and measures for offshore MPAs were adopted in October 2025. There are now only the rest of the inshore MPAs that don’t have fisheries management measures – these will be the focus of the forthcoming consultation, along with proposals to protect some PMFs in small areas outside MPAs. 

The identification of MPAs and protection of PMFs has been developing since the underpinning legislation (the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010) was established 15 years ago, and builds on wider UK and Scottish marine planning and scientific work. Scotland’s MPA network was established in 2014, with the Scottish Government more recently implementing fisheries management measures in a phased approach and developing options to protect PMFs where they are still vulnerable outside MPAs, and more protected areas designated between 2017 and 2021. The Scottish Government has said a public consultation on the inshore MPA fisheries management and PMF measures is expected towards the end of 2025. 

Broadly: 

• Identification and designation of MPAs, through scientific assessments and stakeholder consultation (2014) 

• First phase of fisheries management measures implemented for highest risk inshore MPAs (2016) 

• Process to develop measures to protect PMFs outside MPAs (started 2017) 

• Offshore MPA fisheries management measures implemented (2024-25) 
• Second phase of fisheries management measures for remaining inshore MPAs (to be consulted, late 2025) 

A more detailed policy timeline is available here. 

There are 166 areas being considered in this consultation and there will be different proposals for fishing restrictions for each site, depending on the species or habitats it is designed to protect. These areas are: 

• 11 nature conservation MPAs (set up under Scottish and UK law) 

• 21 marine Special Areas of Conservation (originally set up under EU law) 

• 44 marine Special Protection Areas for seabirds 

• Approximately 90 PMF management areas (for the protection of certain PMFs outside MPAs) 

There will be a variety of different measures for restricting fishing activities in the proposals, all of which will be based on conservation advice provided by NatureScot, such as: 

• Not allowing bottom-towed fishing gear (trawling or dredging) to operate over certain seabed PMFS, as they are easily damaged by the drag of the nets 

• Restricting the use of static gear (such as set nets) which can accidentally capture seabirds or mammals (bycatch) 

The conservation advice that has informed these proposals is based on scientific evidence and expert judgement. The proposals are also supported by a number of technical assessments, such as the projected benefits to nature and people of the measures, or the financial impact of restrictions on local businesses. The consultation is an opportunity for anyone to voice their opinion, whether it’s just on one site, from one sector’s point of view or on the whole lot. 

Once consultation has finished and all views considered, Scottish government ministers will make decisions, and the measures will be scrutinised by Parliament and adopted on a statutory basis.  

A programme of stakeholder engagement has been on-going for nearly 15 years. Scientists and statutory agencies (such as NatureScot) advise on what measures are needed to protect the features. The Scottish Government and its policy teams propose and lead the consultation on the management measures. Stakeholders and communities are engaged in various discussions and workshops. These include fishers, aquaculture, ports, community councils, environmental charities and local businesses. Local meetings have also taken place at various points in the process to discuss any localised effects of the proposed measures. 

Why is this needed? What is the evidence that Scotland’s seas need protection? 

There is clear, peer-reviewed and governmental evidence that nature is declining and that marine ecosystems are under pressure from multiple drivers, including fishing impacts, climate change, pollution, and disturbance from human activities on the water. Science shows, for example, a dramatic decline of key commercial fish stocks such as cod or brown crabs. Scotland’s seabird population have declined by almost 50% since the 1980s, with Arctic skua showing the worst decline, with numbers down by 83%. Similarly, Scotland’s government marine assessment in 2020 showed that some biogenic reefs (such as blue mussels’ beds) have reduced in extent by 90% or more in some areas of Scotland’s seas.  

Safeguarding the marine environment is also necessary to protect the economies and communities that depend on it. Scotland’s marine economy (fisheries, tourism, recreation, aquaculture and other coastal services) provides substantial income and local jobs; healthy seas sustain fish stocks, tourism highlights (wildlife watching, coastal visits) and coastal livelihoods. 

The consultation will set out specific fisheries management options for particular MPAs and for PMFs outside MPAs. Options will range from gear restrictions (e.g. limits on trawling or scallop dredging in sensitive areas) and seasonal restrictions to more extensive closures where needed to achieve the objectives of the site. Where measures are proposed, the consultation process should describe the evidence, the options and the anticipated impacts on the environment, the social dynamics of the local communities, and local economies. Views are invited from all stakeholders, including fishers, communities and businesses before decisions are taken.  

A policy framework for Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) was proposed by the Scottish Government in 2022-23 – this involved proposals to create areas of very high protection across 10% of Scotland’s seas. This would have meant areas where any extractive or destructive activities would be largely prohibited, with a view to allowing recovery of marine ecosystems. These proposals were shelved in 2023. 

The forthcoming inshore MPA and PMF fisheries management consultations are more specifically about management of certain types of fishing in certain parts of MPAs and for the protection of certain PMFs outside MPAs where they are vulnerable. These measures are more tailored and are set in the context of being able to allow sustainable use of many activities within MPAs, as long as they do not risk the conservation objectives being met. 

No. The management needs differ by site and the features those sites are designed to protect. Scottish Government officials and advisors commonly consider a range of management options, from less restrictive measures to areas where evidence shows stronger protection is required. The consultation will set out which options are proposed for which places and why. 

When the public consultation launches in late 2025, it will be published on the Scottish Government consultation webpage. The consultation will include documents explaining the evidence and proposed options and will set a deadline for responses. Anyone can respond to the consultation, although many of the documents accompanying the proposals can be long and technical. Scottish Government and NatureScot officials will also hold local and online drop in events, where anyone can join and ask questions or discuss the proposals. LINK and many of its member organisations are also developing interpretive materials to help others understand how to contribute their views to the consultation. 

Proposals and decisions are based on scientific monitoring and mapping (habitat and species surveys, fisheries impact evidence, modelling), socio-economic assessments (to understand impacts on communities and businesses) and stakeholder input through data collection (e.g. fishing log data, citizen science) and consultation views. National assessment reports, such as Scotland’s Marine Assessment and site-level evidence help to inform proposals. 

Legally-backed management measures are required for MPAs under Scottish, UK and International legislation and best practice. Where measures are statutory they can be legally enforced, monitored and adapted as needed. Voluntary measures can be inconsistent and there is no requirement to adhere to them. There are some examples where voluntary measures have been put in place, such as in the West Shetland Shelf MPA where fishing industry agreed a voluntary arrangement following the repeal of statutory protection for spawning cod in 2019. Voluntary protection in certain MPAs where the conservation objective was to recover PMFs was also agreed by the fishing industry in 2014, until statutory measures could be adopted. 

Not directly, but there is funding available to the fishing industry to support change more widely – for example, if a fisher would like to change to a different method of fishing (diversification), or modifying their gear to be more sustainable or reduce emissions. 

Efforts are also made to take into account impacts to fishers and the fishing supply chain when Ministers make a decision about the measures. However, it is important to note that certain types of fishing are the most widespread pressure on our marine environment, and change to practices and patterns are necessary to prevent further decline of nature and safeguard the marine resources on which fishers rely in the first place. 

 Timescales can be variable, but from public consultation to adoption of the final measures, it could take up to a year. Bear in mind, there are Scottish Parliament Elections in May and there will be a new Scottish Government, so that could mean the process takes a little longer than usual. 

More information about the process and NatureScot’s management advice

Further FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) | NatureScot 

An in depth look at all Scottish protected areas – you can search by site if you have any particular local interests: https://sitelink.nature.scot/home 

For more information contact: 

Esther Brooker, Senior Marine Advocacy Officer 

esther@scotlink.org