Eight years ago, the first suite of nature conservation MPAs under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 were designated in Scottish waters. The Bute House Agreement between the SNP and Green Parties commits the Scottish Government to completing the current programme of development Scotland’s MPA network by 2024, and establishing Highly Protected Marine Areas in 10% of Scotland’s seas by 2026.
In September 2020, LINK’s Marine Group commissioned an opinion poll of Scottish residents to better understand public views on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The results are helpful to show what respondents understand the purpose of MPAs to be and to demonstrate the levels of support for MPAs. The results suggest that there is strong public support for MPAs in Scotland, and that current levels of protection are considered too weak.
Read the full report of the poll results below!