Highly Protected Marine Areas - policy framework and site selection guidelines: partial BRIA

13. Post-implementation review

As HPMAs will form part of Scotland's MPA network it is intended that they will be subject to the existing six-yearly MPA network reporting cycle to the Scottish Parliament. In this reporting cycle, HPMAs will be reviewed to ensure that they are meeting, or are progressing towards meeting, their agreed conservation objectives and whether any additional management measures are likely to be required. Monitoring will inform future decisions on the suitability of existing management measures to ensure that allowed activities remain at non-damaging levels. We will take into account the recovery of some ecosystems or habitats may take several years (potentially decades in some cases) so measurable benefits from HPMAs may not be apparent within the timeframe of a single monitoring cycle.