Marine Protected Area network: 2024 report to the Scottish Parliament

1. Ministerial foreword

The Scottish Government's vision for the marine environment is of clean, healthy, safe, productive and diverse seas; managed to meet the long-term needs of nature and people. This includes managing our seas sustainably to protect their rich biological diversity and to ensure that our marine ecosystems continue to provide economic, social and wider benefits for people, the economy and society.

Scotland's network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) has an integral part to play in achieving this vision. Our network of MPAs also contributes towards key government priorities for addressing the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, including contributing towards achieving the goals set out in the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy and the UK Marine Strategy.

Since the previous report was published the MPA network has continued to grow, with 17 new MPAs designated since 2018 and three existing MPAs extended – two to afford increased protection to seabirds and one for seabed habitats. This includes Red Rocks and Longay MPA which has been designated to protect a flapper skate egg nursery. Scotland's MPA network now covers 37% of our seas, exceeding the global biodiversity target to

achieve MPA coverage of 30% of global seas by 2030 (known as 30x30). This increased level of coverage reflects the special nature of Scotland's seas and the species and habitats that require protection.

A key aspect of the 30x30 target is not simply about the extent of protected areas coverage but that these areas should also be effectively managed.

From the point of designation of an MPA, certain human activities, such as construction or dredging, are managed through the licensing and consents process. For fishing activity, management measures were implemented in 2016 for the MPAs containing some of the most vulnerable of habitats in the network. Monitoring of these sites has identified improvements in their state, demonstrating the positive difference that effective management of MPAs can make. However, there is still work to do on ensuring our MPA network is secured for the benefit of future generations.

Looking ahead, our priority remains putting in place management measures for fishing activity for those MPAs where measures are required to meet the MPA conservation objectives. This is an unprecedented piece of work which has involved a significant amount of stakeholder engagement over a number of years. I am grateful to those who have worked with us on the development of these management measures; especially given the complex and challenging nature of this process. I hope that by the time of the next report we can reflect on the positive impact that implementation of these measures is having on Scotland's seas.

Gillian Martin

Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy