Marine Protected Area network: 2024 report to the Scottish Parliament

Glossary

Conventionon Biological Diversity (CBD) – It has 3 main objectives; the conservation of biological diversity; the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity; and, the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

Good Environmental Status (GES) means seas which are clean, healthy and productive within their intrinsic conditions, and the use of the marine environment is at a level that is sustainable, thus safeguarding the potential for uses and activities by current and future generations.

Marine Protected Area (MPA) means one of three types of MPA in Scotland; Demonstration and Research to test novel approaches to marine management; Historic to protect marine wrecks and artefacts; Nature conservation to protect biodiversity. The term can also be used generically to describe any marine protected area.

Network of conservation sites is used in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 to describe sites designated to protect marine biodiversity – MPAs, Ramsar, SACs, SPAs, and SSSIs.

OSPAR– The Convention by which fifteen Governments, together with the European Union, cooperate to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.

Other effective area-based conservation measures (OECMs) – Spatial zones which contribute to the protection of marine biodiversity but are not set up specifically for nature conservation purposes.

Ramsar – the Convention for the conservation and wise use of all wetlands.

Representation – Ensuring the MPA network covers the range of habitats and species that make up the biological diversity of our seas.

Replication – A feature being in more than one MPA in the network or within defined regions.

Scottish MPA Network – A collective term to describe all of the conservation sites plus Demonstration and Research MPAs, Historic MPAs, and Other Area Based Measures.

SiteofSpecial Scientific Interest (SSSIs) – protect nationally important habitats, species and geological features found above the mean low water mark.

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are protected areas for habitats and species listed in the EU Habitats Directive, such as reefs and bottlenose dolphin.

Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are protected areas for wild birds listed in the EU Wild Birds Directive, or for regularly occurring migratory species.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) – A series of interconnected goals adopted by the United Nations which are designed to mobilize efforts to end all forms of poverty, fight inequalities and tackling climate change and environmental protection. Goal 14 relates to "life below water".

The Marine Acts – A collective term used to describe the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.

The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 – The Act of the UK Parliament which gives the Scottish Ministers the power to designate MPAs in Scottish Offshore Waters.

The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 – The Act of the Scottish Parliament which gives the Scottish Ministers the power to designate MPAs in Territorial Waters.

UK Marine Strategy (UKMS) aims to achieve Good Environmental Status by ensuring that adverse effects from human activities are avoided.