Marine Protected Areas - Red Rocks and Longay: site information and public notifications

The Red Rocks and Longay Marine Protected Area (MPA)

Map showing the Red Rocks and Longay MPA within the Inner Sound

We were initially notified of the presence of flapper skate eggs in the Inner Sound of Skye in late 2019 and after engagement with stakeholders, Scottish ministers designated an urgent Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Inner Sound of Skye on 10 March 2021 to protect a flapper skate egg nursery area, called the Red Rocks and Longay MPA.

Further engagement was undertaken with stakeholders in November and December 2021 on extending the MPA following further surveys which discovered a large number of eggs outside the urgent MPA boundary. This  enabled us to develop a proposed extension to the urgent MPA and Scottish Ministers then determined there was a need to urgently include this egg laying habitat. Scottish Ministers revoked the original site and urgently re-designated the extended site which came into force on the 16 December 2021.

An MPA can be designated under section 77 of the Marine (Scotland) Act when Ministers consider there to be an urgent need to do so. An urgent MPA can only remain in place for a maximum of 2 years, after which time the site would need to be made permanent, following full assessment and public consultation.

The public consultation closed on 26 April 2022. Responses to the consultation and associated documents have been published. Permanent designation and protection for the MPA came into force on 9 February 2023.

About flapper skate

Flapper skate (Dipturus intermedius) are a critically endangered species. They were historically abundant in the North-east Atlantic and widely distributed in the seas surrounding the British Isles, however its range has reduced significantly and catch rates declined throughout the 20th century. The flapper skate now largely occurs in the northern North Sea and off Scotland’s north-west coast.

Now considered its own species, it was once thought that flapper skate and blue skate were the same species, called common skate. Flapper skate and blue skate (Dipturus batis) are now known as part of the common skate complex. Common skate are a protected feature of the Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura MPA.

Little is known about flapper skate breeding grounds and breeding habits due to their rarity. Their eggs take around 18 months to hatch and are sensitive to disturbance from a number of marine activities during that time.

MPA management measures

Permanent management measures came into force on 9 February 2023.

Recreational diving and diving to hand-fish scallops were prohibited in the urgent MPA but are now permitted in the permanent site. A full list of prohibited activities is available in the Marine Conservation Order.

Fishing vessel access to the MPA

Fishing vessel licence conditions have been amended to incorporate restrictions within the MPA. A fishing vessel must not be present within the MPA other than when travelling at a speed of greater than six knots (except in the case of force majeure, adverse weather conditions, fishing for pelagic species with trawl or encircling nets or engaged in the removal of king scallops and queen scallops by hand.

In the case of any of the above, immediately contact the UKFM and give details of the vessel’s intentions.

Contact: UKFMC@gov.scot

Scientific derogations

A permit can be acquired from the Marine Scotland Licencing Operations Team, to allow particular activities which would otherwise be prohibited within the MPA, so long as they are for the purpose of scientific research and there is no significant risk of the particular activities hindering the achievement of the stated conservation objectives. A full list of prohibited activities is available in the Marine Conservation Order.

For an application form and further information on the application process, contact: MS.MarineLicensing@gov.scot.

Future plans for the site

Creeling continues to be prohibited within the site, but this may be reviewed in the future once further developments and better understanding of REM technologies is achieved. This will be done in conjunction with stakeholders, NatureScot and Marine Scotland Compliance. 

Public notification - making of MPA Designation Order

In order to continue protection within the site on a permanent basis, in line with the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, Scottish Ministers have made the Red Rocks and Longay Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area Order 2022 on 13 December 2022.

The Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area Order replaces The Red Rocks and Longay Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (No. 2) Order 2021.

The Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area Order has been published on gov.scot (a PDF copy is also available).

Copies of the designation order may also be requested by writing to the contact details found at the bottom of this page.

You can also email marine_biodiversity@gov.scot. Alternatively, the orders are available for inspection at the address found at the bottom of this page.

Scottish Ministers have power to revoke the designation order and the Marine Conservation Order and any person affected by the making of the orders may make representations to them.

Public notification - making of the Marine Conservation Order

In order to continue protection within the site on a permanent basis, in line with the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, Scottish Ministers have laid the Red Rocks and Longay Marine Conservation Order 2022 in parliament on 15 December 2022 which will come into effect on 9 February 2023.

The Marine Conservation Order replaces The Red Rocks and Longay Urgent Marine Conservation (No. 2) Order 2021 and The Red Rocks and Longay Urgent Marine Conservation (No. 2) Order 2021 (Urgent Continuation) Order 2022.

The Marine Conservation Order has been published on legislation.gov.uk.

Copies of the Marine Conservation Order may also be requested by writing to the contact details found at the bottom of this page.

Alternatively, the order is available for inspection at the address found at the bottom of this page. You can email marine_biodiversity@gov.scot to request a copy or to make arrangements if you would like to inspect the Orders in person.

Public notification: proposal to designate Red Rocks and Longay as a Marine Protected Area with an associated Marine Conservation Order, and the making of an Urgent Continuation Order

The Red Rocks and Longay (MPA) was urgently designated in March 2021 for protection of critically endangered flapper skate within the Inner Sound of Skye and was re-designated in December 2021 to extend the boundaries of the MPA. An urgent Marine Conservation Order was put in place at the same time on each occasion prohibiting certain activities in the Red Rocks and Longay MPA.

In accordance with sections 75, 87(6) and (7) and 88 (7) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, we hereby give notice that Scottish Ministers propose to designate Red Rocks and Longay as a nature conservation Marine Protected Area (MPA) on a permanent basis and to make an associated Marine Conservation Order (MCO) to further the stated conservation objectives for the proposed Red Rocks and Longay MPA.

A consultation on the proposals to designate Red Rocks and Longay as a permanent MPA with an associated MCO was launched on 1 February 2022. You can access and respond to the consultation online using the Scottish Government’s consultation hub, Citizen Space. Responses are due by 26 April 2022.

In accordance with section sections 75 (2) and 87(7)(b) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, the draft orders and a map identifying the area's boundaries are available for inspection on the consultation hub. Alternatively, a copy of the draft Orders and map can also be requested by writing to the contact details found at the bottom of this page, or by email to marine_conservation@gov.scot. 

Full details of the proposals and all supporting documentation are available via the consultation hub.

Making of an Urgent Continuation Order

In order to continue protection within the site whilst public consultation is undertaken, in line with the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, an Urgent Continuation Order (The Red Rocks and Longay Urgent Marine Conservation (No. 2) Order 2021 (Urgent Continuation) Order 2022) was laid in parliament on 3 February 2022 and came into effect on 16 March 2022. 

The Urgent Continuation Order extends the duration of The Red Rocks and Longay Urgent Marine Conservation (No. 2) Order 2021. The Urgent Continuation Order can be viewed on legislation.gov.uk.

Copies of the Urgent Continuation Order may also be requested by writing to the contact details found at the bottom of this page.

Alternatively, the order is available for inspection at the address found at the bottom of this page. You can email marine_conservation@gov.scot to request a copy or to make arrangements if you would like to inspect the Order in person.

Public notification for new urgent MPA designation order and new urgent MCO and making of MPA designation order

Scottish Ministers designated the Red Rocks and Longay MPA urgently under s(77) of Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. The Red Rocks and Longay Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (No. 2) Order 2021 can be viewed on gov.scot.

The Red Rocks and Longay Urgent Marine Conservation (No 2) Order 2021 can be viewed on legislation.gov.uk.