Scotland's Blue Economy: current status review

Describes our starting position in the transition to adopting a Blue Economy approach to marine sectors, communities, and the environment. It provides us with the foundation to consider how we can track our progress and determine if significant and lasting change is occurring.


4 Overview of Data Sources

This section shows, for each of the six outcomes, a selection of data sources used in the current status review. This is not an exhaustive list of all potential data sources relevant to a particular Blue Economy Outcome. In many cases, more comprehensive overviews are available through assessments like the UK Marine Assessment or Scotland's Marine Assessment.

Natural Capital

Sub-outcome

Healthy marine environment & Clean marine environment

Description

OSPAR Quality Status Report, assessment of the environmental status of the North East Atlantic.

Source

Quality Status Reports - OSPAR-OAP (Prod)

Frequen-cy

Most recent reports are 2010 and 2023 (with an intermediate assessment for 2017 available as well)

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

Depends on the assessment, most contain data up until 2022

Cover-age

The North East Atlantic (subregions of relevance to Scotland are Arctic Waters, Greater North Sea,Celtic Seas, and the Wider Atlantic)

Sub-outcome

Healthy marine environment & Clean marine environment

Description

Assessment of both the state of Scotland’s seas and of the main activities and pressures in the various UK Marine Regions and Offshore Marine Regions

Source

UK Marine Assessment

Frequen-cy

Every 6 years (most recent report is 2018)

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

-

Cover-age

UK

Sub-outcome

Healthy marine environment & Clean marine environment

Description

Assessment of both the state of the UK’s seas and of the main activities and pressures in the various Scottish Marine Regions and Offshore Marine Regions

Source

Scotland's Marine Assessment (SMA)

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

-

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Healthy marine environment

Description

Marine and terrestrial species indicators

Source

NatureScot

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No (Experimental)

Data availa-bility

1994-2016

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Healthy marine environment

Description

The Seabird index (abundance of breeding seabirds) is used in the NPF as an index for the abundance of marine species. However, the SMA shows a complex picture when multiple food-web components are assessed.

Source

NPF Biodiversity Indicator and/or SMA

NatureScot information on Marine Abundance Indicator

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Marine abundance part of NPF biodiversity indicator

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2013-18

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Healthy freshwater environment

Description

Estimated numbers of returning Atlantic salmon, size of salmon, catch numbers for salmon and trout, and estimates of young salmon (smolt)

Source

Salmon and sea trout (SMA)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

1971-2018

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Healthy freshwater environment

Description

River gradings

Source

Salmon fishing: proposed river gradings for 2023 season

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

-

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Clean marine environment

Description

Clean seas: contaminant assessments in Scottish marine waters showing concentrations that are unlikely to harm marine organisms.

Source

NPF Clean Seas Indicator and/or SMA

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2015-19

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Clean marine environment

Description

Eutrophication, marine litter, microbiological contamination, noise

Source

SMA

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

-

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Clean freshwater environment

Description

Percentage of freshwater surface bodies rated good or better.

Source

River basin management planning (SEPA)

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

-

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Safeguarded marine environment

Description

No data identified yet

Source

-

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

-

National Statistics

-

Data availa-bility

-

Cover-age

-

Sub-outcome

Natural capital

Description

No data identified yet (existing sources focus on UK Marine or Scotland as a whole, but not Scottish marine)

Source

-

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

-

National Statistics

-

Data availa-bility

-

Cover-age

-

Climate Change

Sub-outcome

Decarbonisation

Description

Marine vessel emissions (excl. naval) part of Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics

Source

Scottish GHG Statistics

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Shipping and fishing are included as part of NPF greenhouse gas emissions

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

1998-2020

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Decarbonisation

Description

Scottish fishing fleet’s engine power

Source

Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2021

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

1922-2021

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Marine renewable energy

Description

Energy generation by offshore wind from Scottish Energy Statistics Hub, expressed as total of energy generation

Source

Scottish Energy Statistics Hub

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Offshore wind energy generation is part of NPF renewable energy indicator

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2007-2021

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Marine climate change adaptation

Description

No data identified yet

Source

-

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

-

National Statistics

-

Data availa-bility

-

Cover-age

-

Sub-outcome

Circular economy

Description

No data identified yet

Source

-

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

-

National Statistics

-

Data availa-bility

-

Cover-age

-

Economy and Trade

Sub-outcome

-

Description

Scottish Quarterly GDP

Source

Gross Domestic Product: Quarterly Output by Industry

Frequen-cy

Quarterly

NPF indicator

Yes

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

1998 Q1 – 2022 Q3

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Productive marine sectors

Description

Measure of the economic value of the Scottish Marine Economy (excl. offshore wind)

Source

Scotland Marine Economic Statistics (SG)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No (Experimental)

Data availa-bility

2016-20

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Productive marine sectors

Description

Measure of the economic value of the Scottish offshore wind sector

Source

Low carbon and renewable energy economy estimates (ONS)

Frequen-cy

Annual / tba

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No (Experimental)

Data availa-bility

2014-20

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

-

Description

Global investment into offshore renewable energies

Source

Blueprint for improved measurement of the international ocean economy : An exploration of satellite accounting for ocean economic activity (OECD) using IEA data

Frequen-cy

..

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2019

Cover-age

World

Sub-outcome

Innovative and entrepreneurial marine sectors

Description

High-growth businesses across Scottish industry sectors (not Blue Economy specific)

Source

High Growth Businesses (NPF)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (High Growth Businesses)

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2010-21

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Innovative and entrepreneurial marine sectors

Description

Innovation active businesses in Scotland (not Blue Economy specific)

Source

UK innovation survey 2021: results for Scotland

Frequen-cy

Bi-annual

NPF indicator

Yes (Innovative Businesses)

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2010-21

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Innovative and entrepreneurial marine sectors

Description

Expenditure on R&D in Scotland (not Blue Economy specific)

Source

Gross expenditure on research and development Scotland 2019 incl. custom extract

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (Spend on Research and Development)

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2001-19 (custom extract for 2019)

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Internationally competitive marine sectors

Description

Scottish international and rest-of-UK exports (not Blue Economy specific)

Source

Export Statistics Scotland 2019

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (International Exporting)

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2002-19

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

-

Description

Scottish GDP

Source

GDP Quarterly National Accounts: 2021 Quarter 4

Frequen-cy

Quarterly / Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (Economic Growth)

National Statistics

Yes

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

-

Description

Exports to GDP ratios of other countries, e.g. Denmark

Source

Denmark Trade Statistics (WITS, World Bank)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

-

National Statistics

-

Data availa-bility

2004-20

Cover-age

World

Sub-outcome

Productive marine sectors

Description

Value in £ of Scottish seafood exports (adjusted for inflation)

Source

HMRC RTS (with GDP deflators applied)

Frequen-cy

Quarterly

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2013-21

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Productive marine sectors

Description

A combination of Marine Fund Scotland and Transport Scotland payments (reliable sources for private investment were investigated but are currently not included in status review)

Source

Transport Scotland contributions

and

Marine Fund Scotland 2021-2022

Frequen-cy

Quarterly

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2020/21 and 2021/22

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Productive marine sectors

Description

Seaport freight in and out of Scotland

Source

Transporting Scotland's Trade - 2020 edition (Transport Scotland)

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2018-20

Cover-age

Scotland

Food Security, Health, and Nutrition

Sub-outcome

Sustainable Scottish seafood production

Description

Sustainability of commercial fish stocks

Source

Sustainability of Fish Stocks (NPF) and/or SMA

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (Sustainability of Fish Stocks)

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

1991-2020

Cover-age

-

Sub-outcome

-

Description

Global production of fish and seafood

Source

The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (FAO)

Frequen-cy

Annual / bi-annual

NPF indicator

-

National Statistics

-

Data availa-bility

1994-2022

Cover-age

World

Description

FSS monitoring of food consumption data

Source

Estimation of food and nutrient intakes from food purchase data in Scotland between 2001 and 2018 (FSS)

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2001-2018

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Dietary benefits of seafood

Description

Quantity of seafood purchased per consumer per week in Scotland

Source

Family Food Datasets (Defra) using data from the LCFS

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2001-2021

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Dietary benefits of seafood

Description

Types of seafood consumed by young people

Source

E. Jones, C. Chikwama (2021). Access to marine ecosystems services: Inequalities in Scotland's young people.

Ecological Economics, Volume 188. ISSN 0921-8009.

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2016 (using results from the Young People in Scotland survey)

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Scottish seafood on the global stage

Description

Scottish fish and seafood production: fisheries

Source

Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2021

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

1922-2021

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Scottish seafood on the global stage

Description

Scottish fish and seafood production: farmed fish

Source

Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey Data

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

1979-2020

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Scottish seafood on the global stage

Description

Scottish fish and seafood production: farmed shellfish

Source

Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey Data

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

1986-2021

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Scottish seafood on the global stage

Description

Global fish and seafood production

Source

Global fisheries and aquaculture production by source (FAO)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

-

National Statistics

-

Data availa-bility

2015-19

Cover-age

World

Social Inclusion and Equalities

Sub-outcome

Access to marine environments

Description

Attitudes to access to marine environments

Source

Marine social attitudes: survey

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

-

National Statistics

-

Data availa-bility

2019

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Access to marine environments

Description

Walking distance to nearest blue or green space

Source

Scottish Household Survey (incl. custom extract for coastal communities)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (part of Access to Green and Blue Space)

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2013-19 (custom extract for 2019)

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Access to marine environments

Description

Neighbourhood perceptions

Source

Scottish Household Survey (incl. custom extract for coastal communities)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (part of Social Capital)

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

1999-2020 (custom extract for 2019)

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Access to marine environments

Description

Visits to the outdoors

Source

Scottish Household Survey (incl. custom extract for coastal communities)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (part of Access to Green and Blue Space)

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2012-19 (custom extract for 2019)

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Access to marine environments

Description

Quality of marine environment (coastal bathing water)

Source

Bathing Waters (SEPA)

Frequen-cy

Annual / more frequently

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2005-22

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Perceived health benefits from visiting marine environment

Description

Percentage of respondents in Scotland saying that visits to the marine environment are good for their health

Source

Scottish Ocean Literacy Survey

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2022

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

-

Description

Employment within the Scottish Marine Economy (excl. offshore wind)

Source

Scotland Marine Economic Statistics (SG)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2016-19

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

-

Description

Employment within the Scottish offshore wind sector

Source

Low carbon and renewable energy economy estimates (ONS)

Frequen-cy

Annual / tba

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2014-20

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Diversity and inclusion in marine sectors

Description

Diversity in combined agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector

Source

Labour market statistics (incl. custom extract for some marine sectors)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2016-21 (custom extract for 2021)

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Diversity and inclusion in marine sectors

Description

Diversity in fishing sector

Source

2021 Employment in the UK Fishing Fleet (Seafish)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2021

Cover-age

UK and/or Scotland

Sub-outcome

Diversity and inclusion in marine sectors

Description

Gender balance in fishing sectors, unpaid labour, and barriers from entry

Source

Women in Scottish fisheries: literature review

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

-

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Community involvement and decision-making

Description

Percentage of people agreeing with statements about their involvement with other people in the neighbourhood

Source

Scottish Household Survey

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (part of Social Capital)

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2012-19

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Community involvement and decision-making

Description

Percentage of people participating in volunteering

Source

Scottish Household Survey

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (part of Social Capital)

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2013-19 (formal) and 2018 (informal)

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Community involvement and decision-making

Description

Community ownership

Source

Community Ownership in Scotland (incl. custom extract for coastal communities or marine assets)

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

Yes (Community Ownership)

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2017-21 (custom extract for 2021)

Cover-age

Scotland

Ocean Literacy

Sub-outcome

Awareness and knowledge

Description

Knowledge about marine environments, sectors, etc.

Source

Marine social attitudes: survey

Frequen-cy

-

NPF indicator

-

National Statistics

-

Data availa-bility

2019

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Awareness and knowledge

Description

Percentage of respondents in Scotland that know of, have heard of or have some understanding of key Blue Economy terms

Source

Scottish Ocean Literacy Survey

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2022

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Awareness and knowledge

Description

Public awareness and concern about climate change

Source

Scottish Household Survey

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

Yes

Data availa-bility

2013-2019, now discontinued

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Attitudes and actions

Description

Economic contribution of Scotland’s marine historic environment (tourism activities)

Source

Scotland’s Marine Recreation and Tourism Survey

Frequen-cy

One-off

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2015

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Attitudes and actions

Description

Percentage of respondents who say that protecting the marine environment is important

Source

Scottish Ocean Literacy Survey

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2022

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Attitudes and actions

Description

Percentage of respondents who say they have made or plan to make lifestyle changes to protect the marine environment

Source

Scottish Ocean Literacy Survey

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2022

Cover-age

Scotland

Sub-outcome

Attitudes and actions

Description

Percentage of respondents who have already taken action to protect the marine environment

Source

Scottish Ocean Literacy Survey

Frequen-cy

Annual

NPF indicator

No

National Statistics

No

Data availa-bility

2022

Cover-age

Scotland

Contact

Email: blueeconomy@gov.scot

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