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Publication - Impact assessment

Seas off St Kilda Special Protection Area: business and regulatory impact assessment

Published
3 December 2020
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Topic
Economy, Environment and climate change, Marine and fisheries
ISBN
9781800043664

An assessment of the business and regulatory impacts of classifying the seas off St Kilda Special Protection Area.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Appendix A - Ecosystem Services Benefits, Seas off St. Kilda

Summary of Ecosystem Services Benefits arising from Classification of the Site as an SPA
Services Relevance
to Site		 Baseline Level Estimated Impacts of Classification Value Weighting Scale of Benefits Confidence
Lower Intermediate Upper
Fish for human consumption Low, contributes to the food web Stocks not at MSY Nil Nil Minimal Low Minimal Moderate
Fish for non-human consumption Stocks reduced from potential maximum
Gas and climate regulation Nil Nil Nil Nil Nil High
Non-use value of natural environment Moderate, bird species and natural heritage associated with site, and contribution of the site to MPA network, have non-use value. Non-use value of the site may decline Low Low - Moderate, protection of features of site from decline, possibly allowing some recovery, but parts of site already protected Moderate - High, contributes to maintaining character of iconic site Low - moderate Moderate, response of feature to management measures, and value to society, uncertain
Recreation Low - Moderate, inaccessible site, with limited wildlife tourism. Recreation value of the site may decline Minimal, protection of features of site Low, protection of site may increase visitors’ values Moderate - high, high travel cost suggests high value for visitors. Minimal – Low Low, extent of change from management measures, including in context of climate-induced changes uncertain.
Research and Education Moderate, features have research value, island has scientific programmes Value of site may decline Low Low - Moderate, protection maintains future research opportunities. Classification may play role in communicating management needs. Moderate – high, value of maintaining long term scientific effort Low - moderate Moderate, extent to which research uses site in future uncertain.
Total value of changes in ecosystem services Minimal for lower scenario, Low - Moderate for intermediate and upper scenarios, mainly based on non-use and research values Low - moderate Moderate

Contact

Email: Marine_Conservation@gov.scot

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