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Publication - Impact assessment

West Coast of Outer Hebrides 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
9781800043763

An assessment of the business and regulatory impacts of classifying the West Coast of Outer Hebrides Special Protection Area.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Appendix A - Ecosystem Services Benefits, West Coast of the Outer Hebrides

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, seabed contribute to the food web Stocks not at MSY Nil Minimal, small increase in fish stocks possible Low Minimal Moderate
Fish for non-human consumption Stocks reduced from potential maximum
Gas and climate regulation Minimal, in coastal areas Minimal Nil Low Nil High
Non-use value of natural environment Moderate, bird species, and contribution of the site to MPA network, have non-use value. Non-use value of the site may decline Minimal Low, maintain features of site Moderate, protection of features of site from decline, possibly allowing some recovery Low - moderate, contributes to maintaining marine biodiversity Low Moderate, response of feature to management measures, and value to society, uncertain
Recreation Low - Moderate, inaccessible site, but limited wildlife tourism, but features contribute to W. Isles tourism. Recreation value of the site may decline Minimal, protection of site features that contribute to recreation, possibly allowing some recovery Moderate, tourism supports jobs, but substitutes are available. Minimal. Moderate, significance of change from management measures uncertain.
Research and Education Moderate, features have research value, but there are substitutes Value of site may decline Minimal Low, protection maintains future research opport-unities. Classification may play role in communicating management needs. Low Low Moderate, extent to which research uses site in future uncertain.
Total value of changes in ecosystem services Minimal for lower scenario, Low for intermediate and upper scenarios Low Moderate

Contact

Email: marine_conservation@gov.scot

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