Over 10,000 people have responded to the Scottish Government’s consultation in support of plans to set up a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) in Scottish waters. The 16-week consultation – which ran throughout the summer – closed in mid-November and canvassed views on MPA sites around the Scottish coast as well as feedback about the plans in general. Campaigning by environmental charities in Scotland led to a groundswell of support for the MPAs, but also highlighted that the network needs to fill in the ‘ecological gaps’ by creating sites for seabirds, whales, dolphins and other vulnerable seabed species and habitats currently afforded inadequate protection from a growing range of pressures at sea. You can read coverage of the coalition campaign here. View a BBC Scotland slideshow of marine pictures here