Response to proposed Marine Conservation Orders (for fisheries management in inshore MPAs)

Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine Taskforce members broadly welcome the proposals for management of fishing activities within the 11 nature conservation marine protected areas (ncMPAs) and 9 inshore Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) which have been developed following the recent public consultation. We recognise that the proposals are a broadly proportionate response to the ecological need for the sites, supported by sound scientific evidence and appropriate application of the precautionary principle where there is low confidence in the evidence. Read our full response to the detail of the Marine Conservation Orders covering four MPAs Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura MPA (including Firth of Lorn SAC but not Loch Sunart MPA/SAC), Small Isles MPA, South Arran MPA and Wester Ross MPA.