Marine protected areas (MPAs) are like nature reserves underwater. They are defined areas of the sea set aside to protect and restore important or vulnerable marine species, habitats or ecosystems (communities of living creatures). Usually certain activities are managed (restricted or changed) within MPAs to reduce or prevent damage and there can be different types of management depending on what the MPA is designed to protect.
Why do we need MPAs?
Our seas are in crisis. In 2019, Scotland declared a twin global climate and nature emergency. Climate change and human activities are causing widespread damage to marine life and habitats. Declines in species like cod, haddock, and seabirds are just some examples of the pressures our seas are facing. Scotland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world. Progress to tackle these crises and reverse the widespread decline in nature is slow.
MPAs are essential for protecting and restoring our marine environment. They provide safe havens for marine life to help prevent further decline in nature. Evidence from around the world shows that MPAs can help to rebuild fish stocks, protect biodiversity, and improve the overall health of our oceans.
Scotland’s MPA network already covers 37% of its seas – this is great, isn’t it?
While Scotland has a large MPA network on paper, these are simply lines on a map without effective management. To truly protect our seas, we need to restrict harmful activities within MPAs. Species and habitats for protection (Priority Marine Features – PMFs) have been identified based on the risks they face, so it’s crucial to put in place measures to prevent damage. The majority of Scotland’s MPAs don’t have restrictions in place for some of the most damaging or widespread pressures in the sea.
What activities need to be restricted within MPAs?
The main focus for MPA management is currently on fishing activities, particularly bottom-towed gears that can damage seabed habitats. Other activities like aquaculture and renewable energy are already managed through licensing processes (although the combined effect of all activities on MPAs and the features they protect is still not well understood and assessed).
Does MPA management pose a risk to small scale fishing businesses who may have more limited options for fishing grounds?
We understand the concerns of small-scale fishing businesses. While some changes may be necessary, the long-term aim is to enable sustainable, lower impact fishing practices, at levels where the environment can thrive. We believe sustainable fishing activities should be supported through any transition and should be able to benefit from improved opportunities provided by a healthier environment.
Are these management measures the same as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs)?
No. The current MPA management proposals have been developed through extensive consultation with stakeholders since 2014. The commitment to HPMAs was introduced more recently in 2021 though the Bute House Agreement, in keeping with EU and international targets to strictly protect 10% of land and sea, and proposals were largely developed by the Scottish Government.
While the idea of strictly protected areas has merit in principle for the recovery of nature, we believe it’s essential to first focus on completing and effectively managing our existing MPA network. This should be a priority and has been delayed for a decade.
Exploring any further actions that will be needed to enable nature recovery and align with global law/commitments should be done in collaboration with all stakeholders, including communities.
Who will benefit from well-managed MPAs?
Everyone stands to benefit from healthy seas. Well-managed MPAs can improve species, the habitats they live in, and ecosystem health, which in turn supports commercial fish stocks. Beyond economic benefits, healthier seas contribute to improved wellbeing, stronger coastal communities, and increased opportunities for tourism and employment.
If these MPA management measures are implemented, will Scotland’s seas become more healthy?
MPAs are one important tool for improving ocean health, but they are not a silver bullet to all the problems in the ocean. To fully restore our seas, we need a combined approach that includes MPAs, species conservation efforts, and wider measures such as effective marine planning and management of fishing beyond MPAs. By working together, we can create a thriving marine environment for future generations.
What needs to happen next to get the MPA management measures in place?
Urgent action is needed. The Scottish Government must prioritise and better resource the publication of outstanding fisheries management proposals for public consultation. Once these proposals are finalised, they must be implemented without delay.
Right now, the Scottish government is asking for people’s views on proposed restrictions for our ‘offshore’ marine protected areas – those between 12 and 200 nautical miles from the shore.
By Esther Brooker, Fanny Royanez (Scottish Environment LINK) and Rebecca Crawford (Scottish Wildlife Trust)
It has been 10 years since a suite of 30 new nature conservation marine protected areas (MPAs) were designated in Scotland’s seas under Scottish and UK law. These were in addition to the MPAs already designated under European law. The purpose of MPAs is to protect fragile species and habitats by restricting damaging activities, which allows marine ecosystems to recover and thrive.
At the time, it signalled a clear and ambitious intention to deliver real conservation outcomes, which would help to halt the decline of Scotland’s marine nature, enable more sustainable economic opportunities and contribute to thriving coastal communities. But 10 years on, has that actually happened? We reflect on the progress made and what urgently still needs to be done to safeguard our seas now and for future generations.
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Scotland’s marine biodiversity is not in good health.1 We are living through a global climate and biodiversity crisis, with the UK named as one of the most nature depleted countries in the world. There is a significant body of evidence that clearly shows current levels of human activities are not sustainable and that biodiversity will continue to decline if nothing changes. Only last week, news of a dramatic decline in breeding shag on the Isle of May nature reserve in the Firth of Forth hit the headlines, the latest in a seemingly endless conveyor belt of bad news stories about nature and climate.
A word cloud with responses to the question: “What three words would you use to describe the current health of Scotland’s seas?”, asked of delegates at the Sea Scotland conference, 2024.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are a proven conservation measure that is widely used around the world, and the benefits both to nature (improving biodiversity) and people (better economic opportunities) are widely evidenced. The development of a “well-managed” network of MPAs has been an obligation for Scotland and the UK for decades. There have been a series of international and national deadlines over the years that have all been missed. For example, under the Oslo-Paris Convention (OSPAR), for which the UK is a contracting party and which covers the northeast Atlantic area, a recommendation set out in 2003 called for a well-managed network of MPAs to be established by 2010. The previous Scottish Government set a target of 2016 to ‘complete’ the network, which then slipped to 2020.
Following the designation of the 30 MPAs under Scottish law in 2014, the Scottish government set about working with stakeholders to develop management measures for high risk activities that are outside the licensing and consents system. In 2016 the first batch of fisheries management measures was adopted, following a public consultation and Parliamentary scrutiny. LINK campaigned to ensure these measures were sufficient for the purpose of protecting Priority Marine Features (PMFs), as many of the proposals were being suggested for areas where fishing activities were already low. In fact, the Scottish government’s own marine science unit recently published research showing that less than 1% of areas that have been historically fished by bottom-towed (seabed impacting) fishing activities are actually protected within MPAs. In the period since 2016, there has been some stakeholder engagement around additional proposed measures and development of assessments required by law (such as Socio-Economic Impact Assessment), but we are no closer to adopting measures for MPAs and PMFs beyond MPAs.
The Scottish government is now 10 years late in bringing forward the remaining majority of the fisheries management measures for the MPAs that we currently have. This means that activities that have been identified as posing a risk to many of the habitats and species the MPAs are designed to protect – primarily bottom towed fishing – continue to operate within these MPAs. Furthermore, monitoring and resources to understand the ongoing impact of the management measures not being in place is lacking, and environmental conditions have already changed significantly since the measures were first developed. Such is the imperative of the twin crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, that we should be progressing more ambitious measures to reverse these issues, never mind still waiting for basic protection measures that should have been in place years ago. These fisheries management measures are not an optional extra step – they are a fundamental requirement for MPAs, without which an MPA cannot even begin to achieve its conservation objectives. We can no longer afford to delay properly protecting our seas and allowing depleted species and habitats to recover.
LINK and some of its partners recently commissioned a report evaluating the effectiveness of Scotland’s MPAs network. The report, written by Professor James Harrison (an expert in marine and environmental law), underscores deficiencies in the MPA network including the lack of fisheries management measures in most of the inshore and all of the offshore sites. The report also highlights uncertainty around how it will contribute to Scotland and the UK’s global nature protection commitments and how it will meet current ecological and societal needs.
Infographic showing the steps needed to properly establish and protect Scotland’s network of marine protected areas, with annotations showing the progress made so far and where it has stalled.
In April 2024, the Scottish government announced the end of the power sharing agreement with the Scottish Green Party. The draft policy programme, published in 2021 and known as the Bute House Agreement, contained many essential policies for the marine environment. Critically, it again committed the Scottish government to finally implementing the long-awaited fisheries management measures, with a target of spring 2024 for those measures to be legally adopted. It’s now July 2024, and we are still waiting for the proposed measures to be published for public consultation. We’re concerned that the dissolution of the Bute House Agreement is just the latest thing to delay these consultations even further. Including the time for the consultation to run and the results to be analysed, we’re looking at a timescale of at least a year before any new measures may be adopted. This means if the consultations have not been published by around March 2025, there won’t be much chance of the fisheries measures being adopted within this parliamentary term (which ends in May 2026). This is a scenario we want to avoid – it’s not in anyone’s interest to delay this process any further.
Delayed management measures seems to be a chronic problem that is not unique to Scotland. For example, the Dogger Bank Special Area of Conservation in the English north sea was designated in 2011, but fisheries management measures weren’t adopted until 2022 when a complaint was brought to the European Commission against the UK government for not meeting the requirements of the law. Designating MPAs looks great, but they don’t do any good if damaging activities are not appropriately restricted, leading to ‘paper parks’. Not only does bottom-contacting fishing damage seabed habitats, there’s evidence to suggest that it contributes to climate change by disturbing carbon that is stored in the seabed. If it takes years to properly protect MPAs, could some of the ecological decline that has been evidenced in recent years be slowed or halted already if action had been taken sooner?
We’re calling on the Scottish government to progress management measures for inshore and offshore MPAs as soon as possible.
There is significant public appetite to see Scotland’s seas better protected2, and these MPA measures are a vital step towards this. Community involvement and transparency in policy making are extremely important to avoid situations like the backlash to Highly Protected Marine Areas (HMPAs) which caused a high level of anxiety and uncertainty within island and coastal communities. The proposed fisheries management measures for existing MPAs have already been subject to stakeholder discussion and the process has been supported by many marine interests, including the fishing industry who recognise the importance of protecting the resources on which they rely for their businesses. Protecting our environment and operating sustainable industries is mutually inclusive, and yet is often portrayed publicly as a false dichotomy that conservation measures come at the expense of economic opportunities. The reality is the opposite, if conservation measures are implemented within the principles of sustainable development – a global framework for improving the way environment, social, cultural and economic goals are achieved.
While it has been a tumultuous few months for Scottish and UK politics, we must not lose sight of the vital importance of environmental protection and the threats Scotland faces from climate change. As we move forward from the recent UK election under new national leadership toward the next Scottish election in 2026, our natural environment from which we derive so much must be the priority. Far from being only a Green Party issue, a healthy, productive, clean, safe environment is essential for our future and we must not lose sight of that. It is paramount that the Scottish government continue their commitment in responding to the climate and nature crises and creating a fairer, greener future.
What we need to progress MPA process and improve health of Scotland’s seas:
Management measures in MPAs to be progressed ASAP
Targets for nature recovery and for improving MPAs/marine protection in law
Clear leadership, including from industry and communities
Monitoring and resourcing as a priority (public and private finance) – healthy seas is in the public interest, huge influence on ecosystem service benefits that everyone needs
A more strategic approach to marine nature conservation – site protection alone is not enough ( species conservation and wider seas measures should also be considered, in line with Scotland’s Nature Conservation strategy)
By Phoebe Cochrane, Sustainable Economy Officer at Scottish Environment LINK
It has been a long journey for those of us in the environmental NGO sector who have been campaigning for a circular economy bill. The 2016 SNP manifesto included a commitment to a circular economy bill and the funding of our Circular Economy for a Fairer Footprint project by Friends Provident Foundation in 2018 enabled LINK to focus on making sure this bill was delivered.
Various LINK members were already working on specific aspects of circular economy, such as the Marine Conservation Society on measures that would reduce marine litter, Fidra on chemicals, Friends of the Earth Scotland on incineration, and APRS who were leading the Have You Got the Bottle campaign for a Deposit Return Scheme.
Beyond this, the increasing realisation that it is the sheer scale of our consumption of materials, and the associated habitat destruction and pollution, that is at the heart of the nature and climate crises, meant that a more circular economy had become of interest across the environmental NGO sector.
So we put our minds to thinking about what should be in a circular economy bill. Internal thinking, a number of scoping papers and considerable discussion led us to the conclusion that much of what needed to change could be done with existing powers – i.e. primary legislation wasn’t needed. However, the main thing that was missing was a setting of direction and a framework to drive action, like the climate change legislation does through the statutory greenhouse gas reduction targets and associated Climate Change Plan.
In Summer of 2019 we published a paper – A Call for a Strong Circular Economy Bill for Scotland. In it, we stressed the link between raw material consumption and the nature and climate crises and laid out our key asks of a bill: consumption reduction targets, reporting duties, a 5 yearly plan on delivery of the targets, a committee to provide advice, a duty on public bodies, and action on specific problematic materials. This paper was supported by a number of LINK members and other organisations who became members of an informal coalition, ‘Circular Scotland’.
In November 2019, Scottish Government published and consulted on proposals for a circular economy bill, which fell well short of what we were campaigning for. We were not altogether surprised as our engagement with government had revealed a lack of appetite for the type of measures we wanted to see. We responded to the consultation and published a guide to help others respond.
Then COVID-19 arrived and on 2nd April, Roseanna Cunningham, the then Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform, announced that the Circular Economy Bill would not be progressed due to COVID 19 and the necessary prioritisation of legislation. We were told ‘We are grateful for all your input into the development of our legislative proposals. This will still be available and ready to use, should similar legislation be brought forward in the future.’ For a while we focussed on getting circularity embedded into other policies, such as the COVID Recovery Plan and the Climate Change Plan, and the National Strategy for Economic Transformation; as well as engaging in the development of single-use plastic bans and litter strategies.
In terms of the Bill, it felt like we were back to square one. LINK included a circular economy bill with consumption reduction targets in our asks for party manifestos for the 2021 Holyrood election (and we were largely successful). Following the election, and the appointment of a Minister with Circular Economy in her title, we began to feel more hopeful.
In April 2022, we published an updated version of our paper calling for a Strong Circular Economy Bill for Scotland. Our main asks remained the setting of targets to drive consumption reduction and an associated plan; with additional duties on public bodies; but we also included various measures that, although they didn’t need primary legislation, we wanted to use the Bill to speed up their delivery – things like banning single use cutlery or crockery from closed loop settings (eg cafes, airports, conference centres), requiring retailers to take back end-of-life products, phasing out non-essential single use items, planning for the circularity of transition minerals; and, not forgetting the bioeconomy and the ‘restorative’ aspect of circularity, nutrient budgeting and other commitments on soils.
In May 2022, Scottish Government published new proposals for a circular economy bill and, in parallel, a draft route map which included planned circular economy actions that didn’t need legislation. This second iteration of proposals for a bill was much more comprehensive in that it included the provisions for setting targets, reporting and a 5 yearly strategy, with an emphasis on reducing consumption of materials, as well as a few additional measures. Our response highlighted areas where we felt the bill could go further.
The Circular Economy Bill was introduced to parliament by Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity, in June 2023. The Net Zero Energy and Transport Committee scrutinised the bill, calling for written evidence and views. LINK responded and several of us were also invited to give oral evidence. We were pleased that the Committee’s report included most of the points that we made, although the Minister’s response suggested that only a few would be considered for Government amendments.
Having already been thinking about and drawing up specific amendments to the draft bill, we were ready to start working with MSPs on a number of amendments during Stage 2. All was set for the Stage 2 debate when the Bute House Agreement was abruptly terminated and the Greens left Government, including the Minister responsible for the Bill. We were unsure of what the ramifications of this might be.
Luckily the hiatus was short-lived and Gillian Martin MSP took over the Bill and Stages 2 and 3 progressed. Due to a huge amount of work, the voting on amendments at Stages 2 and 3 saw a good proportion of the amendments that we had been working on being adopted. These strengthened the bill in a number of ways, including:
The waste hierarchy, Just Transition Principles, product stewardship plans, international impact, and education and skills included as matters that must be considered in producing the mandatory circular economy strategy;
Reducing the life-cycle carbon impacts of goods and materials included as an aim in developing the strategy and setting the targets;
Managing waste in Scotland as an aim in developing the strategy and setting the targets;
Strengthened reporting requirements;
Prioritising sectors and systems based on environmental impact.
So, the Circular Economy Bill was a long journey with ups and downs, lulls and periods of frenetic activity. Working on the Bill involved workshops, a public opinion survey, and a film and petition, and consultation response guides, as well as lots of written submissions; and, very importantly, working with others. Successes were definitely a team effort – working with LINK members and with other organisations. In particular, Kim Pratt from Friends of the Earth Scotland worked tirelessly on the Bill, Miriam from LINK and other creative colleagues helped with comms, and James MacKenzie from APRS was a huge help with amendments.
The Circular Economy (Scotland) Bill was passed on 26th June 2024. A milestone indeed; but for most of the measures to come into effect, secondary legislation is needed. It is a painfully slow process when there is such urgency. However, for now we should be glad we have a circular economy bill, maybe not perfect but one that is much the better for our involvement.
Please see the project webpage if you are interested in seeing any of the outputs from this project – there are many I haven’t mentioned in this blog.
Blog by Fanny Royanez, Marine Policy and Engagement Officer at Scottish Environment LINK.
Today, on the 15th of July, we celebrate the 10th World Youth Skills Day, a day dedicated to empowering young people by equipping them with skills for employment, decent work, and entrepreneurship as well as for addressing global challenges and advancing sustainable development.
The climate and nature crisis deeply affects young people globally. Studies1 reveal that most youth feel distressed by climate change, believing their futures hinge on environmental fragility and policy decisions. With 1.8 billion individuals aged 10 to 24, this is the largest youth generation in history, making them key actors in addressing the climate and nature crises that will significantly impact their lives.
Empowering young people to face a fast-changing environment
Marine ecosystems are experiencing unprecedented changes such as warming and acidification due to anthropogenic pressures. These changes are happening so fast that many species may struggle to adapt, facing high risks of extinction.
In Scotland, similar trends can be observed. Despite being renowned for their rich biodiversity, our seas are in sharp decline. Most of the seabed is in poor condition, with vital habitats such as seagrass and flame shell beds now covering only a fraction of their former areas. Seabird populations are also in steep decline, with the abundance of 11 key species dropping by an average of 49% since 1986.
In a world where the health of our oceans is more critical than ever, upskilling young people in marine science, policy and sustainable industries is not just beneficial—it’s essential. By upskilling the next generation of marine leaders, we can ensure they are equipped to tackle these challenges head-on, fostering a sustainable and thriving marine environment for years to come.
LINK asked young people to share their experiences:
“As a young person willing to begin a marine career, I fear to never be or feel qualified enough for a career in the marine sector, because there is SO much at stake, and because “saving the ocean” will depend on us, young people starting a career in marine sciences. This is what terrifies me also, to be in charge of saving our blue planet, and to not meet this target. However, despite this fear, I have hopes, the main one being that we will achieve this, altogether, with the help of policy-makers (one day when they will finally listen to us scientists and young people), and everyone else. I also hope that one day I will feel empowered and purposeful in the marine sector, because although passion is what is driving me now to continue, I don’t yet feel that I have a voice loud enough to make a change.”
Agathe Moreau, Graduate of the University of Aberdeen and MSc Candidate at Université Côte d’Azur
Sea Scotland story – Breaking down barriers to young people’s engagement in policy discussions
Engaging and including youth voices in today’s discussions and decision-making processes is crucial, as it not only empowers them to face tomorrow’s challenges but also ensures that their unique perspectives and ideas are considered today in the actions and decisions that may shape their future. However, young people often encounter significant barriers, and can be frequently overlooked in decision-making spheres. Barriers can be socio-economic constraints. Young people also expressed a lack of confidence and a feeling of not belonging to forums that are traditionally dominated by scientists, conservation professionals and industry representatives.
“I grew up in a landlocked, rural town in East Ayrshire. My connection to the sea only arose from trips to the beach with my parents and the ocean became my everything. I began volunteering for marine conservation organisations while studying my marine biology degree, trying to make change, but had to do a lot of self-teaching to understand marine policy and what’s in play in Scotland. I wanted to engage, but I didn’t really know how, and at the same time wrestled with imposter syndrome – did I even belong in the rooms where these discussions were happening?”
Caitlin Turner, Sea Scotland young task force member
“These barriers have long kept me from raising my voice and taking part in conferences or events that (to me at least) require “more knowledge” or “more skills” in marine sciences and policy than I have. However, I recently took part in a marine policy capacity-building programme for young people called Turning the Tide (delivered by Young Sea Changers Scotland), which helped me shift perspective on this, and equipped me with the knowledge and confidence to say that I, too, belong in such conferences and events, and I can raise my voice to make a change!”
Agathe Moreau
Creating inclusive platforms that address these issues and facilitate meaningful youth participation is essential. The Sea Scotland Conference is an annual series created in 2016, aiming to gather the marine community and create a space of discussion on marine policy issues. The team has been acting over the years to make the conference inclusive to young people and create an environment where they feel welcomed and empowered to actively engage in shaping the future of marine policy.
In 2022, Sea Scotland established a youth-led taskforce, and held the inaugural youth Sea Scotland Voices event in 2023. This year we ran the second edition of “Making Waves: Sea Scotland Youth Voices”. The two events, online on 17th April and in person on 3rd June, covered everything from understanding policy jargon, reflecting on the Sea Scotland 2024 theme “Sharing our Blue Space”, and helping young people to develop a personal strategy on how to get the most out of their conference experience. The young events report will soon be available on Sea Scotland website.
“I am a student at Heriot-Watt University studying marine biology. I hope to gain comprehensive knowledge and broaden my skillset in the diverse field of marine biology. However, with hope comes fear—the fear of stepping out of my comfort zone and facing rejection. This is why events like the Making Waves: Sea Scotland Youth Voices conference helped me begin networking and take the first step in embarking on my professional journey.”
Pratik Digavadekar
Conclusion
Addressing the ocean emergency is fundamentally apeopleproblem, requiring human transformative actions to ensure our marine ecosystems are restored and resilient to climate change. The health of our ocean hinges on the actions and decisions we make today, and equipping the next generation with the skills and knowledge to tackle these challenges is essential.
As we reflect on the significance of World Youth Skills Day, let’s consider the vital role each of us can play in empowering young people to become the marine scientists and policy experts of tomorrow. By supporting educational initiatives, participating in community conservation projects, and advocating for inclusive platforms like Sea Scotland, we can help break down barriers and foster a generation of informed, confident, and engaged marine stewards:
“I believe that the thing most needed to help us young marine scientists feel empowered, is not only a larger skill set in all areas that relate to the sea, but most importantly, it is to tell us that we belong in this sector, in conferences and events, and that we are more knowledgeable and capable already than we think. I think that encouraging us, rather than saying “you are not qualified enough” when we apply for a job position, an event, a conference etc will help more than anything else, to make us feel still worthy and capable, even after a rejection for a job that we truly wanted to do because we want to save the ocean.”
Agathe Moreau
Together, we can create a future where our oceans are thriving, and our young people are equipped to sustain this precious resource. Join us in this mission—whether by mentoring a young scientist, contributing to marine conservation efforts, or simply spreading awareness. Every action counts in making waves for a better, more resilient marine world.
Deborah Long, Scottish Environment LINK Chief Officer retraces Sea Scotland 2024, which was held on 3rd and 4th June at Stirling Court Hotel.
Sea Scotland 2024 kicked off with our morning youth event, Making waves: Sea Scotland Youth Voices. An enthusiastic, knowledgeable and thoughtful group of 15 young people came together to find out more about how to make waves at conferences like this one. They are all starting their marine career, or anticipating one, and are keen to get involved. We were pleased that some of them were able to stay for the entire conference and practice their new knowledge and skills.
This year’s conference explored “Sharing our blue space”. Catherine Gemmell, Marine Conservation Society, started us off with her insightful and inspiring keynote assessment of what it means to share our blue space. We followed on with an expert panel discussion around marine policy. Speakers looked at where we are in marine policy, expressed all our frustration at the slow rate of progress but also stressed the absolute need to keep going. They outlined the challenges we face, and the actions needed, including public and private investment, using SMEEF as a current model for this. Audience questions explored how we can make more and speedier progress, and what the reality of change looks like and needs to achieve.
Later in the afternoon, delegates chose one of 3 sessions: an “Industry with Ambition” session looked at sustainability and the role of innovation in ecosystem restoration and supporting strong communities. The Marine Just Transition workshop underlined the fundamental need for a just transition and offered hope as well as wider scope for fair and just change. The nature restoration session looked at the challenges and opportunities in restoration and concluded that we need to do much more to meet our nature restoration goals.
Day 2 of the conference started with a message from the Cabinet Secretary. This helpfully reiterated her and the Government’s commitment to the nature and climate goals as well as outlining Government ambitions for Scotland’s blue space. The audience poll afterwards reflected the poor condition today of Scotland’s’ seas but also contained optimism for the future.
The morning expert panel session tackled marine planning. Speakers looked at Government plans for the National Marine Plan 2; the importance of coastal literacy and the potential of community-led partnership building with members of the public, schools and industry. The power of community-led action was illustrated through the community-led State of the Coast for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Speakers also looked at what the future of marine planning could and should look like, especially related to offshore wind and how marine planning works for mobile species, like minke whales. Audience questions focussed on the speed of change already happening in Scotland’s marine environment and the need for policy to catch up with the speed of those changes. Comments underlined how we cannot afford to linger any longer. The audience was also interested in coherence and coordination for National Marine Plan 2, particularly the need to learn lessons from National Marine Plan 1, and to ensure it delivers community-informed decision-making.
The three afternoon workshops looked at managing diverse views and perceptions and how we can use our own feelings to help us understand others; using the community voice method in the Oceans of value project and using art for activism: how visualising the key issues in new ways engages more people, and builds creative new collaborations.
If I was to sum up the key points from our two days:
The need for speed: we’ve been talking about the need for protection and effective spatial planning for 20 years now. In that time, our marine environment has changed and deteriorated while becoming more pressured. While Scottish Government ambition remains high, delivery is far too slow. This is challenging but because ecological changes are already happening, we can’t afford to wait any longer to tackle it.
A Just Transition: one of our panellists said: Healthy, happy communities [should be] able to have a good life and protect their environment at the same time. Marine has long been an obvious gap in the Government’s Just Transition work, and it is very welcome to see the start of direct work on it. Some common themes of this year’s Sea Scotland echo themes in the visits the Just Transition Commission are making:
we need to learn the lessons of the past and avoid past mistakes that led to severe and ongoing injustices;
we need professionally facilitated conversations;
we need better communication and real engagement with local communities, to avoid the pervasive ‘consultation overload’;
we need to have the hard conversations about what has to change and who has to pay
and finally, we need to hear all voices.
There are 5 F’s that I took from the conference:
First F is for Food. It breaks the ice, brings people together and is the start of productive conversation
Second F is for Films: these inspire and communicate with a very wide audience
Third F is for Feelings: if we can be brave enough to harness the power of feelings, our own feelings help us understand our own perspectives as well as understand others and that mutual understanding builds better joint outcomes.
Fourth F is for Finding new ways; art is a great way to express complex and sometimes depressing environmental issues. But art visualises the issues we face in the marine environment in new and surprising ways, which helps us build understanding and support for action.
Scotland’s stunning coastline and rich marine biodiversity are celebrated worldwide. To better protect these fragile ecosystems, the Scottish Government has established a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). However, a new research report has recently shed light on the pressing need for greater protection within this network. In this blog post, we’ll delve into this research and its implications for Scotland’s marine environment.
Scotland’s Marine Protected Areas
Scotland’s MPAs are designated areas where specific conservation objectives aim to safeguard the diverse range of species and habitats within their boundaries. These areas are designed to play a pivotal role in conserving and restoring marine biodiversity, offering havens for numerous species, from seals and seabirds to rare fish and invertebrates, and providing resilient habitats that can withstand the impacts of a changing climate.
Scotland has an extensive existing network of MPAs, with a new suite of MPAs for nature conservation created in 2014. However, most still allow damaging forms of fishing, as the Scottish Government process to put fishing restrictions in place is on-going.
The Research Findings
Recent scientific research, conducted by James Harrison, Professor of Environmental Law at the University of Edinburgh, has unveiled sobering findings regarding the effectiveness of Scotland’s MPA network, providing no less than 28 recommendations to improve the current approach. The research underscores that current protection measures in place are not adequately safeguarding these critical marine habitats and Scotland’s MPA network currently falls short of international targets and best practice.
The Convention on Biological Diversity – an international treaty to which the UK is a party – emphasises the importance of including a mixture of MPAs that are strictly protected and those that allow some human activities at sustainable levels to take place. However, a significant portion of MPAs lack effective protection from the most damaging activities. These were identified in Scotland’s Marine Assessment (2020) as the impacts of climate change and commercial bottom-towed fishing activities. Without the long-awaited restrictions for fishing activities within MPAs, habitat degradation will continue to harm the ecosystems within MPAs, emphasizing the need for more stringent protection and enforcement.
The report further highlights shortcomings in the monitoring and enforcement of Scotland’s MPA network and the need for a comprehensive marine conservation strategy for Scotland, of which the MPA network would be a key part.
Climate change is affecting Scotland’s marine environments, posing additional challenges to the resilience of MPAs and coastal communities. Rising sea temperatures and ocean acidification threaten the very ecosystems these areas were established to protect. Healthier ecosystems will be more resilient to the effects of climate change and will help to ensure resource availability for current and future generations. Empowering coastal communities by increasing their role in MPA management is crucial to ensure their long-term success.
What needs to happen next
These research findings emphasize the urgent need for action to enhance protection within Scotland’s MPA network. Policymakers must revise and fortify the legal framework governing MPAs, bringing Scotland in line with international best practice, and ensuring more robust enforcement mechanisms. Adequate funding and resources are paramount for effective MPA management, including enhanced monitoring, research, and community inclusion efforts. Against the backdrop of the UN Decade for Ecosystem Restoration, and targets to protect 30% of land and sea by 2030, this report underlines just how much needs to be done in the next few years. The highest priority is to get measures in place to manage the impact of fishing activities on Scottish MPAs – we’re currently running a petition calling on the Scottish Government to do this without further delay.
Conclusion
Scotland’s Marine Protected Areas are critical sanctuaries for marine life, fisheries, and climate resilience. However, the recent research underscores the pressing need to strengthen their protection. By revising legal frameworks, allocating more resources, addressing climate resilience, and involving local communities, we can ensure these precious marine ecosystems thrive and continue to benefit both Scotland’s natural heritage and its people. It’s time to act decisively to protect and preserve Scotland’s marine treasures for generations to come.
Over 2,500 people have signed our petition calling on the Scottish government to put tailored fisheries restrictions in place across Scotland’s marine protected areas by the end of 2025 – add your voice.
Image credit: Cath Bain, Whale and Dolphin Conservation
Scottish Environment LINK’s Chief Officer Deborah Long outlines seven actions Scotland can take now as a country to protect and restore nature, build our resilience to climate change and create a better place to live for current and future generations.
In 2023 average global temperatures rose above 1.5oc. Scotland’s biodiversity intactness is amongst the lowest in Europe. Without action, temperatures will continue to rise, nature will continue to decline. Now is not the time to be distracted.
These changes are impacting on Scotland’s people now. Storms last year rose in frequency, with more than twice as many named storms between September 2023 – January 2024 than the previous 6 months. Scotland loses an estimated 920,000 tonnes of soil per year, and soil erosion costs businesses £50 million annually. Flood damage to property is expected to increase by 20% by 2050 across the UK. Insurance premiums for homes that have flooded once are now almost twice as expensive as homes that haven’t flooded, up nearly 30% in cost from January 2023.
When climate change combines with biodiversity loss, the consequences are even wider reaching. Ocean warming is moving fish populations further north, while Scotland’s seabirds are affected by avian flu and having to travel further for food, resulting in lower chick survival rates. Scottish farmers are experiencing higher aphid populations, which are impacting on yield. Tick numbers are increasing, matched by a higher incidence of human infections and putting pressure on the NHS.
Against this background, while the political rhetoric has been strong, delivery on the ground has been weak. Just last month, NFU Scotland were calling for environmental regulations to be suspended because of the adverse impacts of a changing climate. Farming is the second highest emitting sector in Scotland but the sector with the highest potential to contribute to sustainable solutions.
The quickest and most logical and cost effective way out of this crisis is to work with nature, to repair nature so she can help us. Without functioning ecosystems, where river flood plains contain excessive rainwater, where forests and farmland can withstand storms, where predator populations can keep aphids in check, we have no long term solution. Our best chance is to build biodiversity and nature’s resilience to change and with that our own.
What should we be doing now?
1 Manage deer to sustainable levels
Deer numbers in Scotland are too high, having increased to about 1 million wild deer in 2024 from about half a million in 1990. This is beyond the capacity of Scotland’s ecosystems. By bringing down deer numbers, we will rebuild diverse and well adapted mountain plant communities that hold together upland soils and reduce erosion. We will also drive down tick infestations.
2 Create woodland along rivers
Creating woodland along rivers provides natural flood management by keeping river waters upstream for as long as possible. Trees along riverbanks create habitat and shade for salmon and insect populations and hold back mountain soils.
3 Reduce pesticide use and increase on-farm biodiversity
Reducing pesticides helps hoverflies, ladybirds and other insects survive in enough numbers to manage aphid infestations, for example. Increased plant biodiversity reduces soil wash out into rivers, reduces fertiliser demand and reduces river and loch eutrophication (when bodies of water become overwhelmed with algae, depleting oxygen levels).
4 Build nature networks
Creating nature networks helps strengthen the survival of rare species, builds genetic diversity by connecting individuals together, and increases habitat space so that local populations falls do not wipe out entire rare populations. They enable species to move when habitat becomes inhospitable.
5 Diversify forestry and woodland
Forests and woodlands with more species diversity are more resilient to disease and storms, limit species invasion onto adjacent habitats, support more biodiversity, create more interesting forests and support more livelihoods.
6 Involve local communities
When local communities are involved in decision making, they are more supportive of change, they have agency and choice via increased local economic opportunities and they bequeath a better legacy to future generations.
7 Set statutory nature targets
Having realistic but stretching targets to aim for drives ambition and enables us to measure progress. They help us prioritise and drive action on nature restoration, and all the points above.
These actions are all easy to implement. They need no new technology. They just need resource and application. As a crucial driver of some of these measures, the Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill currently before the Scottish Parliament could, and must, support farmers in maintaining healthy soils, building resilient crops through healthy insect populations and biodiverse flora, and retaining flood waters in upland areas.
By maintaining a clear-eyed focus on doing all we can to protect and restore our natural environment, we’ll allow nature to help us build a much better future: a low carbon, high nature world.
On 2 May, 21 organisations wrote to Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands, calling for a marked increase in the pace and scope of change in Scotland’s farm support system, to enable farming to meaningfully contribute to Scotland reaching Net Zero.
To: Mairi Gougeon MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands
Dear Cabinet Secretary,
The weakening of Scotland’s 2030 climate targets is deeply concerning. The impacts of the climate and nature crises are being felt worldwide, including by Scottish farmers and crofters, with many areas of the country having experienced their wettest April on record. We need to step up our efforts to tackle these deeply connected environmental challenges.
With agriculture our second biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions, it is clear that we cannot reach Net Zero without significant changes to the way we farm in Scotland. The Scottish Government must establish, without delay, a support system that enables farmers and crofters to make the transition to sustainable farming.
The recognition in last month’s climate policy statement of the importance of farming in addressing climate change is welcome. It is encouraging that nutrient management planning will be required as part of each farm’s Whole Farm Plan, and that methane suppressing feed additives will be piloted. However, the policies announced to date are not enough to bring about the transformative change we need to see in the agriculture sector. The interventions required to reduce agricultural emissions include:
An increase in the amount of land farmed organically
Increased funding for the integration of native trees and hedges on farms and crofts
Increased funding for the restoration of habitats including peatlands, wetlands and grasslands
Selective breeding for low methane livestock
A faster rollout than has been announced for carbon audit requirements
In particular, we need to see the majority of public funding for farming supporting methods that help restore nature and tackle climate change. Earlier this year the Scottish Government committed to distributing 70% of the farm support budget through the first two tiers of the new payment system. This risks a business as usual continuation of the current funding system, which the Scottish government’s own analysis has shown is unfair, and doesn’t help farmers and crofters who want to tackle climate change and protect nature.
Since Tier 2 funding will be focused on emissions reduction and nature restoration, and Tier 1 will largely replicate the current area-based ‘direct payments’ which have few environmental requirements attached,it is vital that Tier 2 is clearly prioritised in the announcement expected in June on the distribution of this 70%.
The Agriculture and Rural Communities Bill presents a once in a lifetime opportunity to make farming work for nature, climate and people. The Scottish Government must now demonstrate in detail how the changes proposed in this bill will enable Scottish farming to meaningfully contribute to Scotland reaching Net Zero. A marked increase in the pace and scope of change is required.
We urge you to ensure that the new farm support system established by the bill enables ALL farmers and crofters to produce food in ways that reduce emissions, restore nature, promote the highest standards of animal welfare, and revitalise our rural areas for the benefit of everyone. We hope the announcement expected in June on the distribution of funding demonstrates the Scottish Government’s ambition to transform Scottish farming.
Yours sincerely,
Lang Banks, Director, WWF Scotland
Josie Cohen, Head of Policy and Campaigns, PAN UK
Dr Rachael Cooper-Bohannon, Scotland Coordinator, Amphibian and Reptile Conservation
Shivali Fifield, Chief Officer, Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland
Angus Hardie, Director, Scottish Community Alliance
Kat Jones, Director, Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS)
Deborah Long, Chief Officer, Scottish Environment LINK
Robin McAlpine, Founder, Common Weal
Anne McCall, Director, RSPB Scotland
David McKay, Co-Director, Soil Association Scotland
The UK is now one of the most nature-depleted countries on Earth. The most recent State of Nature Report – the UK’s most comprehensive report on biodiversity – has clearly mapped the continued decline of our wildlife over the past decades, following on from the UK’s already extensive historical loss of nature prior to contemporary record-keeping. At present, one in six species is at risk of going extinct in Great Britain. As a signatory to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, the UK legally must ensure that we respond to the scale and pace of the nature crisis.
Whilst many policy matters relating to nature are devolved to the Scottish Government, significant areas affecting Scotland’s natural environment are reserved to the UK Government.
Scottish Environment LINK calls upon all political parties to ensure that their manifestos for the upcoming UK General Election incorporate clear commitments to the protection and restoration of the UK’s natural environment. For Scotland’s benefit, these commitments should include the follow areas:
1. Agricultural Funding
Scottish Environment LINK supports the Nature 2030 campaign’s call for a pay rise for farmers. Farmers, crofters and land managers are central to meeting Scotland’s climate and nature ambitions, and they should be fairly compensated for their efforts. While the Scottish Government is responsible for agriculture policy, the overall budget is dependent on decisions made at a UK level.
Scottish MPs should push for higher funding for agriculture overall and ensure that Scotland continues to receive at least the current proportion of UK funding.
2. Reform of the Internal Market Act
The Internal Market Act poses a key risk to environmental policymaking in the devolved nations of the UK. The rules of the internal market may act as a ceiling to environmental ambitions, rather than a floor, and may dissuade the type of policy innovation which has to date been typical of devolution. There is a very real risk that the Internal Market Act, left unreformed, has a chilling effect on environmental policy.
There are also structural issues with the Act, with a lack of clarity on the mechanisms for devolved governments to request exemptions. There are clear opportunities to reform the operation of the Act in the interests of better policy making.
The Internal Market Act should be reformed and environmental measures made exempt from internal market rules.
3. Circular Economy
The next UK Government must commit to keep pace with Europe’s Circular Economy Action Plan on product policy, in particular eco-design standards and right to repair. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes are needed that will incentivise reuse as well as fund collection and recycling, and we need the UK Government to deliver an all-inclusive deposit return system for drinks containers, including glass containers, by 2025.
The UK urgently needs a comprehensive UK Chemicals Strategy to outline its vision for protecting human health and the environment. UK REACH should at a minimum close the growing gap between the EU and UK in the regulation of harmful chemicals, such as PFAS, and remain aligned to EU REACH. Products should be incentivised to be safe by design and a national materials data hub should be developed to provide comprehensive data of raw and secondary materials including chemicals.
4. Peatlands
The UK Peatland Strategy (2018-2040) remains a valuable plan for all countries of the UK to coordinate peatland restoration and protection. The work of the UK’s IUCN Peatland Programme has been instrumental in supporting coordinated action between the countries of the UK.
However, continuing to allow the extraction and importation of peat for use in horticulture undermines the environmental gains made from restoring peat bogs and makes it more difficult for the UK to meet its net zero targets. The next UK Government should work with the devolved administrations to end the selling of peat for horticulture in all UK countries. It should also ban the importation of peat at the earliest opportunity.
5. UK [Good] Food Bill
The UK’s current food system is damaging our health and the environment, and the impacts of the global coronavirus pandemic have highlighted the need for resilient food supply chains. Following the recommendations of the Dimbleby Review, Scottish Environment LINK encourages a strong framework of legal targets to improve the UK’s food system.
Scottish Environment LINK supports the creation of a UK [Good] Food Bill, in line with Scotland’s Good Food Nation Act, which focuses on long-term measures to deliver a healthier, resilient, just and sustainable food system. A UK [Good] Food Bill would reinforce existing legislation in devolved nations through the ability to better engage with overlapping areas of food policy that are reserved to the UK Government, including trade and industry.
6. Lead Ammunition
Scottish Environment LINK supports banning the use and sale of lead ammunition for both live quarry shooting and outside use. The international scientific consensus is that lead ammunition poses risks to human health, wildlife and captive animals, including livestock and domestic animals. Partial bans on the use of lead ammunition have been ineffective or only partially effective and alternative ammunition types are both effective and widely available.
7. Climate and the UK General Election
Scottish Environment LINK supports and echoes Stop Climate Chaos Scotland’s (SCCS) calls for both the Scottish Government and the next UK Government to take bold action to tackle climate change. You can read more about the importance of addressing the climate crisis for both the Scottish and UK Governments, along with SCCS’ policy proposals for the next UK Government, here.
8. Global Leadership
The next government will represent the whole UK on the international stage. As such, it has a key role to play in driving ambitious global action for biodiversity, climate and environmental sustainability in this critical decade to 2030. This government must lead by example in its domestic agenda, including through its compliance with the Aarhus Convention, and support practical action around the world, demonstrating that the UK will play its part in securing a world where people and nature can thrive.
Nature underpins so much of our society – from the food we eat, the air we breathe, our medicines and more. The love of nature is shared across the political divide and there has never been greater need for clear political leadership to address both the nature and climate crises.
Tom Turnbull is Chair of the Association of Deer Management Groups, Duncan Orr-Ewing is Convenor of Scottish Environment LINK’s Deer Group and Richard Cooke is Chair of Scottish Venison. They are all members of the Common Ground Forum.
Scottish venison is bringing people from all sides of the deer debate together. Of all the qualities that deer management brings to Scotland, be it quality tourism or the skilled craft of our deer stalkers, Scottish venison is right up there as one of the most valuable products to come from our hills and forests. At a time when differences of opinion on deer management are coming to the surface once more, this seems a good moment to write jointly about an issue, and an opportunity, which we each passionately believe in.
Venison is a healthy meat, low in fat, high in flavour and has featured in Scottish cuisine, both lofty and humble, for centuries. Most of our venison comes from wild, rather than farmed, deer populations that have been part of our landscapes for millennia. While it may have a reputation for being expensive in some quarters, it sits in roughly the same price bracket as Scotch beef and lamb. In short, we have a great product that is distinctively Scottish and highly marketable.
The clear direction of government policy is that deer populations in Scotland need to be reduced to help enable nature’s recovery and mitigate climate change across more of our landscapes. A greater amount of work will be needed to implement this, with increased costs. Venison sales are often the only income to offset these costs, but current prices fall a long way short of reflecting the true value of this high-quality product. Research has indicated that it does not even cover the costs of hunting, letalone bringing venison to the market.
And it is here that we see a clear opportunity for Scotland. We have written jointly to the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Islands to ask her to consider allocating a small proportion of the public funding for land management to a venison subsidy. We argue that doing so will directly support the additional deer management needed to allow our woodlands and peatlands to regenerate, while helping at the same time to secure the basis of a sustainable venison market that Scotland can be proud of for years to come.
The investment required is estimated at £3-5 million per year, a comparatively minor part of Scotland’s annual ~£650 million land management budget. This will contribute to the costs of deer management in delivering a range of vital outcomes everyone will benefit from – for nature, climate change, jobs in deer management and allowing deer, one of our finest national assets, to shine. For all these reasons, we hope that the government will also see this as too good an opportunity to miss.
The discussions that us led to identifying this opportunity and to jointly write to the Cabinet Secretary took place under the Common Ground Forum, an initiative that brings together all those in the Scottish deer sector interested in a more collaborative approach to deer management, based on mutual respect and consensus building, can contribute to a vision of a greener, healthier and economically vibrant future.
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