Schools of dolphins, colonies of seabirds, rich beds of seagrass, clusters of flameshells…
There are estimated to be around 39,200 species in the seas around Scotland. With such a vast array of life in Scotland’s seas you may be wondering why we need to protect it.
Our marine life is undoubtedly impressive to see, but if you look a little closer, not all is what it seems.
We don’t yet fully understand the pressures facing marine life. However, we do know that these ecosystems are fragile and under increasing stress from human activities. If we want future generations also to benefit from our seas’ rich diversity we need to protect them. Using new legislation, the Scottish Government now has the chance to make sure this can happen.
The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, together with the UK’s Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, allow us to protect some of our most precious wildlife. Among other things, these Acts provide Scotland with the powers to create new nature conservation Marine Protected Areas; develop the first marine planning system; and, put in place a new licensing system to help ensure any development in Scotland’s marine environment is sustainable.
Together, if used properly, these tools will enable us to safeguard our seas now and for the future.
Use these links to find out why we need to recover Scotland’s seas so that future generations can continue to enjoy the many benefits they provide. You can also let us know what you love about Scotland’s seas and why you want Marine Protected Areas to help protect and restore them.