Response to Scottish Government consultation on Small Isles MCO 2016

Summary

• LINK members support the Scottish Government’s process to establish a network of well-managed marine protected areas and develop adequate management of anthropogenic activities within the sites to ensure they contribute to the protection and enhancement of the marine environment.
• LINK members are broadly supportive of the amended derogations for the Marine Conservation Orders (MCOs) for the Small Isles MPA.
• LINK members are concerned that the proposed no-trawling zone excludes the part of the Sound of Canna lying immediately to the east of Canna and north of Sanday which will reduce the likelihood of conservation objectives being met (by leaving protected features vulnerable).
• The proportion of Burrowed mud habitat protected from trawling is insufficient.