Marine protected areas consultation launched

A consultation has been published on proposals for fisheries management measures for inshore marine protected areas (MPAs) and priority marine feature (PMF) management areas in Scottish waters.

The proposed measures aim to protect important habitats and species while supporting sustainable fisheries and the coastal communities that depend on healthy, productive seas.

The consultation covers more than 160 sites and areas across inshore waters and will remain open until 18 January 2027, giving people a longer than usual opportunity to share their views.

There will be 26 in person drop-in events around the coast of Scotland and 17 online events for people to ask questions and provide support in responding to the consultation.

Agriculture minister Jim Fairlie said: “The development of these proposals has been informed by years of engagement, scientific evidence gathering and discussion with representatives from the fishing industry, environmental organisations, coastal communities, local authorities, and other interested parties, meeting with them over 120 times in the last four years. I am extremely grateful to them for their contribution and look forward to continuing to work closely with them throughout the consultation period and beyond to ensure that we achieve an appropriate balance between environmental protection and the social and economic wellbeing of our coastal and island communities.

“Given the scale and complexity of the proposals, covering more than 160 sites and areas across Scotland’s inshore waters, the consultation has been extended beyond the standard duration and will run until January next year and I urge everyone with an interest to take part and help shape the future of our marine environment.”

Phil Taylor, director of Open Seas, said: “This consultation is a huge opportunity, not just to safeguard the future of vital marine habitats and kick start a recovery of was once there, but for the Scottish Government to start meeting its own legal obligations to protect Scotland’s natural environment.

“We’ve watched as critical Scottish marine ecosystems have been degraded, year after year and decade after decade, through a complete failure to protect it. The irony is that, as politicians delay, more and more damage is done to the fishing industry. 

“Environmental groups, fishermen and coastal communities are clear on this - we need robust measures to protect our inshore waters and allow damaged sea-bed habitats to recover. Without those protections, we risk the destruction of critical eco-systems and iconic species.

“By protecting key habitats against the most damaging fishing practices, such as dredging and bottom-trawling, ministers can put in place the building blocks to support the return of vibrant eco-systems, recover fish numbers and deliver for the coastal communities which rely most on our inshore waters.

“We can’t afford to wait any longer. We need action now, to support our seas to thrive and provide food, jobs and climate benefits for decades into the future.”