Community knowledge and input is vital to sustainably managing Scotland’s marine areas. However, marine data can be dispersed and difficult to navigate, so we have created a guidance note to help communities and individuals navigate publicly available information on their local Marine Protected Areas and Priority Marine Features.
Scotland has a goal of protecting at least 30% of our seas by 2030. However, despite over a third of Scottish waters being officially designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), less than 5% of our inshore seabed is protected from bottom-trawling and dredging. Several species and habitats of conservation importance, known in Scotland as Priority Marine Features (PMFs), also exist outside any MPA.
The Scottish Government are planning on publishing a long-awaited consultation on how our MPAs and PMFs are managed in the coming months. This will be a really important time to show support for effective management that protects our marine and coastal environments, but also to share local knowledge about what important features exist in our marine areas.
It can be difficult to find out what information and data already exists about your local MPA, including the species and habitats that have been recorded in it, as well as on the PMFs in your local waters. We have created a guidance document to support individuals and communities in learning about the features and species that have been recorded in their marine areas.
Cover photo: © Stephanie Foote / CAOLAS / Fauna & Flora