Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas in Scottish Waters Consultation – 2026

What is it: 

The consultation for fisheries management measures for inshore MPAs that still require them and for 11 the PMFs most sensitive to bottom-contacting fishing gear outside network was launched on 14th September 2026 

There are 6 map layers associated with the consultation that feature on MS Maps NMPI:  

  1. Proposed site-specific management measures for NCMPAs that informed Option 1 - Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas in Scottish Waters Consultation - 2026 
  2. Proposed site-specific management measures for NCMPAs that informed Option 2 - Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas in Scottish Waters Consultation - 2026 
  3. Proposed site-specific management measures for SACs that informed Option 1 - Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas in Scottish Waters Consultation - 2026 
  4. Proposed site-specific management measures for SACs that informed Option 2 - Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas in Scottish Waters Consultation – 2026 
  5. Proposed site-specific management measures for SPAs that informed Option 1 - Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas in Scottish Waters Consultation - 2026 
  6. Proposed site-specific management measures for SPAs that informed Option 2 - Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas in Scottish Waters Consultation - 2026 

Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (NCMPAs) are sites within the marine environment, designated under sections 67 and 68 of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, aimed at conserving marine biodiversity, protecting vulnerable species, habitats, and geological features. The sites have been  designated following MPA selection guidelines and assigned site specific conservation objectives. 

The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 provides for the designation of NCMPAs in Scottish inshore waters.  

Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) -  are protected areas for habitats and species listed in the EU Habitats Directive, such as reefs and bottlenose dolphin.  

The EU Habitats Directive sets out a requirement for the designation of SACs to protect certain species and habitats listed in Annexes I and II. Since leaving the EU these requirements have been transposed into  regulations which cover Scotland’s land and seas;  

Special Protection areas (SPAs) - which are protected areas for wild birds listed in Annex 1 of the EU Wild Birds Directive, or for regularly occurring migratory species.  

They are selected using the UK SPA Selection Guidelines, and in Scotland they are classified under the Birds Directive through the following domestic legislation:   

  • Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 (as amended) – applies to terrestrial and inshore waters (0–12 nm).  
  • The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended in Scotland) – provides the regulatory mechanism for SPA classification and protection within Scottish inshore waters. 

NCMPAs, SACs and SPAs can be collectively referred to as MPAs.  

These site-specific management measures may differ from site information in the consultation documentation and on the consultation platform. We have amalgamated some proposed overlapping measures into the MPA maps and highlighted where other possible overlapping measures for specific gear types may occur. When looking at sites individually, where there is an overlap for specific gear types, it  would be the highest proposed measure that would apply in the overlapping area.  

This information page is part of the theme:   

Protected Areas  

Links to Scotland's Marine Atlas: 
Chapter 4: Protected Areas
Data originators: 
Marine Scotland
NatureScot
This information page is part of the theme: 
Protected Areas
NCMPA, SAC and SPA (Option 1) for Fisheries Management Consultation 2026
More Information: 

The layers show site-specific proposed fisheries management measures within Scotland’s Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), covering the inshore region from 0 to 12 nautical miles, with some measures applying to offshore areas where sites overlap the offshore region. 

These are:  

  • Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA; 
  • Seas off Foula SPA; and 
  • Seas off St Kilda SPA 

The aim is to ensure these areas are managed to meet their conservation objectives. Safeguarding these habitats will support healthier and more diverse marine ecosystems, improving overall biodiversity. 

The Scottish MPA network is underpinned by a variety of different legislation depending on whether the site is located in the inshore or offshore region, and the types of features they protect. Sites designated for nature conservation purposes should be managed as needed in a way that conserves the habitats and species for which the sites have been designated.  

The proposed fisheries management measures have been developed individually for each designation, Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (NCMPAs), Special Areas of Conservation (SACS) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) using the best available scientific evidence on the potential impacts of different types of fishing gear on protected features. The development of these measures involved significant engagement with stakeholders, including the fishing industry and environmental organisations. The public consultation on proposed fisheries management measures includes 76 inshore MPAs, forming a key part of the collaborative policy development process. 

The proposed measures set out site-specific restrictions on fishing activity. These may apply across entire MPAs or be zonal, depending on the sensitivity and distribution of protected features within each site. 

These measures contribute to the protection and recovery of important marine ecosystems. Safeguarding these habitats not only helps preserve biodiversity but also supports the long-term health and resilience of Scotland’s seas. 

The consultation launched on Monday 14th September 2026 and follows on from the discussions that began in 2017/18 and is where fisheries management measures for MPAs are proposed.  

This page was last modified on : 
Friday, September 11, 2026 - 10:30

Links and Resources

Map Type Click title for metadata and licence informationsort descending Date of data View Map
Map Layers (NMPi) PMF Consultation - Areas for management consideration & knowledge gaps 2018-07-05 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) PMF Consultation - Estimated footprint - fishing with bottom trawls 2009-2016 2018-07-05 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) PMF Consultation - Estimated footprint - fishing with dredges 2009-2016 2018-07-05 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) PMF Consultation - Illustrative management zones 2018 2018-07-05 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) PMF Consultation - Reviewed Priority Marine Features and management status 2018-07-05 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Proposed PMF Management Areas - Option 1 - 2026 Proposed Inshore Fisheries Management Measures Consultation 2025-09-29 Access this map on NMPi
Map Layers (NMPi) Proposed PMF Management Areas - Option 2 - 2026 Proposed Inshore Fisheries Management Measures Consultation 2025-09-29 Access this map on NMPi
Type Title External link
Information page Inshore MPA and PMF proposed fisheries management measures consultation – 2026