Chapter 1: Introduction

The limit of Scotland, as defined in 126(1) of the Scotland Act 1998, is the Territorial Sea (12 mile limit). The Scottish Adjacent Waters Boundaries Order 1999 details the co-ordinates of the boundaries on the east coast (between Scotland and England near Berwick) and the west coast (between Scotland and England in the Solway firth and Scotland and Northern Ireland in the North Channel.

Under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, Scottish Ministers were given the power to identify the boundaries of Scottish Marine Regions (SMRs) for the purposes of regional marine planning. The Scottish Marine Regions Order 2015 identifies 11 Scottish Marine Regions and establishes their boundaries. Marine planning will take place at a local level within these regions, where regional marine planning will be delegated to Marine Planning Partnerships (MPPs). The order is available via http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2015/193/contents/made

In August 2018, the Scottish Marine Regions were added to the Scottish Register of Geographic Codes as entity S41.

The inshore fishing boundary - 6 miles from baselines - is defined in the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984. Inshore waters, part of Territorial Waters (12 mile limit), form part of Scotland as defined in the Scotland Act 1998. 

This is modified version from the UKHO Law of the Sea department data, available via https://www.gov.uk/guidance/inspire-portal-and-medin-bathymetry-data-archive-centre