Chapter 1: Introduction

Polygon outlines indicating bathytmetric data collected by Marine Scotland in support of the offshore renewables industry in Scottish waters.

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.

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

The UK Continental Shelf (UKCS) comprises areas of the sea bed and subsoil beyond the territorial sea over which the UK exercises sovereign rights of exploration and exploitation of natural resources. The Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) Order 2013 (made 31 March 2014)  delineates the shelf and replaced two previous Orders, dating to 2000 and 2001 that had been made under powers in The Continental Shelf Act 1964.

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