Layer represents a fixed point in time

Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are designated under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 or the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. They have to be managed in a way that furthers the conservation objectives. The EU Habitats Directive requires Special Areas of Conservation (and Special Protection Areas) to be managed in a way that prevents deterioration of the qualifying features.  This layer contains proposed boundaries and measures which are subject to Marine Conservation Orders (MCOs), the Inshore Fishing (Scotland) Act 1984 or the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) and is subject to change.

Scotland's vision is for 'clean, healthy, safe, productive, biologically diverse marine and coastal environments, managed to meet the long term needs of nature and people'.  In 2011, Marine Scotland published Scotland's Marine Atlas: Information for the National Marine Plan in order to provide an assessment of the state of Scotland’s seas.  This assessment has been based on scientific evidence from data and analysis, supported by expert judgement. It was a collaboration between Marine Scotland, SEPA, SNH, JNCC and MASTS. The overall assessment was split into 4 distinct parts:

• Clean and Safe Seas Assessment
• Healthy and Biologically Diverse - Habitats Assessment
• Healthy and Biologically Diverse - Species Assessment
• Productive Seas Assessment

This layer displays the results of the Productive Seas Assessment. The overall assessment key can be viewed at: https://www.gov.scot/Publications/2011/03/16182005/14/.

Scotland's vision is for 'clean, healthy, safe, productive, biologically diverse marine and coastal environments, managed to meet the long term needs of nature and people'.  In 2011, Marine Scotland published Scotland's Marine Atlas: Information for the National Marine Plan in order to provide an assessment of the state of Scotland’s seas.  This assessment has been based on scientific evidence from data and analysis, supported by expert judgement. It was a collaboration between Marine Scotland, SEPA, SNH, JNCC and MASTS. The overall assessment was split into 4 distinct parts:

• Clean and Safe Seas Assessment
• Healthy and Biologically Diverse - Habitats Assessment
• Healthy and Biologically Diverse - Species Assessment
• Productive Seas Assessment

This layer displays the results of the Healthy and Biologically Diverse - Species Assessment. The overall assessment key can be viewed at: https://www.gov.scot/Publications/2011/03/16182005/14/.

Scotland's vision is for 'clean, healthy, safe, productive, biologically diverse marine and coastal environments, managed to meet the long term needs of nature and people'.  In 2011, Marine Scotland published Scotland's Marine Atlas: Information for the National Marine Plan in order to provide an assessment of the state of Scotland’s seas.  This assessment has been based on scientific evidence from data and analysis, supported by expert judgement. It was a collaboration between Marine Scotland, SEPA, SNH, JNCC and MASTS. The overall assessment was split into 4 distinct parts:

• Clean and Safe Seas Assessment
• Healthy and Biologically Diverse - Habitats Assessment
• Healthy and Biologically Diverse - Species Assessment
• Productive Seas Assessment

This layer displays the results of the Healthy and Biologically Diverse - Habitats Assessment. The overall assessment key can be viewed at: https://www.gov.scot/Publications/2011/03/16182005/14/.