Save Scottish Seas

Working alongside other environmental organisations in Scotland, we're proud to be part of a project which is changing the fate of Scotland's seas.

Over half of the UK's Marine Protected Area network is in Scotland's waters and we have a responsibility to ensure that these protected areas are more than simply lines on a map, but allow Scotland's precious seas to flourish.

The Save Scottish Seas project has successfully campaigned for:

• Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, making Ministers responsible for protecting and enhancing the health of Scotland's seas
• The introduction of 36 new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) including a world-first protected area for basking sharks and minke whale in the Sea of Hebrides, the largest MPA in Europe, the South Arran MPA and many sea loch MPAs
• Over 2,000 square kilometres squared of inshore Marine Protected Areas (within 12 nautical miles of shore) permanently protected from bottom-towed fishing gear
• Over 176,900 kilometres squared in 20 vast offshore marine protected areas (beyond 12nm) protected from bottom towed fishing gear

What's next?

Half way through the UN decade of ecosystem restoration, our collective Ocean Recovery Plan for Scotland continues to push for at least 30% of Scotland's seas to be highly or fully protected by 2030, banning damaging activities from these protected waters. We also continue to campaign for legally binding ocean recovery targets through the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill and climate and nature positive fisheries management.

Calum Duncan, Marine Conservation Society's Head of Policy and Advocacy :

"We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved so far with Save Scottish Seas, but there's still a long way to go to ensure the measures we've campaigned for are fully implemented and then improved upon to help recover the health of Scotland's seas."

Learn more about the Save Scottish Seas project here