Stakeholders have launched a consultation on proposed management measures for inshore marine protected areas (MPA) and proposed priority marine feature (PMF) management areas in Scottish waters.
Confirming the consultation, the Scottish government said it is seeking feedback on proposed measures that will be put in place for inshore MPAs and the 11 PMFs most sensitive to bottom-contacting fishing gear.
Development of these proposals comes after years of stakeholder engagement, scientific evidence-gathering, and discussion with representatives from the Scottish fishing industry, environmental organizations, coastal communities, local authorities, and other interested parties, the government said.
Given the scale and complexity of the proposals, covering more than 160 sites and areas across Scotland’s inshore waters, the consultation has been extended beyond the standard 12-week duration and will run until 18 January 2027.
The extended consultation “will provide the people of Scotland additional time to consider the evidence, reflect on the proposals, and provide informed views to help shape the future management of Scotland’s seas,” the government said.
To gather feedback, there will be 26 in-person drop-in events around Scotland and 17 online events for people to ask questions and provide support in responding to the consultation.
Proposed MPA measures have drawn fierce pushback from Scottish stakeholders in the past, so to alleviate any early fears about the latest consultation, Scotland Minister for Agriculture, Marine, and the Islands Jim Fairlie stressed that “no decisions have been made at this stage,” explaining the purpose of the consultation is to provide individuals, communities, businesses, fisheries stakeholders, environmental organizations, and all those with an interest in Scotland's seas with the opportunity to inform and enhance ministerial decision-making.
Fairlie said he recognized the proposals may have differing implications for those who use and depend upon the marine environment, therefore deeming it “essential” that decisions are informed by the best available evidence, local knowledge, and stakeholder experience.
“Fishing is woven into the identity of so much of Scotland, sustaining families for generations, building local economies, and shaping the rhythm of life in our coastal communities. We know that any change to how our seas are managed touches something deeper than policy: It touches people's homes, their traditions, and their sense of place,” he said.
At the same time, Fairlie acknowledged that Scotland’s marine ecosystems are “not immune” to the challenges of climate change, ocean warming, and habitat loss.
“That’s why I am determined to protect our oceans in a way that is fair and ensures they remain a source of prosperity for the nation, and especially for our island and coastal communities,” he said. “Our seas are a shared resource, and protecting them properly means looking after fish stocks, habitats, and the long-term future of the very industries that rely on healthy marine environments. Healthy seas are not separate from a healthy fishing industry, they are the foundation of it.”
Fairlie said before ministers determine the most appropriate way forward, the responses received will be carefully considered alongside scientific evidence, socioeconomic assessments, and other relevant information.
The launch of the consultation has been “cautiously welcomed” by U.K. conservation charity Blue Marine Foundation, with the organization’s Scotland Project Manager Joe Richards issuing a statement insisting that too many precious marine habitats remain vulnerable to damage from bottom-towed fishing gear, including within areas designated to protect them.
According to Richards, the consultation offers the “chance to secure measures that allow wildlife and fish stocks to recover, and leave future generations with seas richer in life than they are today.”
However, he said there’s a substantial amount of detail to assess and asserted that ministers have proposed “markedly different levels of protection” for many areas.
“In case after case, the claim is that the environmental benefits are the same whether or not dredgers and trawlers are allowed to continue operating. That cannot be right,” Richards said, explaining that Blue Marine will be looking closely at whether the assessments “properly reflect” the difference between allowing dredging and trawling to continue and giving vulnerable habitats the space to recover. “We will also be reviewing the proposals carefully to see whether the options put forward go far enough to meet existing policy commitments and legal obligations.”
