Actions taken by the Scottish Government this week to safeguard an additional 60,000-square-kilometres of its national seabed from bottom-trawl fishing has been met with both praise and the strong urge for even further protections by environmental NGOs who have hailed the move as “significant progress for Scotland’s marine environment.”

Published in its official response to a recent consultation on fisheries management measures in offshore marine protected areas, the Scottish Government has confirmed that almost 60,000-square-kilometres will now be protected from damaging fishing practices – marking a “major milestone for ocean recovery.”

Of the 20 marine sites being consulted over, five have been given ‘full-site protection’, including the West of Scotland MPA, recognised as one of the largest in Europe. The remaining 15 sites have been given ‘partial protection’ which – while this does add to the running total percentage of UK seas now protected, leaves many of the most trawled areas open to the damaging fishing practice.

The move has been met with mixed emotions from environmental NGOs who have praised the Government for its decision to enhance protections, but has levelled criticism that the new legislation still doesn’t go far enough. 

For more than a decade, Blue Marine Foundation has been closely involved in Scottish marine protection, from campaigning for sustainable inshore management to supporting restoration projects in the Clyde. It’s the team’s position that while the announcement marks “significant progress offshore”, it highlights the urgent need for equivalent measures in Scotland’s inshore waters – where bottom-trawling remains widespread.

Joe Richards, Scotland project manager at Blue Marine Foundation, said: “Blue Marine warmly congratulates the Scottish Government on its decision to protect significant areas within 20 offshore marine protected areas. This long-awaited step offers a vital lifeline for marine biodiversity and supports ocean recovery, benefitting wildlife, fisheries, and the climate.

“While we fully support the full spatial protection granted to some sites, we would point out that large areas of designated protected features remain exposed to bottom trawling, contradicting the latest scientific advice. In several cases, ecologically important habitats have been left vulnerable simply because they overlap with active fishing grounds.”

East Monrose and Central Fladen are such examples. In the former, zonal protections for burrowed mud have been increased from 29% to 70% of the feature alone, not – as the wording might lead some to think – 70% of the site. Likewise, in Central Fladen zonal protections for burrowed mud have been increased from 40% to 62% of the feature.

“While whole-site protection for five marine protected areas represents real progress, in choosing partial protections for most sites, the Scottish Government has decided to favour the status quo rather than proper protection,” said Hugo Tagholm, executive director for Oceana UK. “In doing so, they have gone against the advice of their own conservation experts calling for full protection from bottom trawling in these vital areas.

“Allowing industrial bottom trawling to continue to scour these sanctuaries of life will ultimately damage the long-term prospects of the UK’s fishing industry, by preventing the true recovery of abundance and marine life.”

Nevertheless, 90% of offshore marine protected area seabed is now safeguarded from trawling, representing “huge progress” for Scotland’s marine environment. 

“We urge the Scottish Government to match this impressive ambition in the offshore by implementing strong protection measures in inshore marine protected areas where bottom trawling is currently allowed in 92%,” said Richards. 

“Inshore protection is beneficial to marine life, climate, and small-scale fishers and has the strong support of the Scottish public.”

The Scottish Government has said it remains ‘firmly committed to the sustainable management of its marine environment’, ensuring the ‘long-term health of marine ecosystems is safeguarded while supporting the resilience of our coastal and island communities.”

It has doubled down on its commitment to “continuing collaboration” with not only the fishing industry but environmental organisations, local authorities, and other stakeholders to work on future decisions.

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