Question reference: S6W-17337
- Date lodged: 20 April 2023
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 4 May 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) percentage and (b) area in km2 of Scotland’s inshore waters are designated as being within (i) Marine Protected Areas, (ii) Special Areas of Conservation, (iii) Special Protection Areas and (iv) Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
Answer
(i) The total area of Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within Scottish inshore waters is 17,954.3 square kilometres or 19.9%.
(ii) The total area of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) within Scottish inshore waters is 17,547.8 square kilometres or 19.4%.
(iii) The total area of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) within Scottish inshore waters is 13,409.8 square kilometres or 14.8%.
(iv) The total area of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) within Scottish inshore waters is 531 square kilometres or 0.6%.
For the answers above Scottish inshore waters are classed as up to 12 Nautical Miles. The figures given above cannot be summed to get the total area of designated sites within Scotland's inshore waters as there will be double counting.