Question reference: S6W-18168
- Date lodged: 22 May 2023
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 6 June 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) total area in km2 and (b) percentage of the continental shelf area adjacent to Scotland, as designated in the Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) Order 2013, is covered by the Marine Protected Area network, after all overlapping designations have been taken into account.
Answer
The total area of the Marine Protected Area network designated in the Scottish continental shelf area adjacent to Scotland, as designated in the Continental Shelf (Designation of Areas) Order 2013 is (a) 228,118 square kilometres and (b) 37%.
These figures take into account all overlapping designations and capture:
- Special Areas of Conservation
- Special Protection Areas
- Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas
- Ramsar sites for wetlands of international importance.
- Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
These figures do not include Historic Marine Protected Areas, Other Area Based Measures, or the Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area.