Consultation closes 20 March 2023
The Scottish Government is consulting on the introduction of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) in Scottish waters. Through the Bute House Agreement the Scottish Government has to designate at least 10% of Scotland’s seas as HPMAs by 2026.
The intention is that the HPMAs will provide high levels of protection for conservation purposes by limiting some human activity, for example fishing and aquaculture, while allowing non-damaging activity such as recreational to take place at carefully managed levels.
The consultation seeks views on:
- the Policy Framework for HPMAs, including definition and how to account for socio-economic factors alongside ecological considerations and the proposal to introduce new primary legislation to enable HPMAs to be introduced in Scottish inshore waters.
- Site Selection Guidelines describing the proposed process for identification and selection of sites for HPMAs.
- Initial Sustainability Appraisal, including a Strategic Environmental Report and an overarching Socio-economic Impact Assessment.
- Partial Island Communties Impact Assessment Screening Report.
- Partial Buisness and Regulatory Impact assessment.
For more information and to respond click here.
