The Scottish Government is consulting on the creation of a Deep Sea Marine Reserve in the Rockall Trough off the West Coast of Scotland. If taken forward to designation, the site would be underpinned by the powers in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. This means in legal terms it would have the same status as the other existing Marine Protected Areas in offshore waters. The Rockall Trough, if designated would help meet our international commitments to protect the marine environment in the North-East Atlantic, as required under the OSPAR Convention.

Locations of licensed dredge spoil deposit sites in Scotland, indicated by polygons The spoil is usually as a result of navigational dredging (deepening of navigation channels) on the approaches to ports and harbours. These sites are designated as open (in use), disused (not used for at least 5 years) or closed (not used for at least 10 years or specifically closed).

Fishing for razor clams (Ensis spp.) within the Scottish zone is prohibited. For a trial period, Marine Scotland will authorise (under Article 43 of EC Regulation No. 850/1998 and article 4(2) of Scottish SI 2017 No. 419) electrofishing for razor clams (Ensis spp.) in certain areas around Scotland for scientific research.

Fish larvae were collected by the continuous plankton recorder (CPR, operated by SAHFOS) all year long between 1951 and 2005 along transects in the Celtic Sea and English Channel. The CPR is towed by ships of opportunity at speeds of 15 to 20 knots, at an approximate depth of 10 m. Water enters the recorder through an aperture of 1.27 cm2, and is filtered through a continuously moving band of silk with an average mesh size of 270 μm.

The information gathered with the location of the best spots for the practice of nautical sports within the National Protected Areas Network. The sports considered in this dataset are the dive, surf, wind surf and kite surf.

Fish larvae were collected by the continuous plankton recorder (CPR, operated by SAHFOS) all year long between 1951 and 2005 along transects in the Celtic Sea and English Channel. The CPR is towed by ships of opportunity at speeds of 15 to 20 knots, at an approximate depth of 10 m. Water enters the recorder through an aperture of 1.27 cm2, and is filtered through a continuously moving band of silk with an average mesh size of 270 μm.

From 2010-2012 all known saltmarshes larger than 3ha were surveyed across the Scottish mainland and offshore islands, to compile the first detailed comprehensive national survey of this habitat in Scotland. All saltmarsh and brackish swamp was mapped using the National Vegetation Classification. All mapped areas were digitised to a 1:4,000 scale GIS database. The condition of each saltmarsh site visited was assessed. The primary aims of the Scottish Saltmarsh Survey (SSS) were to obtain information on the morphology, vegetation community structure and species found on saltmarsh sites above 3ha in area or 500m in linear extent.The survey was a joint project between Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).The saltmarsh survey was tendered in 2009 and awarded to NatureBureau Ltd, who began work on the project in 2010.Detailed report: http://www.snh.gov.uk/publications-data-and-research/publications/search-the-catalogue/publication-detail/?id=2404

Overview map showing the approximate extent of the key Phosphor metallogenic areas in Europe.

Overview map showing the approximate extent of the key Niobium metallogenic areas in Europe.

Areas considered to be urban (with a population greater than or equal to 250,000 people) where, under the Environmental Noise Directive, Strategic Noise Mapping has been carried out. This data includes a 2km buffer.