NatureScot Commissioned Report 431: Characterising Scotland's marine environment to define search locations for new Marine Protected Areas, Part 2: The identification of key geodiversity areas in Scottish waters (2nd interim report)

Legislation introduced through the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 will enable Scottish Ministers to establish Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within Scottish territorial and offshore waters. Guidelines for the selection of MPAs in waters adjacent to Scotland have been drafted by Marine Scotland, NatureScot and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). These guidelines highlight the need to identify the key biodiversity and geodiversity areas in Scottish waters through a robust scientific framework with supporting justification. This report focuses on the latter theme, namely the identification of key geodiversity areas in Scottish waters. It is the second in a series of four reports that together support the development of a wider process to define MPA search locations.

Pages: 204
Published: 2012

NatureScot Commissioned Report 431