Scotland's seas will now be better protected following the designation of 30 Marine Protected Areas. The sites will protect a range of habitats and species.

One of the designated sites – the North East Faroe Shetland Channel – is thought to be the largest Marine Protected Area in the EU, while, in general, Scotland's seas are the fourth largest in the EU.

The new Marine Protected Area (MPA) network has been designed to conserve a selection of marine species and habitats, as well as offer long-term support for the services the seas provide to society. In a statement, the Scottish Government explained the new sites will contribute to a network to conserve rare or representative species and habitats allowing them to remain healthy and productive, and to recover more sensitive species and habitats to a more natural condition.

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The new sites are in addition to the existing protected areas in Scottish waters, and include Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for seabirds like puffins and kittiwakes, Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for bottlenose dolphins, coral reefs and seals, and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) which protect a range of coastal habitats and species including seabirds, seals, sea caves and rocky shores. In all, around 20% of Scotland's seas are now in protected areas.

Scottish Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Scotland's seas are fundamental to our way of life. Environmentally, they are hugely significant in European and global terms. They are a vast and vital natural resource which also provide energy, food and recreation. These MPAs will help protect and enhance our marine environment so that it remains a prized asset for future generations.

"Our waters support a huge diversity of marine life and habitats, with around 6,500 species of plants and animals and are among the richest in Europe for marine mammals. Many of these sites will provide protections for our seabirds like the black guillemot and sandeels which provide a vital food source. It is our duty to protect these species and habitats for the present as well as the future.

"I would like to thank all those who contributed to the consultation and the development of the network from across a wide variety of interests; environment, fisheries, energy organisations and the many individuals who enjoy and appreciate our waters."

(JP/CD)