Your say on protection for Solway marine birds

A formal public consultation launched today (Tuesday) by SNH on behalf of Scottish Government is asking people to comment on a proposed Special Protection Area (pSPA) in the UK’s third largest estuary.

SNH and Natural England have worked closely together to develop the proposals that will benefit a wide range of marine birds at the site, which straddles the Scottish/English border on the west coast.

The proposals involve extending the boundary of the existing Upper Solway Flats & Marshes SPA, to protect internationally important populations of red-throated diver, common scoter and goosander, which return to Scotland each year to spend the winter in the Solway. Renaming the site as the Solway Firth SPA is also being proposed.

The site is part of a suite of 15 pSPAs in Scottish waters designed to help a wide range of marine bird species, by protecting their important areas such as foraging grounds and places where they roost. SNH is also currently consulting on four pSPAs north of the English border and views on 10 pSPAs in Scottish waters were invited over the summer.

Scotland’s 11,800 km of coastline and 800 islands make it an ideal place for marine birds and it is home to some internationally important populations.

If the sites are designated they will form part of Scotland’s network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which covers approximately 20% of our seas. Developing a network of well-managed MPAs is one way the Scottish Government aims to meet its 2020 Biodiversity Challenge outcome of ‘clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse’ coasts and seas.

Environment Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham, said: “Scotland’s seas are a vast and rich natural resource and it is vital that we keep them healthy and protected for current and future generations to enjoy and benefit from.

“Much of our coastline and the surrounding seas are a globally important habitat for many bird species, providing food, a place to rear young, and winter refuge. This government is committed to ensuring a sustainable future for our precious yet vulnerable marine habitat.

“The proposed SPAs are now going out to consultation and we want to hear as many views as possible, to ensure that they fulfil our aims to protect our iconic seabirds.”

The Solway Firth pSPA consultation is being run in partnership with Natural England, which is responsible for the identification and classification of SPAs in English waters, whilst SNH is responsible for proposals within Scottish waters out to the 12 nautical mile limit.

Andrew Bachell, SNH’s director of policy and advice said: “Scotland is an incredibly important place in the world for marine birds. Our seas and marine birds are a unique and exciting part of nature and attract many thousands of people to visit Scotland every year. We want to protect these areas to help the marine birds, and to ensure that they are safeguarded for the benefit of generations to come.”

The 12-week consultation, which closes at midnight on 17 January 2017, gives people the opportunity to share their views on topics such as the featured bird species, the scientific evidence and options for site management. For detailed information about each of the 15 proposals, and to respond to the consultation, visit the SNH website – www.snh.gov.uk/marinebirdSPAs

About Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Natural Heritage is the government's adviser on all aspects of nature and landscape across Scotland. Our role is to help people understand, value and enjoy Scotland's nature now and in the future. For more information, visit our website at www.snh.gov.uk or follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/SNH_Tweets 

Tha Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba na buidheann comhairleachaidh dhan riaghaltas a thaobh nàdair agus seallaidhean-tìre air feadh Alba. ’S e an dleastanas a th’ againn cuideachadh a thoirt do dhaoine gus tuigse, luach agus tlachd fhaighinn bho nàdar na h-Alba, an-dràsta agus san àm ri teachd. Airson tuilleadh fiosrachaidh, tadhail air www.snh.gov.uk/gaelic no lean sinn air Twitter aig http://twitter.com/SNH_Tweets 

Marine Protected Areas

To meet international commitments, Scotland is required to create a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in Scottish waters, under the Marine (Scotland) Act and the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act. The network will protect marine wildlife, habitats and undersea landscapes from the coast to 200 nautical miles offshore. The process is led by Marine Scotland. SNH and JNCC provide information and advice about the marine environment in territorial and offshore waters respectively to Marine Scotland and Ministers so they can decide where MPAs should be. The project also includes Historic Scotland, Marine Scotland Science and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

The work to identify suitable sites has drawn from the best available information on the marine environment, and has included an extensive programme of marine surveys and research. The proposals have also been discussed with a wide range of groups with an interest in the marine environment at a series of five stakeholder workshops held at key stages over the last two and a half years. These include representatives of the fishing industry, offshore energy developers, recreational users, environmental organisations and local communities. A number of sites being considered by Ministers were initially proposed by community groups and other organisations.

More information about the Scottish MPA process is available from:

Marine Scotland: www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/marine-environment/mpanetwork 

SNH: www.snh.gov.uk/marine-protected-areas/ 

JNCC: www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/ScottishMPAs