WWF-UK: Why a Coastal and Marine National Park for Scotland?
Access key details
This site uses the UK government standard access keys, as shown below:
S - Skip navigation1 - Home page
2 - What's new
3 - Site map
4 - Search
5 - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
9 - Feedback form
0 - Access key details
Section navigation
How you can help
Why a Coastal and Marine National Park for Scotland?
Wednesday 7 December 2005
The UK's first Coastal and Marine National Park is to be in Scotland.
Five years after the National Parks (Scotland) Act, the first Coastal and Marine National Park (CMNP) for UK is to come into existence in Scotland. With a shortlist of sites to be revealed in March 2006, the Park is due be up and running by 2008.
Why a Coastal and Marine National Park?Scotland's seas are some of the most biologically diverse in the world, containing over 40,000 species and a wealth of globally important habitats. The coast and sea also support a range of socio-economic activities from diving, sailing, tourism and angling to energy generation, oil extraction, shipping, aquaculture and fisheries, all of which depend on a healthy natural environment;
Pressure from all these activities is on the increase, threatening the natural resources on which they rely. We want to see a Marine and Coastal National Park that can plan for the long-term, reduce these conflicting pressures and encourage livelihoods that are based on a healthy and replenished environment. We believe that the new Park can develop new tools, zoning activities, providing core areas for fisheries and biodiversity protection, and encouraging sustainable technologies. We must create a park that is an asset to Scotland and a demonstration to the world of long-term environmentally-based thinking.
Where will the first Coastal and Marine National Park be?
Scottish Natural Heritage issued an initial list of main contenders in December 2006 - including Argyll, Lochaber and Skye, the Northwest Highland coast, the Western Isles, Shetland and Solway, Clyde and Moray coasts. A shorter list of possibilities will be given to Ministers in March 2006.
What kind of Coastal and Marine National Park would WWF Scotland like to see?
WWF Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust are working together as the Joint Marine Programme on this issue. Both organisations believe that the key words for the success of Scotland's first Coastal Marine National Park are "environment" and "participation" with local communities deciding on the most appropriate siting.
"We support a CMNP that keeps conservation and enhancement of the natural environment right at the heart of its planning, design and management. Local communities and interest groups must be involved in the stewardship of the area by participating in the decision-making right from the earliest stages through to the Park's operation," says Rebecca Boyd of the Joint Marine Programme.
What are the potential benefits of a Coastal and Marine National Park?
Marine tourism is a rapidly expanding market and a recent report showed that whale watching alone on the Scotland's west coast was worth £11.8 million to Scotland's GDP. A Marine National Park would ensure that these species' habitats are protected for the future, to be enjoyed by all.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which, like Scotland's first CMNP, is a multiple-use area, now has more spiny lobster and reef fish and attracts large numbers of tourists. Nearer home, after only 18 months of protection, the Lundy Island strict protection area off Devon had three times more lobsters of landable size compared with fished areas. A survey in New Zealand 10 years after the establishment of the Cape Rodney to Okakari Point Marine Reserve showed 78 per cent of local commercial fishermen supported more marine reserves because of their social and economic benefits.
What's so special about Scotland's seas?
SNH are expected to report to Ministers by the end of March 2006. Ministers will then consider SNH's advice and consult formally on it during the second half of 2006. Further extensive consultation would then be required as part of the formal designation process required to establish a Marine and Coastal National Park during 2008.
Why a Coastal and Marine National Park?
Where will the first Coastal and Marine National Park be?
Scottish Natural Heritage issued an initial list of main contenders in December 2006 - including Argyll, Lochaber and Skye, the Northwest Highland coast, the Western Isles, Shetland and Solway, Clyde and Moray coasts. A shorter list of possibilities will be given to Ministers in March 2006.
What kind of Coastal and Marine National Park would WWF Scotland like to see?
WWF Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust are working together as the Joint Marine Programme on this issue. Both organisations believe that the key words for the success of Scotland's first Coastal Marine National Park are "environment" and "participation" with local communities deciding on the most appropriate siting.
"We support a CMNP that keeps conservation and enhancement of the natural environment right at the heart of its planning, design and management. Local communities and interest groups must be involved in the stewardship of the area by participating in the decision-making right from the earliest stages through to the Park's operation," says Rebecca Boyd of the Joint Marine Programme.
What are the potential benefits of a Coastal and Marine National Park?
Marine tourism is a rapidly expanding market and a recent report showed that whale watching alone on the Scotland's west coast was worth £11.8 million to Scotland's GDP. A Marine National Park would ensure that these species' habitats are protected for the future, to be enjoyed by all.
The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which, like Scotland's first CMNP, is a multiple-use area, now has more spiny lobster and reef fish and attracts large numbers of tourists. Nearer home, after only 18 months of protection, the Lundy Island strict protection area off Devon had three times more lobsters of landable size compared with fished areas. A survey in New Zealand 10 years after the establishment of the Cape Rodney to Okakari Point Marine Reserve showed 78 per cent of local commercial fishermen supported more marine reserves because of their social and economic benefits.
What's so special about Scotland's seas?
- Under the water, Scotland has a spectacular diversity of marine life, so beautiful and colourful that many could be tropical species. This is reflected in exotic names like fireworks anemone, snakelocks anemone, flameshell and phosphorescent sea pen. Recreational divers travel from all over the UK and Europe to Scottish waters to see some of this diversity;
- Scotland has 14 nationally and internationally important coastal and marine habitats, ranging from tranquil lagoons, tideswept rocky reefs and towering cliffs to coral beds and 2/3 of the global resource of machair;
- Scotland's waters host as many as 23 species of whales and dolphins, from the most northerly resident population of bottlenose dolphins to porpoises and Minke whales;
- Scottish seabird colonies support over 5 million breeding seabirds, including half of the world's northern gannet population and the largest gannet colony in the world at St Kilda;
- Scotland has 77 per cent of the European and 36 per cent of the world population of grey seal.
SNH are expected to report to Ministers by the end of March 2006. Ministers will then consider SNH's advice and consult formally on it during the second half of 2006. Further extensive consultation would then be required as part of the formal designation process required to establish a Marine and Coastal National Park during 2008.
Anemones - Sue Scott
Further information
Download Coastal and Marine National Parks – Scotland's opportunity as a PDF file. This paper represents the views of the Scottish Environment Link members on the design and management of Scotland's first Coastal and Marine National Park
Canoeist
How can I have a say?
This is your chance to give your views on where the first park should be sited and why. As a resident of Scotland your views are vitally important to ensure the future protection of Scotland's seas and coasts and the wealth of wildlife they contain.
You can write to SNH to make your views heard. Go to the Scottish Natural Heritage website to comment.
Marine Bulletin 1
By 2008 Scotland will have the UK's first Coastal and Marine National Park. Read the latest updated news.
Further information
Find out more about WWF's work in this area by visiting our Marine Act Campaign website
PDF files
To view and print PDF files, you will need the Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available free of charge from the Adobe website. For further information, visit our help page.
