A Scottish seascape with pink and grey clouds in the sky and reflected in the water. The picture is taken from shore with land mass across the water. It looks to be dawn or dusk, with the clous hinting at either a beautiful or stormy day.

Save Scottish Seas

We’re proud to have been a founder and a leader in the Save Scottish Seas project, which has been securing marine conservation wins in Scotland since 2006.

Working alongside other environmental organisations in Scotland, we're proud to be part of a project which is changing the fate of Scotland's seas.

Over half of the UK's Marine Protected Area network is in Scotland's waters and we have a responsibility to ensure that these protected areas are more than simply lines on a map, but allow Scotland's precious seas to flourish.

The Save Scottish Seas project has successfully campaigned for:

  • Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, making Ministers responsible for protecting and enhancing the health of Scotland's seas
  • The introduction of 36 new Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) including a world-first protected area for basking sharks and minke whale in the Sea of Hebrides, the largest MPA in Europe, the South Arran MPA and many sea loch MPAs
  • Over 2,000 square kilometres squared of inshore Marine Protected Areas (within 12 nautical miles of shore) permanently protected from bottom-towed fishing gear
  • Over 176,900 kilometres squared in 20 vast offshore marine protected areas (beyond 12nm) protected from bottom towed fishing gear

What's next?

Over half way through the UN decade of ecosystem restoration, our collective Ocean Recovery Plan for Scotland continues to push for at least 30% of Scotland's seas to be highly or fully protected by 2030, banning damaging activities from these protected waters. We also continue to campaign for legally binding ocean recovery targets through the Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill and climate and nature positive fisheries management.

Seilebost beach on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland - a sandy coast with a striking blue sea. The image is captured from an outcrop above the beach.

Seilebost beach on the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland.  |  Image credit: Helen Hotson/ Shutterstock

We're incredibly proud of what we've achieved so far with Save Scottish Seas, but there's still a long way to go to ensure the measures we've campaigned for are fully implemented and then improved upon to help recover the health of Scotland's seas.

Head of Policy and Advocacy Calum Duncan

Learn more about the Save Scottish Seas project.

Other projects protecting Scottish seas and beyond

A member of Marine Conservation Society reading a book about a sea turtle to a group of young children sitting on the floor in a classroom.

Scottish Seas Roadshow for schools
A wide shot of seaweed on the sandy shores of the Scottish Atlantic Coast. In the distance are rolling hills.

Our work on the UK's Atlantic Coast
A close up of several native oysters being held by someone wearing orange gloves

Restoration Forth project - oysters and seagrass