Whether it has identified any marine and coastal areas that are of international importance for seabirds and, if so, what measures it is ta…

Forty-eight sites have beenclassified by the Scottish Executive as special protection areas (SPA) under the EC BirdsDirective (79/409/EEC) which have one or more species of seabird as aqualifying interest. Eight of these are also designated as wetlands ofinternational importance under the Ramsar Convention. These sites are listed inthe following table.
All SPAs for seabirds are “Europeansites” and are protected by the duties placed on competent authorities (throughthe 1994 habitats regulations) not to consent to plans or projects that woulddamage the conservation interest of the site. They may be protected bycontractual measures (including management agreements with the proprietors ortenants). Where necessary ministers may introduce a special nature conservationorder for a European site, prohibiting any operation which would be likely todamage the conservation interest of the site. Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)may make byelaws to protect European sites from damage by parties other thanthe owner/occupier. In European sites underpinned by Special Sites of ScientificInterest (SSSI) notifications, SNH is given the power to amend the lists of potentialdamaging operations (PDOs) which form part of an SSSI notification when this isnecessary to bring them into line with the ecological objectives of a Europeansite. It is Government policy that SPA and Ramsar sites be afforded similarprotection.
In the marine environment,all relevant authorities (such as harbour authorities, local authorities, and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) having functions relevant to marineconservation, are obliged to exercise those functions to protect the integrityof European marine sites.
National Planning PolicyGuideline 14 sets out for planning authorities the overall national planningpolicy for the protection of the natural heritage in designated areas and thewider countryside including coastal areas. In terms of development planning, structureplans include policies for the protection and, where appropriate, enhancementof European sites and indicate their broad locations while local plans providemore detailed provision and identify the sites. The accompanying texts shouldemphasise the very strict protection that must be afforded to the interests forwhich European sites are designated and the implications this has fordevelopment proposals which would adversely affect those interests.
SPA Sites in Scotlandwith One or More Species of Seabird as a Qualifying Interest
Site Name
| Local Authority Area

Ailsa Craig
| South Ayrshire

Auskerry
| Orkney

Buchan Ness to Collieston Coast
| Aberdeenshire

Calf of Eday
| Orkney

Canna and Sanday
| Highland

Cape Wrath
| Highland

Copinsay
| Orkney

Cromarty Firth
| Highland

East Caithness Cliffs
| Highland

Fair Isle
| Shetland

Fetlar
| Shetland

Firth of Forth
| Lothians and Fife

Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary
| Angus, Dundee, Perth and Kinross

Flannan Isles
| Eilean Siar

Foula
| Shetland

Fowlsheugh
| Aberdeenshire

Glas Eileanan
|