Written Question · S2W-27688 · Session 2
Whether it will ensure that all relevant authorities take account of their duties under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP), underpinn…
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that all relevant authorities take account of their duties under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP), underpinned by the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004, to ensure that the appropriate special area of conservation management schemes are adequate to protect the sublittoral sands and gravel habitats that they contain before any decision is taken to reopen any areas within the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation to scallop dredging.
The answer
Regulation 34 of theConservation (Natural Habitats & C) Regulations 1994 includes provision forrelevant authorities to establish management schemes for Special Areas ofConservation (SAC) and Regulation 35 allows ministers to give directions to relevantauthorities on such schemes.
The Firth of Lorn SAC wasdesignated for rocky reefs, not sublittoral sands and gravel banks. There is nostatutory requirement, therefore, to include sublittoral sand and gravel in amanagement scheme for the site. These habitats are, however, recognised in theUK Biodiversity Action Plan as priority habitats. More information on the planis available at http://www.ukbap.org.uk/habitats.aspx.Scottish ministers introduced a biodiversity duty in the Nature Conservation (Scotland)Act 2004 which places a duty on allpublic bodies to further the conservation of biodiversity when exercising theircore functions and produced guidance for public bodies to assist them incomplying with the duty:
http://www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk/index.php.
The Scottish Executive wouldtake account of the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the biodiversityduty prior to agreeing any proposals to remove the restrictions on scallopdredging in the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation.
The Firth of Lorn SAC wasdesignated for rocky reefs, not sublittoral sands and gravel banks. There is nostatutory requirement, therefore, to include sublittoral sand and gravel in amanagement scheme for the site. These habitats are, however, recognised in theUK Biodiversity Action Plan as priority habitats. More information on the planis available at http://www.ukbap.org.uk/habitats.aspx.Scottish ministers introduced a biodiversity duty in the Nature Conservation (Scotland)Act 2004 which places a duty on allpublic bodies to further the conservation of biodiversity when exercising theircore functions and produced guidance for public bodies to assist them incomplying with the duty:
http://www.biodiversityscotland.gov.uk/index.php.
The Scottish Executive wouldtake account of the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the biodiversityduty prior to agreeing any proposals to remove the restrictions on scallopdredging in the Firth of Lorn Special Area of Conservation.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S2W-27688 by reference.