How the existing network of marine sites designated under Natura 2000 meets the relevant obligations and targets set under the Convention f…

Answered Asked by Robin Harper Green Lodged 4 Sep 2007

The question

To ask the Scottish Executive how the existing network of marine sites designated under Natura 2000 meets the relevant obligations and targets set under the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic and the World Summit on Sustainable Development.

The answer

Answered by Richard Lochhead on 13 Sep 2007 · 9 days after it was lodged, on time

The Scottish Governmentis contributing to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) target ofestablishing marine protected areas by 2012 and the related target under the Oslo-ParisConvention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic(OSPAR) developing an ecologically coherent network of well managed marine protectedareas (MPA) by 2010. Under the range of criteria for selection of OSPAR MPAs contractingparties can report Natura 2000 protected areas as OSPAR MPAs.
The Scottish Governmenthas reported 31 marine Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) as OSPAR MPAs that provideprotection for marine features of interest to OSPAR and which meet the MPA criteriaestablished by OSPAR. Natura 2000 sites designated under the Birds and HabitatsDirectives that provide protection for marine features also contribute to WSSD commitments.
The Scottish Governmentwill keep under review whether other MPAs are required to complete our contributionunder WSSD and OSPAR.

In the Official Report

No contribution in the Official Report cites S3W-03978 by reference.