Written Question · S4W-06118 · Session 4
How the ecological coherence of the network of marine protected areas under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 is assessed.
The question
To ask the Scottish Executive how the ecological coherence of the network of marine protected areas under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 is assessed.
The answer
Guidance has been developed under the Oslo-Paris Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR) to support the agreement on development of a network of Marine Protected Areas. The guidance outlines key design features associated with ecological coherence. The Key elements are:
Representation – To support the sustainable use, protection and conservation of marine biological diversity and ecosystems, areas which best represent the range of species, habitats and ecological processes (for which MPAs are a suitable measure) should be considered for inclusion.
Replication – Replication of features in separate MPAs in each biogeographic area is desirable where it is possible in order to contribute to resilience and the aims of the network.
Size of site – The appropriate size of a site should be determined by the purpose of the site and be sufficiently large to maintain the integrity of the feature for which it is selected.
Adequacy – the MPA network should be of adequate size to deliver its ecological objectives.
Connectivity – the MPA network should take into account the linkages between marine ecosystems and the dependence of species and habitats on processes that occur outside the MPA concerned.
Management – MPAs should be managed to ensure the protection of the features for which they were selected and to support the functioning of an ecologically coherent network.
The guidance is being used to develop the MPA network in Scottish waters. When finalising advice based on the MPA guidelines, SNH and JNCC will consider the extent to which proposals for inclusion in the network will contribute to an ecologically coherent network and ministers will report progress on contributing to a network of MPAs in accordance with sections 79 (2) and 103(3) of the Marine (Scotland) Act.
A report on the status of the OSPAR network of MPAs is prepared on an annual basis. The reports summarise the number and locations of MPAs included in the network and assesses whether the network is coherent based on assessment of the spatial distribution of the network and coverage of OSPAR threatened and/or declining habitats and species. Further details can be found in the latest 2010 Status Report on the OSPAR Network of Marine Protected Areas:
http://www.ospar.org/documents/dbase/publications/p00548_Status%20report%20MPAs.pdf.
Representation – To support the sustainable use, protection and conservation of marine biological diversity and ecosystems, areas which best represent the range of species, habitats and ecological processes (for which MPAs are a suitable measure) should be considered for inclusion.
Replication – Replication of features in separate MPAs in each biogeographic area is desirable where it is possible in order to contribute to resilience and the aims of the network.
Size of site – The appropriate size of a site should be determined by the purpose of the site and be sufficiently large to maintain the integrity of the feature for which it is selected.
Adequacy – the MPA network should be of adequate size to deliver its ecological objectives.
Connectivity – the MPA network should take into account the linkages between marine ecosystems and the dependence of species and habitats on processes that occur outside the MPA concerned.
Management – MPAs should be managed to ensure the protection of the features for which they were selected and to support the functioning of an ecologically coherent network.
The guidance is being used to develop the MPA network in Scottish waters. When finalising advice based on the MPA guidelines, SNH and JNCC will consider the extent to which proposals for inclusion in the network will contribute to an ecologically coherent network and ministers will report progress on contributing to a network of MPAs in accordance with sections 79 (2) and 103(3) of the Marine (Scotland) Act.
A report on the status of the OSPAR network of MPAs is prepared on an annual basis. The reports summarise the number and locations of MPAs included in the network and assesses whether the network is coherent based on assessment of the spatial distribution of the network and coverage of OSPAR threatened and/or declining habitats and species. Further details can be found in the latest 2010 Status Report on the OSPAR Network of Marine Protected Areas:
http://www.ospar.org/documents/dbase/publications/p00548_Status%20report%20MPAs.pdf.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-06118 by reference.