Strengthening Protection of Scotland’s Marine Environment: New Offshore MPA Measures Introduced

The Scottish Government has taken a significant step toward safeguarding the country’s rich and diverse marine environment with the introduction of new fisheries management measures across 20 offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).

The Offshore Fishing (Prohibition of Fishing Methods) (Scotland) Order 2025 has now been formally laid before the Scottish Parliament and, subject to the parliamentary process, will come into force on 16 October 2025.

This new legislation introduces site specific restrictions on specific fishing methods in offshore MPAs to better protect vulnerable habitats and species, such as deep-sea sponge aggregations, cold-water corals, and seafloor habitats that are critical to marine biodiversity. These measures represent a major milestone in the government’s ongoing commitment to delivering a sustainable approach to marine management, while supporting the long-term viability of Scotland’s fishing industry.

The Order follows an extensive stakeholder engagement and a public consultation on proposed fisheries management approaches for these sites. Feedback from stakeholders across the fishing sector, conservation organisations, and other marine users was central to shaping the final outcomes.

Site Specific Protection

• five sites* will see the introduction of full-site restrictions, where only one management option was presented during consultation. These areas will be closed to all fishing methods that are considered damaging to the protected features

• thirteen sites will implement zonal measures, as consulted upon, which allow certain types of fishing activity to continue in areas where they are considered compatible with conservation objectives

• two sites,  Central Fladen MPA and East of Gannet and Montrose Fields MPA, will adopt revised zonal measures, following updated conservation advice from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC). These adjustments increase the level of protection in response to new evidence about the sensitivity and ecological value of the designated features in these areas

*Anton Dohrn SAC sits fully within the West of Scotland MPA and is subject to the same measures, so is not explicitly detailed in the Order.

The Scottish Government has published a comprehensive guidance document to support implementation and stakeholder awareness. This includes detailed information on the measures, such as maps, gear codes, and geographic coordinates of the management areas. Fishers are strongly encouraged to consult this document to ensure compliance with the new regulations. 

Alongside the guidance, the Scottish Government’s Response to the Consultation has also been published. This response outlines how final decisions were made and provides transparency about how stakeholder feedback, evidence and advice, including updated advice from JNCC, have shaped the management measures.

These new protections mark a significant advancement in Scotland’s efforts to ensure the long-term health and resilience of its offshore marine environment. They also reinforce the Scottish Government’s commitment to meeting its national and international obligations on marine biodiversity and sustainable fisheries management.

Further information, including full details of the measures, impact assessments and fisheries assessments, is available on the Marine Directorate’s website. Simply search ‘Offshore Marine Protected Areas’. For any enquiries contact the Marine Biodiversity team at Marine_Biodiversity@gov.scot.