Coasts and Seas

N A T U R A L H E R I T A G E F U T U R E S

The territorial waters of Scotland

Coasts and Seas

N A T U R A L H E R I T A G E F U T U R E S

C o n t e n t s

N A T U R A L H E R I T A G E F U T U R E S

S U M M A R Y

D E S C R I P T I O N

K E Y I N F L U E N C E S

V I S I O N

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S T A K E H O L D E R S

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2 C O A S T S A N D S E A S I n t r o d u c t i o n

I N T R O D U C T I O N

This is one of a suite of publications which Scottish

Natural Heritage has prepared to guide the future

management of the natural heritage towards 2025,

within the wider context of sustainable development. Our

landscapes and wildlife are highly valued assets which

have often been shaped by human activity. Under

sensitive management, the natural heritage also has the

potential to enhance people’s lives and provide

substantial economic benefits, of particular value to

fragile rural populations. As far as possible, these

documents aim to identify common goals and encourage

an integrated approach in which all sectors work

together to achieve them.

This document details national objectives for the natural

heritage of Coasts and Seas. Five complementary

documents cover Forests and Woodlands, Hills and

Moors, Settlements, Farmland and Fresh Waters. There

are also 21 local documents which, together, cover the

whole of Scotland, each presenting a vision for

sustainable use of the local natural heritage and the

action required to achieve it. The 21 areas each have

their own identity resulting from the interaction of

geology, landforms, landscapes, wildlife and land use –

and hence are affected by distinct issues. Data

underpinning these local and national objectives are

provided in a series of National Assessments which are

available on CD-ROM.

This suite of publications is intended to assist all

organisations and individuals which have an influence

on the natural heritage and the decisions which affect it.

The priorities presented will be used to inform SNH’s

input to plans and strategies for various sectors and

geographical areas such as Development Plans,

Community Planning, Indicative Forestry Strategies,

Scottish Natural Heritage’s Natural Heritage

Futures is our contribution to putting sustainable

development into practice. It will ensure that we

take an integrated approach to our work across

our whole remit and, at the same time, provide the

basis for our engagement with other stakeholders.

Caring for the natural heritage is a long-term

business and we have deliberately taken a more

visionary approach in setting goals for the natural

heritage and society’s use of it. Also SNH cannot

do everything itself: it does not have the powers, or

the resources, or the desire to do so. Many other

public, private and voluntary organisations have

an important role to play. It is our hope that

through engagement on Natural Heritage Futures,

together we shall have a substantial, positive and

long-lasting impact on the management and use of

the natural heritage and the benefits which society

derives from it.

N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e

F u t u r e s

N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e

F u t u r e s

“a bold and imaginativeway of establishing

some high-levelobjectives for thenatural heritage

of Scotland”

3C O A S T S A N D S E A S I n t r o d u c t i o n

access, tourism and renewable energy strategies, local

and national Biodiversity Action Plans, integrated

catchment management, integrated coastal zone

management and National Park Plans.

The documents take account of the views of a wide

range of partner organisations, which were sought

through consultation carried out during 2001.

Consultees included local authorities, public agencies,

representatives of private interests and voluntary bodies

concerned with conservation, rural development,

recreation and land management. There was

considerable agreement with the visions, objectives and

actions, but SNH recognises that there are also some

issues where further discussion is needed: the roles of

different parties in taking action and the ability to agree

a shared vision being examples. We will be working

with partners to achieve agreement and to identify any

actions which are not currently being taken forward.

The vision statements and associated objectives set out

through this programme remain essentially those of

SNH, although shared to a greater or lesser extent by a

wide range of partners. A key function of these

published documents is to stimulate the wider debate

necessary to establish a broader vision for sustainable

development in Scotland, and to translate it into action.

The objectives and actions in these documents will be

refined and translated into detailed targets through the

plans and strategies which will take them forward. Local

biodiversity action plans, for example, will identify

detailed targets for species and habitats. Also the

framework provided through Natural Heritage Futures

can help determine spatial priorities in, e.g. development

plans and community plans. SNH will also review its

own work programmes against the objectives and

actions in these documents, and make the necessary

adjustments.

The objectives for the natural heritage set out through

this document link to a wide range of other plans,

strategies and initiatives, including the development of a

Scottish Coastal Strategy, a proposed Aquaculture

Strategy and Biodiversity Action Plans, as well as more

local initiatives such as integrated coastal zone

management plans, shoreline management plans, local

development plans and community planning. The wider

policy context also includes the Water Framework

Directive, review of the Common Fisheries Policy, Urban

Waste Water Treatment Directive, Bathing Waters

Directive, Shellfish Waters Directive and the Habitats

and Birds Directives.

Natural Heritage Futures does not seek to replace

existing administrative boundaries. It does, however,

emphasise the need for flexibility across all systems of

governance in order to work towards sustainable

development, acknowledging that natural systems do not

recognise administrative boundaries and that integrated

action across those boundaries is essential.

The framework of 21 areas is intended to be used to

promote integrated approaches to the natural heritage

at the local scale; it is a means to facilitate discussion on

areas that share essentially similar natural heritage. The

boundaries should be viewed as indicative, with places

lying close to a boundary having transitional character

between the approaches/issues in adjacent areas.

Natural H

eritage Futures

S u m m a r yS u m m a r y

5C O A S T S A N D S E A S S u m m a r y

Scotland has a long coastline, representing about 8% of the

coastline of Europe. Consequently the sea has had, and

continues to have, a profound influence on the economy and

culture. The range of coastal landforms is considerable, and of

international repute, from towering cliffs to broad machair

plains, from sea lochs to shifting dunes and sheltered mudflats.

Scotland’s seas have internationally important populations of

grey and common seals and seabirds. Whales, dolphins and

harbour porpoises are frequent and a group of bottlenose

dolphin is resident in the Moray Firth. Sea lochs and island

sounds of the west, warmed by the North Atlantic Drift an

extension of the Gulf Stream, exhibit a unique variety of marine

and coastal habitats, with a rich biodiversity of seabed fauna

and flora. The colder, shallower, muddy North Sea supports

dense communities of burrowing invertebrates which are a vital

food supply for commercially important fish. However, by

comparison with the land our marine knowledge and data are

sparse, much remains to be discovered and the need for

further research and survey is pressing.

Residents and visitors alike enjoy the dramatic landscapes and

beautiful seascapes of Scotland’s coast and islands. But the

coastal zone is under pressure from diverse human activities

and industries such as waste disposal, fishing, aquaculture,

urban sprawl, land claim, shipping, energy generation, mineral

exploitation, pipelines, telecommunications, military use and

recreation. These activities place demands on the coasts and

seas, affecting ecological integrity, recreational value and

landscape quality.

Management of the many activities on the coastline is complex

and often unclear. No single authority is responsible for

regulating cumulative environmental impacts or the extent to

which use is sustainable. The future sustainable management of

the marine natural heritage is dependent on all user groups

working in partnership.

Various factors that currently influence change in the natural

heritage of the coasts and seas are identified in this document.

Developments in policy such as coastal zone management and

the establishment of Natura 2000 sites are creating new

management approaches to environmental protection while

legislation has resulted in significant improvements to coastal

pollution levels in recent decades. Recreation and tourism are

increasing with ever-growing demand for associated facilities.

Conversely, climate change and sea-level rise are tending to

encroach on intertidal habitat and overfishing is reducing

stocks of both commercial and non-commercial species while

damaging seabed ecosystems. Aquaculture has brought

increased pollution to the west coast and damage to wild fish

stocks while industry and shipping continue to cause deposition

of oil residues and threaten more serious pollution.

The key objectives for the coasts and seas are to:

� improve management, stewardship, awareness and

understanding of marine ecosystems;

� manage the coast in sympathy with natural processes;

� safeguard and enhance maritime biodiversity and

ecosystems;

� safeguard and enhance the fine scenery and diverse

character of coastal seascapes and landscapes;

� enhance populations of over exploited commercial fish

species and ensure that fishing is sustainable;

� ensure salmon farming and other forms of aquaculture are

environmentally sustainable;

� improve the water quality of estuaries and seas, and

� promote access to the sea and coast for public enjoyment

and recreation.

There is growing awareness of the value of our coastal waters

and their vulnerability to damage, and many new initiatives

seek to reverse past misuses. Integrated coastal zone

management, better protection and ongoing research and

education should ensure that the coastline and marine waters

continue to enrich the environment, culture and economy of

Scotland.

Summ

ary

The Uists – a lacework of land and sea

Common (harbour) seals haul out on sandbanks and rockyshores around Scotland

D e s c r i p t i o nD e s c r i p t i o n

A description of the main

features of the natural

heritage and its enjoyment

7C O A S T S A N D S E A S D e s c r i p t i o n

The coastal zone is a fascinating place; it is the ever-changing

area of transition between the sea and the land and the place

where marine life gives way to the animals and plants of the

shore and land above. The sea continually modifies and

changes the land through wave action, sediment movement,

erosion and accretion.

Throughout history the sea has influenced Scotland’s

development and settlement patterns. However, although most

Scottish cities and towns are on the coast, less than 15% of the

coastline has been developed. The firths of the Central Belt

have the most densely populated and developed coastlines,

beside good agricultural land and the availability of sheltered

waters. These coastlines have numerous developments: ports,

harbours, power stations, roads, railways, defence

establishments, recreational and other tourist facilities. Many

communities still depend directly or indirectly upon the sea for

food, jobs, communication and transport. The coast remains a

favoured destination for residents and visitors to relax and

enjoy nature.

All the worlds’ seas are interconnected to some extent and

materials circulate widely, e.g. radioactive discharges from

north-west England can be detected in all the oceans of the

globe. Scottish coastal and marine habitats are of high quality

and value for the biodiversity they support. The bird life, sea

mammals and other animal and plant communities, many of

international importance, are all, like ourselves, dependent on

the productivity of the sea. The high biological productivity of

the sea around Scotland continues to support industries based

on growing and harvesting its resources. Fisheries, and more

recently aquaculture and oil and gas industries, are the

mainstays of coastal economies. Despite increasing research

and survey in recent years, in comparison with terrestrial

ecosystems relatively little is known about the marine

environment. SNH has found, for example, that it is difficult

with current data to identify distinct areas of marine natural

heritage equivalent to those on the land. The sea remains

relatively inaccessible but we should not underestimate its

importance in maintaining life and providing for our needs.

Description

Extensive kelp forests can be seen on spring tides(Loch Ailort)Scottish territorial waters

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8 C O A S T S A N D S E A S D e s c r i p t i o n

C O A S T A L L A N D S C A P E S A N D S E A S C A P E S

Relative to its land mass Scotland has a long, often indented

coastline. Nowhere is more than 65km from the shore. The

result is many landscapes that are influenced by coastal

processes and the presence of the sea. The coast provides

some of our most spectacular scenery. Scotland’s is a diverse

coast, with a range of outstanding settings such as the

towering cliffs of St Kilda, the broad machair plains of the

Uists, shifting dunes and sandy beaches, and nearly 800

vegetated islands. Sheltered sea lochs and firths contrast with

the exposed and rocky headlands of the open coast. Many

areas of coast, particularly in the north-west but also in

lowland settings, are designated as National Scenic Areas

(NSAs) – our most valued landscapes. Coastal scenery is

dynamic, reflecting the interplay of light and shadow on

moving water under varying weather conditions. The

experience of coasts can foster a sense of wildness and

tranquillity. SNH is developing management strategies for

individual NSAs in order to improve their effectiveness; these

should inform best practice for management of coastal

landscapes more generally.

G E O L O G Y A N D L A N D F O R M

The varied coastline reflects its underlying geology, often

clearly exposed along rocky shores and cliffs. The structure

and chemistry of the rocks create a remarkable diversity of

landscape features; skerries, shore platforms, geos (narrow

inlets), cliffs, natural arches, caves and sea stacks. Much of the

debris of successive glaciations which shaped the mountains

and glens, firths, sea lochs and islands, was deposited on low-

lying land and areas of the continental shelf now submerged

by post-glacial rises in sea level. Sea and wind have combined

to rework these deposits into beaches, dunes, tombolos and

shingle banks. The sediments on Scotland’s coasts range from

boulders on storm beaches, to fine muds and silts in estuaries

and at the heads of sea lochs.

Changing sea level has extensively modified the coastline.

The melting of the last ice sheet some 10,000-15,000 years

ago resulted in dramatic sea-level rise, flooding the ice-scoured

valleys, creating the drowned landscapes of Shetland, Orkney

and the Western Isles, and deep glacial troughs that have

become sea lochs on the west coast. Conversely, there has

been a gradual ‘rebound’ of the land, formerly depressed

under the weight of the ice. In areas where land uplift has

been more rapid than sea-level rise, ancient cliffs and beaches

have gradually been lifted beyond the reach of the waves.

Striking examples of these raised beaches and sea cliffs occur

around Arran, Jura, Islay and other islands of the Inner

Hebrides. This rebound has been much less in the Outer

Hebrides and Northern Isles and has been overtaken by rising

sea level, so that unlike the rest of the country these areas are

slowly submerging.

The rocks and landforms evident around Scotland’s coastline

are of international importance in their own right, quite apart

from the fundamental role they play in influencing landscape

character and habitat and species distribution. The exceptional

diversity of Scotland’s geological foundation is reflected in the

broad range of rock sequences and fossil beds exposed along

the coastline. Indeed, the scouring of shorelines by wave

action maintains intertidal and cliff exposures of many rock

formations not outcropping inland as, e.g. around much of Fife.

Such exposures provide unique insights into Britain’s

geological evolution. The combination of underlying geology,

the power of ice, sea and wind, and changing sea level, have

together resulted in Scotland’s remarkably varied coastline.

Apart from the ice, these factors are all still at work with sea

levels around the world continuing to rise, as a result of climate

change induced by increased greenhouse gases.

The south side of the Firth of Forth with its famous rail androad brides

Cliffs and stack at Yesnaby

9C O A S T S A N D S E A S D e s c r i p t i o n

The coastal waters around Scotland are in the main less than

200m in depth (apart from a few isolated troughs). The waters

generally become shallower towards the islands, however, the

floors of several sea lochs and the Inner Sound of Raasay

were deepened by glacial scouring during the Ice Age giving

rise to deep water (100m-200m) areas in close proximity to

land. The North Sea waters at 50m-100m are generally

shallower than those of the west coast.

B I O D I V E R S I T Y O F T H E S E A

The variety of habitats in Scotland’s seas and coasts together

with a relatively mild climate and a key position on

international migration routes provide the niches and

conditions for a remarkable diversity of species. There are

around 8,500 species of marine multi-cellular animals and

plants in Scotland’s waters, representing 41 different broad

groups (phyla). This rich variety of wildlife ranges in size from

microscopic plankton to the largest fish and whales. The seas

around Scotland are highly productive. Ocean circulation

and inshore water currents bring nutrients into the coastal

waters. Phytoplankton (microscopic aquatic plants which float

in the surface layers of the sea) use these nutrients and

captured sunlight in primary production. Phytoplankton and

larger plants, including the kelps of the shallow seas and the

wracks of the rocky shores, are a food source for invertebrates

and fish and form the basis of the marine food chain. The open

seas of the west coast are relatively unpolluted with clear

water and little suspended sediment load leading to a higher

species diversity. The North Sea in contrast tends to be nutrient-

enriched with a high sediment load from the outflow of large

rivers leading to greater abundance of fewer species. It is more

affected by urban discharges and diffuse pollution which

reduces the variety of species present; nevertheless the added

organic matter supports a high biomass of organisms and in

turn the large commercial fisheries of the North Sea.

Scotland has large, internationally important, resident

populations of both common and grey seals. Grey seal

numbers have steadily increased in recent decades while

common seal numbers have largely recovered since the

phocine distemper virus epidemic in the late 1980s. Whales

(mainly minke and killer), dolphins (bottlenose, white-beaked,

white-sided, common and Risso’s) and harbour porpoises are

often seen from the coast and provide an increasingly popular

attraction for visitors. Whale-watching tourism is based on the

Isle of Mull, and other parts of the west coast, as well as in the

Moray Firth which supports an important North Sea

population of bottlenose dolphin. Otters are common on the

north-west coast, Western and Northern Isles. Basking sharks

are seen in waters off the west coast and marine turtles are

scarce but regular visitors to Scottish waters, with leatherback

turtles most frequently recorded. Scottish waters support many

different fish, only a small proportion of which are harvested

commercially.

The coast is home for internationally important concentrations

of birds, including seabirds, waders, ducks, geese and swans.

Many are migrants travelling thousands of kilometres, between

traditional breeding and wintering areas. These birds use

secure nesting or roosting sites close to abundant food sources

in estuaries, productive coastal waters, or fertile coastal plains.

Large colonies of guillemots, kittiwakes, fulmars, gannets and

other seabirds nest on the cliffs of eastern and northern coasts

and islands and feed at sea. Petrels, puffins and shearwaters

burrow in grassy slopes. In early spring the coastal plains like

the machair are nesting habitat for high densities of dunlin,

ringed plover, redshank, oystercatcher, snipe and lapwing.

Autumn and winter bring huge flocks of ducks and waders to

Scotland’s firths and estuaries to exploit rich food supplies in

the shallow waters, mudflats, or fringing saltmarshes. Many of

Scotland’s coastal areas are of international nature

conservation importance for birds, qualifying for classification

as Special Protection Areas under the EC Birds Directive.

Description

Colourful sea bed with sunstar

Minke whale are regularly seen around the Western Isles

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1 0 C O A S T S A N D S E A S D e s c r i p t i o n

S E D I M E N T H A B I T A T S : S H I N G L E , S A N D

D U N E S , S A L T M A R S H , E S T U A R I E S A N D

M U D F L A T S

Soft coast habitats are dynamic and mobile; they reduce the

erosive impact of the sea by absorbing wave energy. Rapid

change in size and shape of sediment shores can occur,

caused by wave action, erosion or accretion, and in their

natural condition they form a vital buffer between land and

sea. Sediment habitats tend to be low lying and at particular

risk from sea-level rise if they are prevented from migrating

inland by sea defences or other coastal development. Built sea

walls, or other ‘hard’ sea defences, destroy the vital coastal

defence function of sedimentary habitats and can divert the

sea’s energy – increasing erosion elsewhere along the coast.

Moreover, they prevent landward migration of sedimentary

habitats under rising sea levels leading to habitat reduction

and loss; a process known as ‘coastal squeeze’. Sea defences

are common on soft coastlines in urban areas, estuaries, firths

and on exposed coasts where communication links, buildings,

agricultural land and recreational areas such as golf courses

are protected. Areas most vulnerable to coastal erosion,

include the east coast from Montrose to Dunbar, the Firth of

Clyde, the inner Moray Firth, and the Northern and Western

Isles.

Shingle beaches are widespread but particularly found in the

Solway and Moray Firths, the Hebrides and the Northern Isles.

Shingle may accumulate as distinctive spits, extending

hundreds of metres along the coast as seen at Culbin;

however, ‘stabilised’ shingle with vegetation is relatively rare

because few plants are able to colonise the mobile and often

exposed substrate.

Scotland has around 40,000ha of sand dunes but few are

part of an intact system of succession from accumulations of

blown sand at the top of the beach through mobile dune to

more stable ‘fixed’ dunes inland. Dune systems subject to sea-

level rise as in the Western Isles, Northern Isles and Solway

Firth are generally eroding. In contrast, in areas of relative sea-

level fall or stability there is a complex and interdependent mix

of eroding, accreting, and stable dune systems. Sand dunes

can develop wherever there are strong winds, a low-lying

coastal plain where sand can accumulate, and a supply of

sediment. Dunes begin to form where windblown sand collects

above the high-tide mark; dune building grasses such as

marram grass appear, which form a buffer to the wind and

trapping more sand so that the dune grows in height and

width. In exceptional cases this can result in dunes to heights of

35m or more as at Balnakiel in Sutherland and Crossapol on

Coll. On the landward side, mobile dunes become stabilised

Spey Bay sand spits show the importance of sedimentmovement in shaping the coastline

Shingle beach on Rum

Sand dunes, North Uist

1 1C O A S T S A N D S E A S D e s c r i p t i o n

by other grasses and vegetation. In the north and west, much

of the sand is made up of shell fragments, creating habitats for

species-rich grassland swards to develop. East coast sand

dunes like at Sands of Forvie and Barry Links, tend to be of

mineral origin, giving rise to a more acid dune heath

vegetation, with extensive dune slacks.

In the Hebrides, the shell sand dune system, combined with

traditional crofting agriculture has resulted in a distinctive

landscape known as machair that is restricted globally, to

about 18,000ha of north-west Scotland and some in north-west

Ireland. The word ‘machair’ is Gaelic, meaning a low-lying

fertile plain and the calcium-rich machair sand encourages a

species-rich grassland to develop. Closely linked to the

grasslands are brackish lagoons, freshwater lochs and marshes

providing various different habitats for plants, birds and other

animals. Internationally important numbers of breeding waders

are found on machair with other ground-nesting species, such

as corncrake and corn bunting, which have disappeared from

agricultural land elsewhere. The quality of machair is heavily

reliant on active, skilled management, where grain is grown for

cattle feed in a rotational pattern and seaweed is used as a

fertiliser. Most machair is on eroding coastlines, and in some

places the frontal dunes have been completely lost, exposing

the machair plain to undercutting by the sea.

Description

Distribution of sand dunes/machair in the Natural Heritage Futures framework

The Machair becomes a riot of colour in July

St Andrews West Sands with the famous golfcourse behind

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1 2 C O A S T S A N D S E A S D e s c r i p t i o n

Sandy beaches are especially common in Aberdeenshire,

Angus, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides. The species

composition and density of ‘infauna’ (animals living in

sediment) is largely determined by the degree of exposure to

wave action and the proportion of fine sediment (mud) in the

sand. Exposed beaches on open coastline and the outer firths

have coarse sediments as a result of wave action removing fine

particles, and few animals apart from some very mobile

crustaceans can survive there. With decreasing exposure and

as sand grades into mud, worms and molluscs increase in

numbers and are joined by burrowing sea urchins and starfish.

In the mudflats of sheltered sea lochs and estuaries, densities of

infauna may reach millions of organisms per square metre. The

animals of sandy beaches and muddy shores provide food for

birds at low water and for fish when the tide is in.

Estuaries form where rivers meet the sea. There are over 50 in

Scotland of different sizes and many contain wide sand and

mud flats backed by areas of saltmarsh. These nutrient-rich

habitats are important nursery areas for some commercial fish

species and support large numbers of invertebrates that in turn

are a food source for internationally important numbers of

migrating and overwintering waders and wildfowl. Fine muddy

sand and silt sediments are deposited in sheltered bays within

estuaries and at the heads of sea lochs and inlets where salt

and fresh waters mix. In the past, many estuaries in urban

areas have been highly polluted by untreated or poorly

treated sewage, causing de-oxygenation and leading to severe

damage to the species composition of invertebrate

assemblages and loss of fish species diversity. In previously

badly polluted estuaries like the Forth and Clyde this oxygen

sag created a water quality barrier to diadromous fish such as

salmon. Some estuaries such as the Ythan and South Esk in

Angus continue to suffer from excess nutrient levels

(eutrophication) resulting from nitrate run-off and/or chemical

pollution from industry. Legislation has, in recent years, brought

great improvements and many estuaries are returning to a

more natural water quality. Wildfowling on intertidal flats,

water sports and other recreational activity may cause local

short-term disturbance to bird populations in estuaries.

Saltmarsh (vegetation periodically inundated by high tides)

forms on fine sediments in sheltered locations and has a

characteristic salt-tolerant plant community including glasswort,

sea thrift and saltmarsh grasses. Saltmarsh is widely distributed

in Scotland, but areas are generally small except in river

estuaries such as sheltered upstream areas of the Tay, Forth

and Solway Firths and at the head of some sea lochs. The

larger areas of saltmarsh (or merse) are often grazed by stock

and provide important feeding grounds for wintering wildfowl.

The small loch-head saltings of the west and north coasts are

quite unlike other saltmarshes, with tiny seaweeds growing

among the close-cropped vegetation.

Beds of sea grass (the only marine flowering plants found in

Scotland) are widely distributed in many firths, sea lochs and

bays. A disease epidemic in the 1920s-1930s reduced stands

of sea grass. Algal growth in eutrophic estuaries continues to

smother some areas; however, they still form an important

intertidal and shallow subtidal habitat, sheltering a range of

juvenile fish and providing a winter food source for several

wildfowl species. Sea grass beds develop an extensive root

system that is important in helping to stabilise the shore and

seabed. The subtidal, fully marine, perennial beds of sea grass

support a higher diversity of invertebrate species than the

intertidal, estuarine, annual beds.

High cliffs particularly in the northwest, Orkney, Shetland and

St Kilda provide some of Britain’s most spectacular coastal

landscapes. At 426m the cliffs of Conachair on St Kilda are

the highest in the UK. Sea cliffs, with internationally important

populations of breeding seabirds, make up long stretches of

the Caithness, Aberdeenshire and Berwickshire coasts.

Seabirds select particular sites as nesting areas because of

freedom from predators and proximity to rich feeding grounds

in the sea. Leach’s petrel colonies are found on the offshore

islands such as St Kilda and North Rona. Large breeding

colonies of gannets are found on the Bass Rock, Ailsa Craig

and St Kilda. Nesting puffins have their burrows on grassyClyde estuary

Saltmarsh, Northern Harris

1 3C O A S T S A N D S E A S D e s c r i p t i o n

slopes at the top of cliffs such as on the Isle of May, Rum and

Unst; shearwaters burrow on Rum. Where calcium is present in

the rocks this exerts a strong influence on cliff vegetation,

encouraging species such as kidney vetch. Plants characteristic

of open, disturbed and nutrient-enriched maritime habitats, like

orache and chickweed, are able to thrive where large numbers

of seabirds are found. The damp, exposed and grazed cliff

tops on the north coast and Orkney have a particular type of

maritime heath, where the Scottish primrose grows. Cliff-tops

on some very exposed coasts may be so drenched by spray

that they support saltmarsh-like vegetation. The fragile

marshland habitats of raised beaches can be easily damaged

by drainage and poor farm management.

At low tide, rocky shore plant and animal species and

communities show up as bands or zones of different colours

and textures. On sheltered shores only yellow and black

lichens occupy the highest spray zones, a variety of brown

wrack seaweeds live in the mid-shore, and kelps at the bottom

are only exposed on the lowest tides. The algal cover provides

habitat for a high diversity of fauna and flora. As wave

exposure increases, seaweeds become smaller and sparser,

and are replaced by barnacles and mussels on exposed

shores. Where there are pockets of gravel or pools, animals

and plants seek shelter from the drying effects of the open air

at low tide and from predation. The most sheltered rocky

shores with pools, boulders and gravel host the most diverse

plant and animal communities. There are extensive kelp beds

off the west coast of the Outer Hebrides and the Orkney

Islands. Kelp provides habitats for many associated species of

animals and plants and is important in absorbing wave energy,

thus reducing coastal erosion.

Sea lochs are particularly special, both for the people who

live around their shores and for the wildlife that inhabits the

sheltered waters. There are over 100 sea lochs on the west

coast and islands of Scotland, some winding many kilometres

inland. Each sea loch has its own distinctive character with

deep basins, shallow sills, tidal rapids, plunging underwater

reefs and sheltered shores making them very unusual, special

places for a wide variety of marine life. The heads of many sea

lochs are extremely sheltered from wave action and support a

variety of marine habitats quite different to those on the open

coast.

Saline lagoons, an internationally important coastal feature in

Scotland, are defined as expanses of shallow coastal water, of

varying salinity and size, separated or partially separated from

the sea. There are 139 major saline lagoon sites in Scotland

covering a total of 3,900ha. Seawater exchange is by a

variety of means, such as over tidal sills and percolation

through shingle barriers. Wave action is slight in lagoons and

the less dense fresh water often floats as a discrete layer on

top of the seawater. Lagoons are permanently brackish and

support characteristic communities tolerant to variations in

salinity. In some Western Isles lagoons the drainage channels

become strong currents as the tide falls. Such tidal rapids with

high oxygen and nutrient levels support dense assemblages of

sea firs, sponges, sea squirts and sea mats growing beneath

tall kelp plants, and the large brown seaweed, sea oak.

Description

Loch Scavaig

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1 4 C O A S T S A N D S E A S D e s c r i p t i o n

T H E S E A B E D

Undisturbed seabed has a complex three-dimensional

structure with a variety of habitats arising from the physical

creations of burrowing, tube-building, reef-forming and

attached fauna. These so-called biogenic structures provide

refuges for a high biodiversity of associated species forming a

complex seabed community. The naturally rich and very

diverse seabed fauna is part of the food supply for fish

populations and necessary to the marine ecosystem.

Maerl or Scottish coral is not actually a coral but a pink

coralline seaweed which lives unattached on the seabed

overlying sediments. Where it grows well, maerl plants can

accumulate to form great banks or waves of stubby branching

nodules. Maerl provides an intricate lattice-like habitat that

supports a rich associated community of other plants and

animals, including the juvenile stages of commercially

important species such as scallops. Maerl plants grow very

slowly, typically 1-2mm per year. Consequently, maerl beds

are very sensitive to physical disturbance from direct

exploitation (e.g. for use as a soil conditioner), towed fishing

gear, or anchors. More data are needed on the distribution of

maerl in order that locations can be marked on maps and

charts and protected.

Maerl beds off the west coast and Northern Isles are of European importance. Maerl nodules create habitats for numerous otherspecies living in the crevices in between.

1 5C O A S T S A N D S E A S D e s c r i p t i o n

R E C R E A T I O N A N D E N J O Y M E N T

The coast has economic and social importance for tourism and

recreation. People feel free to be at the coast and around 30%

of all day trips take place there – mainly for informal activities

of sightseeing and walking. Most of this recreation is at the

coast close to where most people live and Scotland’s five main

cities are located on estuaries. The main pressures fall on the

coasts of East Lothian and Ayrshire and, to a lesser degree, on

the east coast near Dundee and Aberdeen, but tourists are

also drawn to the more distant north-west and island

coastlines, where the outstanding seascapes and the high

degree of wildness and naturalness are the main attractions.

The coast provides almost limitless opportunities to watch

wildlife, pursue outdoor sports or simply walk, contemplate

and seek inspiration. Access to the coast is generally good,

and rocky coastlines provide popular walking and wildlife

watching routes. Horse riding on beaches is common,

particularly on the expansive beaches of the East Coast.

Cruising by yacht is popular in the west among the islands and

has minimal impact on the environment while bringing

economic benefit. Seabird reserves such as St Abb’s Head, Isle

of May, and Sumburgh Head are popular places for getting

relatively close to large numbers of nesting birds. Commercial

wildlife watching opportunities such as cruises to visit seabird

colonies or whale, dolphin and seal groups, increase local

community ownership of the maritime natural heritage.

Scotland’s estuaries and sandy beaches have a high aesthetic

value and provide for a range of informal recreational

activities: games, bathing, surfing, wind surfing, angling,

wildfowling and picnicking. Sections of coast closest to the

large centres of population such as around Fife, East Lothian,

Ayrshire, and on the Solway, are particularly popular. The

coastal waters off the west coast offer some of the most

interesting, varied and often challenging inshore sailing in

Europe. There are numerous safe anchorages, sites for

permanent moorings and a number of purpose-built marinas.

Popular areas for sea kayaking include the west coast,

particularly the Solway Firth and the upper Clyde, the

Northern Isles, and the Firth of Forth in the east. Sand dune

systems are used for (but tend to be damaged by) motorised

recreation such as scrambling or off-road vehicles and water

sports such as power boating and water-skiing take place in

many localised areas. Sea angling is extremely popular

around the coast with numerous commercial companies

offering tackle and boat hire. Scuba diving takes place all

around the coastline, with the west coast and Northern Isles

providing spectacular opportunities. Sites of particular note are

around Oban, Fair Isle, the wrecks of Scapa Flow, Rosehearty,

and the Voluntary Marine Nature Reserve at St Abbs.

Description

Wildlife watching cruises attract tourists to remote areas(Shetland)

Windsurfers, Achmelvich beach, Sutherland

K e y i n f l u e n c e so n t h e N a t u r a l

H e r i t a g e

K e y i n f l u e n c e so n t h e N a t u r a l

H e r i t a g e

An outline of how the natural

heritage has changed, how it is

changing and the key factors

influencing change. The changes

described are both positive and

negative and together with the

Description, provide the basis

for the Vision.

1 7C O A S T S A N D S E A S K e y i n f l u e n c e s o n t h e N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e

M A R I N E A N D C O A S T A L P O L I C Y

Ownership, rights and responsibilities for the coasts and seas

are obscure, often having their origins in past centuries and

appearing inappropriate for today. Management of activities

at sea is complex and often unclear. Co-ordinating the

terrestrial and maritime components of activities which straddle

the coastal zone presents challenges that are now being

addressed to some extent through new policies. Today’s

society wants the sea to continue to deliver its many benefits

but this means management of resources within the carrying

capacity of ecosystems where our scientific understanding may

be much more limited than on land. The way maritime activities

are managed will be critical to the future sustainable use of

the sea and its wildlife.

In order to address difficulties which arise from common access

to the marine realm, a body of international law and policy

has evolved to promote co-operative working towards common

objectives. Some of this is global in reach, with the remainder

targeted at the management of marine resources on a more

regional basis. In many cases international agreements have

sought to protect international trade, but increasingly they have

also addressed environmental issues. Examples of global

frameworks include UNCLOS (United Nations Convention on

the Law of the Sea), and the IMO’s (International Maritime

Organisation) MARPOL Convention (International Convention

for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships). Examples of

regional Conventions include OSPAR (the Oslo-Paris

Convention) and the Helsinki Convention. The European Union

is a contracting party to these regional marine Conventions.

Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) currently

operates through voluntary partnerships, set up for six firths

(Moray, Cromarty, Forth, Tay, Clyde, Solway) and other areas

(The Minch, Fair Isle, Loch Ryan). These projects have

established the value and potential of consensus-

building techniques in the management of complex

coastal areas. The experience is being applied in the

setting up of management schemes for marine

Special Areas of Conservation under the EC Habitats

Directive. A voluntary, Scotland-wide partnership the

Scottish Coastal Forum (SCF) provides support to

regional and local ICZM initiatives and is developing

a coastal strategy for Scotland. Experience from the

six firths projects has contributed to the development

of EU coastal policy. The production of a European

coastal strategy promoting the use of ICZM will

influence the direction of coastal policy in Scotland in

forthcoming years.

Key influences on the N

atural Heritage

Coastal and marine areas with natural heritage designationsMoray Firth Action Programme is available fromThe Moray Firth Partnership in Inverness

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Marine protected areas in various forms are expected to

play an increasing role in management of the seas in future

years, but management approaches must be designed to suit

marine systems which are markedly different from terrestrial.

Habitats and species of European importance will be

protected through the designation of coastal and marine

Special Protection Areas (SPA) (for wild birds) and Special

Areas of Conservation (SAC) (for other species and habitats);

accompanied by management schemes to ensure the

conservation of the features of interest on these sites. The UK

Biodiversity Action Plan has led to the preparation of action

plans for 22 threatened coastal habitats and 19 species. These

are now being implemented. Local biodiversity action plan

projects, including coast lines where appropriate, have been

established in all Scottish local authority areas. These

initiatives, arising from the Convention on Biological Diversity

(CBD) have the potential to significantly improve the recovery

and future protection and management of coastal and marine

biodiversity. The development of National Parks in Scotland

has raised the possibility of including marine areas in National

Parks and the potential benefits of this approach will be

examined. The Department for the Environment, Food and

Rural Affairs (DEFRA) is undertaking a UK-wide review of

marine nature conservation and is currently examining the

potential for the development of a regional seas approach to

sustainable management of the UK territorial seas. Other

initiatives, including UNCLOS and OSPAR Annex V, also bring

obligations on the UK to consider mechanisms to provide

stronger protection for marine habitats and species.

C L I M A T E C H A N G E , C O A S T A L P R O C E S S E S

A N D S E A D E F E N C E S

Recent evidence indicates that, on average, sea

temperatures of coastal and offshore North Sea waters have

increased by about 1°C since 1970. Winter sea temperatures

have been warming faster than summer ones. Increasing sea

temperatures in Scottish waters will cause gradual changes to

species that are already at the edge of their range. It is not yet

clear to what extent cold-water species are retreating or warm-

water species advancing, but such consequences are likely in

the future. Salinity of oceanic waters is also increasing and

ocean current flows may be altering bringing warmer, saltier

waters to Scotland. However, any major disruption to the

North Atlantic Drift (NAD) ocean current, is not thought likely

to occur before the end of the 21st century, and there are, as

yet, no certain predictions on any weakening of its strength. If

the NAD is disrupted this is likely to lead a severe cooling of

Scotland’s climate in spite of an overall global warming trend.

Whether or not the NAD is disrupted, sea levels will continue

to rise.

Sea level is now thought to be steadily increasing around

most of the Scottish coast despite the continued uplift of land

following the release from glacial weight at the end of the last

ice age around 10,000-15,000 years ago. The rate of sea-

level rise due to glacial melt and the thermal expansion of

oceanic waters is now having a greater impact in Scotland

than formerly. The net result for around a third of Scotland’s

coast, mainly the west coast up to Mallaig, is that over the next

Sea defences at Montrose. Built defences may protect one area but often increase erosion further along the coast.

1 9C O A S T S A N D S E A S K e y i n f l u e n c e s o n t h e N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e

fifty years sea levels may rise by up to 25cm. Other areas,

including the east coast, the north-western and northern coasts,

may see between 25-30cm rise. In Shetland, Orkney and the

Western Isles the situation is more uncertain, but sea level may

rise by more than 30cm. Depending on emissions of

greenhouse gases, the rate of change may increase further

through the 21st century.

Climate change also appears to be causing more frequent and

more violent storms. The increasing threat to the coast from the

sea is resulting in growing public and political pressure for

improvements and extensions to coastal defences in many

parts of Scotland. However, current understanding of the

impacts of built sea defences on the coastline highlights the

importance of naturally functioning coastal processes and the

role of natural coastal habitat in protecting the coast from

erosion. Hard, built coastal defences will become increasingly

ineffective as they are overtopped or fail completely leading to

flooding and erosion. Furthermore, the costs of building new

defences or extending existing sea walls to protect less

important areas (agricultural or recreational land) are likely to

be prohibitive. In developed areas, soft coastal habitats are

being squeezed between rising sea levels and built hard sea

defences. From both natural heritage and economic points of

view there is increased acceptance of the need for managed

realignment and soft engineering approaches to coastal

defence to help address the impacts of erosion, sea-level rise

and flooding. Shoreline management plans (SMP) provide

an integrated approach to developing policy to take account

of coastal change and are increasingly being used throughout

the UK.

F I S H E R I E S

Fishing is critical to the Scottish culture and economy. Over

60% of UK fish and shellfish are landed in Scotland, and

Peterhead is the largest fishing port in Europe. The main sea

fisheries in Scotland are pelagic (mainly herring, mackerel and

sprat), demersal or whitefish (mainly haddock, whiting, and

cod), and shellfish (see below). There are also other significant

coastal fisheries including the many, relatively small, privately-

owned coastal Atlantic salmon fisheries. The fishing industry is

continually changing with declining stocks, new species and

new technology. Technological advances have reduced the

labour required so consequently far fewer people are directly

employed in fishing and many former fishing towns and

villages no longer retain an active fleet.

Fishing has a profound effect on populations of target species,

non-target species, and seabed habitats. Many commercial fish

stocks in Scottish waters are fully or over exploited, with some

populations reduced to below safe biological limits. Seabed

fauna is damaged by towed fishing gear such as trawls and

dredges that disturb the seabed to several centimetres. These

effects are most acute in fragile habitats or areas that are not

normally subject to natural disturbance by wave or storm

action. Some biogenic structures are particularly sensitive, e.g.

the reefs created by tube building worms (polychaetes) such as

Serpula vermicularis in Loch Creran and cold-water coral

(Lophelia) reefs further offshore. The result of repeated trawling

can be a reduction in biodiversity and the modification of

animal and plant communities where long-lived species are

increasingly replaced by opportunists. This is neither good for

the environment nor the fisheries, as the food supply and

habitats of target species are lost and the capacity of the

ecosystem to recover is reduced.

Key influences on the N

atural Heritage

Creel fishing for scampi prawns (Nephrops norvegicus) isimportant to the rural economy of north and west Scotland

The tube-building serpulid worm (Serpula vermicularis) formsreefs up to one metre high in Loch Creran

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2 0 C O A S T S A N D S E A S K e y i n f l u e n c e s o n t h e N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e

Fisheries accidentally ‘by-catch’ non-target species ranging

from seabed-dwelling invertebrates to dolphins, porpoises and

seabirds. In some parts of the North and Celtic Seas the ‘by-

catch’ of dolphin and porpoise is a threat to some populations.

Industrial fisheries tend to target species with a crucial role in

marine ecosystems, such as sandeels, and consequently may

affect prey availability for other species including larger fish

(e.g. cod and haddock) and seabirds and marine mammals.

Excessive fishing for sandeel may therefore have long-term

impacts on both wildlife and commercial catches. The

increased availability of offal and discarded fish resulting from

fishing has allowed some seabird populations to increase, e.g.

the fulmar which was largely absent from the UK at the start of

the 20th century.

Fisheries management in the UK can be broadly divided

into ‘offshore’ regulated by the EU Common Fisheries Policy

(CFP) and ‘inshore’ controlled by the UK Government. While

the CFP has been relatively successful as a mechanism to

divide fishing opportunities among the relevant member states,

it is widely acknowledged that it has largely failed to deliver

successful conservation of fish stocks. The current review of the

CFP is due to be completed by 2002 and the European

Commission has acknowledged that key objectives for the

review are the greater integration of fisheries and environment

and the development of regional fisheries policies. However, in

the past the CFP has been more strongly influenced by social

and economic pressures than environmental considerations. It

is unlikely that sustainable fisheries can be achieved in Scottish

or EU waters without a very significant reduction in overall

fishing effort. Fisheries scientists estimate that a 40% reduction

in North Sea fishing is required, with a greater reduction in the

short term for some stocks.

Shellfish harvesting using a variety of techniques – potting

(creeling), dredging, beam trawling, suction dredging, diving,

tractor dredging and hand-gathering – is the dominant inshore

fishing industry in Scotland. Species fished include Norway

lobster, crab, lobster, scallop, cockle, mussel and razorfish. The

Norway lobster or scampi prawn (Nephrops norvegicus) is

currently Scotland’s most important shellfish fishery. The

shellfish harvesting industry has been increasingly affected by

the incidence of paralytic, amnesic and diarrhoetic shellfish

poisoning (PSP, ASP, DSP) in Scottish waters in recent years.

The EC Shellfish Waters Directive requires the designation of

Shellfish Waters which contribute to the maintenance of water

quality and more sites are now being identified.

Industry trends: As stocks of traditional species are reduced

the fishing industry seeks new markets and new species to

exploit. The fishery for the Norway lobster for example, has

only developed over the last 40 years, and other shellfish, e.g.

squat lobster and razorfish, are becoming increasingly

marketable. There is also a trend towards exploitation of fish

stocks in offshore deeper waters to the west of Scotland. The

larger vessels needed have had a knock-on effect on harbour

facilities, resulting in the expansion of Peterhead, Scrabster,

Lochinver, Kinlochbervie and Mallaig. The switch to new

species and new areas is largely unregulated with little, if any,

assessment of the potential environmental impact or application

of the precautionary principle. There is a need to act on existing

scientific data as well as conducting further research to

determine sustainable yields for new species and to allow

management based on sound science. Further cycles of ‘boom

and bust’ in the Scottish fishing industry must be avoided to

minimise damage to fish populations and marine communities.

Inshore creel fishing is an example of a largely sustainablefishing activity

The cockle fishery on the Solway has been closed tomechanical extraction after a collapse in the cockle population

2 1C O A S T S A N D S E A S K e y i n f l u e n c e s o n t h e N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e

Management trends: Under the terms of the current CFP the

UK has exclusive rights over the management of inshore

fisheries within six nautical miles of the coast. In Scotland,

shellfish dominates the inshore industry and, being distributed

around the entire coast, it is extremely important to the rural

economy. The management of inshore fisheries is currently

under scrutiny with a general move towards increasing

stakeholder participation. This is being sought principally

through the use of Regulating Orders under the Sea Fisheries

(Shellfish) Act. Shetland has been successful in obtaining a

Regulating Order and other areas, including Orkney,

Highland, Solway and the Western Isles may follow. Such an

approach to inshore fishery management has the potential to

contribute to the more integrated management of coastal

resources in general. The Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory

Group (SIFAG), was established by Scottish Executive

Environment and Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) in 1999

to bring together fisheries representatives and government

agencies. UK management of inshore fisheries should continue

under the reformed CFP from 2003 and there is now

widespread agreement among regulators, the industry, agency

advisors and non-governmental organisations that a whole

ecosystem approach to fisheries management is required in the

new policy with greater integration of environmental measures.

C O A S T A L A Q U A C U L T U R E

The aquaculture industry, dominated by Atlantic salmon

farming, has grown rapidly over recent decades. Production of

salmon exceeded 127,000 tonnes in 1999, worth

approximately £50m per year and supporting around 6,500

jobs (Scottish Quality Salmon data). Fish cages are a common

sight in west-coast sea lochs and among the Western and

Northern Isles. The Scottish industry trend is one of

consolidation to fewer producers utilising larger sites.

Development pressure continues for both new and expanded

sites creating a pressing requirement to consider the cumulative

impacts of aquaculture development on the natural heritage

and on recreational interests. There is an urgent need for a

scientific understanding and agreement among all interests of

the ‘carrying capacity’ of an area for aquaculture. Factors

which, either alone or together, are likely to limit the capacity

for aquaculture production, include: the impact on the seabed,

water quality, the landscape, disturbance to wildlife species,

and public access and recreation. There are challenges for the

industry to ensure its environmental sustainability in the longer

term: in particular, the dependence on industrial fisheries for

much of its food supply; the requirement for chemical

applications and the evidence of impacts on wild salmon

stocks from increases in sea lice density in coastal waters and

from escapes of farmed fish. The need to control predators

such as fish-eating birds and seals has become a contentious

issue in some areas.

Key influences on the N

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Salmon farming provides employment in many remote areas (Loch Ailort)

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2 2 C O A S T S A N D S E A S K e y i n f l u e n c e s o n t h e N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e

Various initiatives seek to establish a more sustainable salmon

farming industry although more stringent regulation of

stocking density, and discharges of chemical treatments and

nutrients may be required to secure improvements.

Developments in cage technology have allowed farms to move

offshore alleviating some of the pressure on more sheltered

areas in sea lochs. Siting farms in more exposed locations

should result in significant reductions to seabed impacts and

improvements in near-shore water quality (provided effluents

are flushed offshore), although landscape concerns and loss of

recreational facilities may remain significant. Many fishfarms

now fallow sites to create a break between successive

production cycles. Fallowing may limit the spread of disease

such as infectious salmon anaemia (ISA). An increase in

fallowing systems requires additional sites to maintain

production levels at the majority of fishfarms. Fallowing times

that would be required to allow the seabed to recover are,

however, generally longer than those currently used to break

disease cycles. Some farms are attempting to become

‘organic’ using lower stocking densities, avoiding chemical

treatments and using more sustainable food sources.

Continuing disease, pollution and food source difficulties mean

that production of organically-farmed fish is restricted to small-

scale production units. There is research under way to

investigate the possibilities of culturing other fish species. Cod

and halibut are likely to become a feature of the industry in the

future.

Shellfish cultivation is generally small scale but locally

important, particularly in the sheltered sea lochs and bays of

the Northern and Western Isles, making a small but significant

positive contribution to local economies. Pacific oyster, mussel,

and scallop are the most commonly grown species. Within

agreed limits, there is potential for expansion of shellfish

cultivation; the industry has much less impact on the natural

heritage than salmon farming, with no added chemicals or

feed stuffs, and far less impact on the seabed. The farming of

shellfish, like the harvesting of wild shellfish, requires high

water quality to ensure healthy populations and the siting of

shell and fin-fish farms must be carefully considered to avoid

conflicts over water quality. However, the introduction of non-

native species, either deliberately for growing or accidentally

with brood stock, could affect local species diversity. The

Pacific oyster is a non-native species and others such as

abalone are under consideration. More designated shellfish

waters as required under the EC Shellfish Waters Directive

should bring an improvement in microbiological standards thus

increasing the output quality of shellfish cultivation. Some

‘Several Orders’ for scallop farming have been granted under

current legislation and applications may increase.

Responsibility for aquaculture planning is passing from the

Crown Estate to local authorities under new legislation.

SEERAD aquaculture planning guidelines recommend that

fishfarming should not be developed on the north and east

coasts of Scotland and that aquaculture framework plans

should be prepared by local authorities. New regulations for

the application of environmental impact assessment to

fishfarming have also recently been introduced in Scotland.

Most significantly, the production threshold has been set at a

level that means that most applications for salmon farms will

require an environmental statement. A new guidance manual

on environmental assessment of marine salmon farms has

recently been prepared. These three developments will help to

deliver the more strategic approach to aquaculture

development that is needed urgently.

P O L L U T I O N , W A S T E M A N A G E M E N T

A N D N O N - N A T I V E S P E C I E S

The water quality of coastal waters and particularly the

estuaries and firths, like the Clyde and Forth, has been greatly

improved in recent decades as a result of reduced effluent

loading, arising from stronger domestic and European

legislation. This trend should continue as ongoing investment

programmes by water authorities generate further

improvements. Many coastal waters were heavily polluted, up

to the 1970s, from urban sewage and contaminated with

chemical waste discharges from industry. Estuaries and firthsSewage outfalls are being decommissioned under modernpollution legislation

2 3C O A S T S A N D S E A S K e y i n f l u e n c e s o n t h e N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e

close to large industrial and urban areas, have seen the

greatest improvements in water quality as most major point

sources of pollution have been eliminated. Monitoring of

estuarine fish (e.g. flounders Patichthys flesus) feeding on

sediment invertebrates, reveals a downward trend in

bioaccumulated contaminants in body tissue over two decades.

However, elevated levels of contaminants remain locked up in

estuarine sediments, and could again raise pollution levels if

disturbed and released. Reductions in discharges of organic

sewage has resulted in significant local reductions in

productivity and therefore to seabird numbers (e.g. sea duck in

the Forth) due to loss of the food supply. However, this reflects

a more natural diversity of species and community composition.

Migratory fish such as salmon have returned to the Clyde and

other estuaries as a result of reductions in pollution and

restocking programmes.

Currently the most challenging pollution issues are those

relating to diffuse ‘run-off’ sources including pesticides and

nutrient enrichment from fertilisers leaching from agricultural

land. Other sources of pollution, including the use of chemicals

such as tributyl tin (TBT) and new forms of pollutants such as

endocrine-disrupting and gender-changing pharmaceuticals,

are having measurable effects on wildlife and some

aquaculture interests. They also become increasingly

concentrated in the flesh of species higher up the food chain,

leading to impacts on commercial fish, birds and mammals,

and on human health. Improvements are expected from the

integration of a wide range of water-related and pollution

control over the next 20 years through legislation under the EC

Water Framework Directive. This will encourage the use of

both biodiversity and chemical indicators of water quality in an

integrated way. It is also likely to create legal incentives or

obligations to use integrated management approaches for

coastal areas as part of wider commitments to integrated

catchment management.

Treatment and disposal of sewage and household solid waste

material is increasingly tightly regulated. Sewage dumping at

sea was halted in December 1998, and most large discharges

from urban areas have been eliminated. Sewage sludge is

now treated and used on land or incinerated. However, storm

water overflows (combined sewer overflows, CSO) in urban

areas and private rural septic tanks continue to discharge

untreated waste into coastal waters, causing significant

localised problems. The EC Urban Waste Water Treatment

Directive requires CSO to be upgraded leading to further

reductions in the amount of untreated sewage discharged to

the marine environment. Inputs from marine cage fishfarms

have the potential locally to have impacts on sediment quality.

Up to the 1990s, intertidal habitat, particularly in estuaries,

continued to be lost through land claim for agriculture, waste

disposal or industrial development. The loss of intertidal habitat

due to land claim for landfill continues in some areas of the

Forth, Tay and Moray Firths. However, there is increasing

awareness of the natural heritage importance of intertidal

areas, including their wider environmental service as a natural

coastal defence. Landfill schemes involving land claim in

estuaries will encounter increasing resistance particularly as

rising sea levels make such landfill locations increasingly risky.

Current National Panning Policy Guidance states that land

reclamation schemes should only be permitted in exceptional

circumstances.

Marine litter continues to be a widespread aesthetic and

animal welfare problem. ICZM projects are working in a

partnership including Keep Scotland Beautiful, Scottish

Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), and the Marine

Conservation Society as part of a nationwide initiative to

address marine litter. A statutory requirement on all UK ports to

prepare waste management plans was introduced in early

1998 and, subsequently, a new EC Directive places a similar

obligation on all member states, requiring a waste ‘audit trail’

to be constructed. Disposal of waste is an important

component of training for recreational boat users run by the

Royal Yachting Association and good practice leaflets are

widely available. These changes are expected to have a

significant impact on levels of marine waste. However, litter is

an international problem and, although sea users are

becoming more aware of the potential danger to wildlife,

attitudes towards dumping litter and waste into the marine

environment are slow to change.

Key influences on the N

atural Heritage

Beach litter is an increasing problem on Scotland’s coastline(Isle of Coll)

Key

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2 4 C O A S T S A N D S E A S K e y i n f l u e n c e s o n t h e N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e

There is a risk of the introduction of non-native species to

Scottish waters from reduced journey times of modern shipping,

of e.g. oil, aggregates and other materials. Ships empty of

cargo make return journeys under ballast, bringing water from

‘remote’ oceans that may be discharged into seas around

Scotland. Shipping moves over 80% of the world’s

commodities and transfers around 10 billion tonnes of ballast

water across the globe each year. Ships therefore have the

potential to introduce invasive marine species into new

environments by ballast water and by organisms attached to

ships hulls (‘fouling organisms’). Ballast water can contain

large numbers of non-native species that may colonise the

local environment or pathogens that may infect Scottish

biodiversity or the human population. The International

Maritime Organisation (IMO) has developed voluntary

guidelines for the control and management of ships’ ballast

water and other policy developments to regulate ballast water

discharges are being investigated.

Other non-native species such as American mink and rats have

become abundant on much of the Scottish coastline and have

a severe impact on ground nesting seabirds, such as terns, in

some areas. Sea buckthorn is an invasive species that has

spread excessively in some dunes and Japanese knotweed is

also spreading around the coast often through storms and tidal

movement.

E N E R G Y A N D S H I P P I N G

Industry continues to cause deposition of oil residues in coastal

habitats in addition to significant spills. On- shore developments

have destroyed or modified coastal habitat by pipeline

landfalls and crossings. The oil industry is undergoing

significant change with the potential for north-east Atlantic

exploration and production, and the decommissioning of North

Sea installations. Both these developments contain threats to

the marine environment from increased risk of oil spills in new

areas, increased shipping west of Scotland and the dangers of

pollution during decommissioning operations. Changes to

shipping regulations are expected from the 1994 Department

of Transport ‘Donaldson’ report Safer ships, cleaner seas which

followed the loss of the Braer oil tanker in Shetland. One

measure is likely to be the identification of Marine

Environmental High Risk Areas (MEHRA). The DTI is in the

process of undertaking strategic environmental assessment

(SEA) of industrial activity of the entire UK continental shelf.

This policy should result in a more strategic approach to

development and better protection for the environment. Ports

and all other oil-handling installations are required to produce

oil spill contingency plans and provide resources for spill clean-

up, but there is no equivalent statutory requirement on local

authorities and no requirement for provision of resources. The

Government appears content to allow a voluntary

arrangement to continue but this means that local authorities

are not able to properly budget for something that could

become a significant liability. Local authorities could be given

a statutory responsibility for oil spill clean-up of the coastline.

There is significant potential for renewable energy

production from the marine environment, but this is untapped

largely due to a lack of appropriate technology. The

international requirement to reduce greenhouse gases and the

increasing price of fossil fuels is now focusing attention on

renewable energy; new proposals to exploit power from wind,

wave and tidal currents are expected. It should be possible to

design coastal and marine renewable energy projects, with

fewer impacts on the natural heritage compared with land-

based developments. However, offshore projects should avoid

some damage to valued coastal seascapes, and important

biodiversity. Wind, wave and offshore tidal current power

schemes should generally be encouraged and supported

subject to proper Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Most

tidal power schemes use some sort of barrage that can lead to

a loss of intertidal and/or estuarine habitat. Further research is

required into sustainable renewable energy sources.The Islay limpet – a prototype wave energy generator

2 5C O A S T S A N D S E A S K e y i n f l u e n c e s o n t h e N a t u r a l H e r i t a g e

A G G R E G A T E E X T R A C T I O N

Coastal mineral extraction in Scotland ranges from the large-

scale coastal superquarry at Glensanda to dredging in firths

for local supply and small excavations of sand or shingle from

beaches. Demand is relatively low but a licence has recently

been granted for commercial sand extraction in the Firth of

Forth. In some parts of Scotland, it is not uncommon for sand

and gravel to be taken from beaches or dunes for building,

golf course bunkers or (if lime rich) for agricultural use. Where

this is done by local landowners or crofters, for their own use,

there is usually little impact. However, where sand is removed

on a commercial scale, there can be dramatic effects upon the

appearance and natural heritage of the coastline. The removal

of sand or gravel can reduce the stability of the coastline and

increase erosion. There is relatively little fresh sediment being

fed to the coastline from natural sources – leading to

negligible replenishment of sand and gravel sources. When

sand or shingle is removed from a beach it is not replaced,

leading to a fall in the beach level and increasing erosion of

the dunes or adjacent land.

R E C R E A T I O N A N D T O U R I S M

Coastal recreation is increasing, as is the demand for

associated facilities. The challenge is to ensure that tourism

development and recreational activities are compatible with

the maintenance of the quality environment on which they

depend. Coastal walks, such as the Fife coastal path, and

cycle routes are being developed to provide well-managed

facilities to meet the demand. Demand for ‘green tourism’ is

increasing. This values the natural heritage directly and seeks

to minimise impacts on it. Wildlife tourism is increasingly taking

advantage of the opportunity to view seabird colonies and

groups of whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals in the Moray

Firth and on the west coast.

Increasing recreational activities require management actions.

Scuba diving is increasingly popular and codes of conduct

discouraging damage or collecting activity, help to mitigate

any impacts on underwater marine life. Many seabird colonies

attract large numbers of visitors and with, a little management,

negligible disturbance occurs. However, ground-nesting birds

of sand dunes and other coastal grasslands can be more

vulnerable to disturbance. Water sports such as windsurfing,

speed boating and water-skiing cause disturbance to coastal

breeding birds. The demand for clean sand at the most

popular beaches has led to the development of mechanical

beach-cleaning machinery that not only removes large

numbers of fauna living in the sand but also disrupts the

sediment structure of the shores. Recreational 4-wheel-drive

vehicles can damage dune habitats, while motorised watercraft

too close to the shore can cause sediment movement and

increase erosion. There is clearly a continuing need to raise

awareness of the sensitivities of coastal environments among

both users and operators to ensure that recreational activities

can be managed sustainably.

Key influences on the N

atural Heritage

The coastal superquarry at Glensanda Bird watching on seacliffs, Shetland

Vi s i o nVi s i o n

The Vision sets out how the natural heritage of the Coasts and Seas of

Scotland could look based upon sustainable use of natural resources. It is an

illustration of a possible scenario based on fulfilling the Objectives and Actions

in this document. It is neither a ‘Utopia’ nor a ‘blueprint’, but the basis for

developing a shared vision between all parties with a responsibility for, or an

interest in, the natural heritage of the Coasts and Seas of Scotland and a

consensus on the way forward.

I t i s wr i t t en in the p re sen t t ense , a s i f in the year 2025 .

- w h a t t h e n a t u r a lh e r i t a g e c o u l d l o o k

l i k e b a s e d o n b e t t e rs t e w a r d s h i p o f

n a t u r a l r e s o u r c e s

2 7C O A S T S A N D S E A S Vi s i o n

M A R I N E A N D C O A S T A L P O L I C Y

All sectors of society have an awareness and appreciation of

the magnificence of the marine and coastal natural heritage of

Scotland. There is a commitment on everyone’s part to looking

after it and widespread sharing of difficult issues. The

importance of sustainable management of marine and coastal

environments as an integrated whole is widely accepted and

understood at international levels and by government, users

and the public at large. The implications of this in delivering

long-term benefits over short-term gains and the constraints

placed on harvesting the resources of the sea within its

carrying capacity, are compatible with industrial interests.

An internationally recognised integrated management

strategy is in place that seeks to maximise the protection and

conservation of the marine natural heritage while optimising

the sustainable exploitation of renewable resources. It includes

both wider environment measures with seasonal restrictions on

certain activities together with smaller, more ‘site-based’

protection. Protected areas for features of natural heritage

importance form a clearly definable, interlinked network,

together with larger ‘no-take zones’ that are part of the wider

strategy for the management of natural resources. This strategy

protects the whole span of coasts and seas biodiversity,

maintaining internationally important seals, cetaceans and

seabird populations and the vital coastal habitats that support

them. It is also linked to other measures such as local authority

spatial planning, catchment management, shoreline

management and local coastal management plans which

ensure protection for valuable sites and local areas and in

which local community participation is central. The strategy

identifies, at a national scale, the area and location of the most

valuable natural coastal habitats and defines the principal

locations for human needs such as industry, ports, shipping,

recreation, tourism, inshore fisheries, aquaculture and marine

protected areas.

An overview of the state of the maritime environment is

maintained through a strategic national monitoring programme

that addresses all aspects of environmental quality and the

impacts on the natural heritage from climate change and the

whole variety of human activities. A range of key biodiversity

indicators are regularly measured and reported on. Where

remedial action is required, relevant bodies are empowered to

ensure that such action is taken. Increased knowledge and

understanding of marine and coastal natural systems and

processes enable better-informed management decisions to be

taken. The inextricable linkages between physical processes on

land and those at sea are fully recognised and taken into

account in all decision-making processes. Guidelines dictate

the application of the precautionary principle where insufficient

information is available.

C O A S T A L P R O C E S S E S A N D

S E A D E F E N C E S

The dynamics of the sea and coast are well recognised and

understood. Managed realignment policies and soft defence

options are now the norm rather than the exception. This has

resulted in significant areas of low-lying coastal agricultural

land, mostly in and around estuaries being returned to the sea.

A further benefit of adopting managed realignment

approaches is that the pace of coastal erosion is slowing in

some places as new areas of soft coast habitats perform their

natural function of absorbing the energy of eroding coastal

wave action. These policies have reduced the pressures of

‘coastal squeeze’ arising from sea-level rise, coastal erosion

Vision

Crofting land use, Western Isles

Fisheries management should allow fish such as cod to growto maturity

Vis

ion

2 8 C O A S T S A N D S E A S Vi s i o n

and coastal development on many soft coasts and the area of

mudflat and saltmarsh in Scotland has increased since 2000.

An agreed integrated coastal plan identifies those priority

structures, installations, communities and monuments that will

be protected against sea-level rise and coastal erosion. It

defines the limits for essential new developments that require to

be built at a coastal site and also where such developments

would be permissible. The knock-on implications of all hard

defences to adjacent stretches of coast are understood and

accepted.

The settlement pattern on much of Scotland’s coast, with

associated small-scale economic activity reinforces the local

distinctiveness of the natural sea and landscape. The coastal

landscape character underpins a thriving tourism and

recreation industry that makes a major contribution to the

economy of Scotland. Sea lochs form part of generally

undeveloped and wild, remote landscapes. Some have been

protected from major development and industry such as

salmon farms or quarrying, while many have small but

flourishing local communities centred around sustainable

inshore fishing, shellfish culture and crofting industries. Sand

dune and machair are managed as dynamic systems,

whereby natural seaward and/or landward migration are

accepted without intervention. The continuation of traditional

crofting management regimes on machair and some other

dune systems has ensured that the diversity of animals and

plants is maintained.

F I S H E R I E S

The imbalances in the natural population structures of many

commercially exploited species created by overfishing, that

were evident at the beginning of the century, are being

redressed through a long-term recovery programme. There is a

strategy in place based on sound science, with recovery

targets for both inshore and international waters. The strategy

adopts an integrated ecosystem approach including spatial

management measures. These include restrictions on the use of

mobile fishing gear in some areas, and a number of carefully

selected sites where no fishing occurs (no-take zones) and

where a natural diversity and structure of seabed habitats has

returned. These zones are promoting the recovery of fish

populations ensuring a strong supply of young fish to maintain

future stocks. The fishery management strategy is strongly

enforced using surveillance technology and self-policing by the

fishing community.

Decisions on catch levels take account of wider ecosystem

objectives and are taken on the basis of long-term trend data.

Exploitation rates are maintained well within safe biological

limits and take account of long-term management objectives

rather than short-term political considerations. Technical

measures are effective in keeping by-catch at a low level and

new multi-species or flexible quota systems have helped to

minimise levels of discarding. This approach to fisheries

management, informed by a better understanding of marine

ecosystem dynamics contributes to the maintenance of long-

term ecosystem function, integrity and productivity. Marine

mammal populations, including otters, seals, dolphins, killer

whales and minke whales, are adjusting to healthy levels.

Many other species are regularly seen in Scottish waters

during migration.

C O A S T A L A Q U A C U L T U R E

Sustainable aquaculture continues to make a contribution to

the economy of coastal areas through a diverse range of

farmed species that have been developed from native rather

than non-native stocks. Shellfish farming using mainly native

species is thriving, providing food for local communities and

important export products. Salmon farming effects are under

control as high-environmental-impact farms have been reduced

in size or removed. Salmon feed is based on waste from fish

processing, unavoidable by-catch and some use of industrial

fish but only from sustainably managed fisheries. The passage

of time has allowed areas of seabed polluted by salmon farms

to recover towards their natural state. As fishfarming has

become more environmentally sustainable, the population

levels of wild migratory fish in west coast rivers, from which

they had virtually disappeared, is recovering and the angling

industry is much stronger than in 2000. Aquaculture

development planning is carried out in a strategic manner,

integrated with other uses of the coastal waters. All new

aquaculture developments are sited and designed to minimise

visual impact and to relate sympathetically with their

surrounding landscape. A strategic approach to development

consent allows some areas to be free from aquaculture

infrastructure to retain a wild seascape character and the

perception of remoteness from human influence. Developments

in husbandry and effective monitoring ensure that production is

within the carrying capacity of the coastal environment. Some

areas are maintained free from aquaculture developments.

Effective planning and improved husbandry practices have

minimised the adverse interactions of the industry with the

natural heritage.

2 9C O A S T S A N D S E A S Vi s i o n

W A T E R Q U A L I T Y

Water quality is generally good and continuing to improve as

a result of the implementation of a range of EC Directives and

the Scottish strategy of bringing all waterbodies to ‘good’ or

‘excellent’ status. Point source and diffuse pollution inputs to

the sea are low. Nutrient enrichment from agricultural run-off is

minimal having been reduced by catchment management and

good agricultural practice. Better waste management

systems together with wider social awareness of

environmental issues have greatly reduced the level of marine

litter and other garbage.

E N E R G Y

Despite generally lower energy demands compared with

2000, the extraction of fossil fuels from marine environments

continues and new technologies are enabling reserves in more

hostile environments to be recovered. Exploitation is managed

under a strategic environmental assessment of the UK

Continental Shelf that defines permitted areas of search and

excludes sensitive areas. All new developments have the

necessary Environmental Statements and any necessary

mitigation measures are fully implemented, together with a

decommissioning strategy in place with sufficient funds

identified to enable these operations to be completed.

The greater public awareness of the need for energy

conservation has resulted in significantly reduced consumption

that, together with the development of alternative energy

sources, has reduced greenhouse gas emissions. Renewable

sources are increasingly exploited under a national strategy

that identifies where offshore wind and wave generators may

be located with least detriment to the natural heritage. All

developments have an ongoing environmental monitoring

programme in place. Tidal power schemes that disrupt coastal

processes and destroy natural habitat have not been

developed.

A G G R E G A T E S

Aggregate extraction and coastal superquarry decisions are

informed by a national mineral policy that promotes recycling

and wise use of non-renewable aggregate. This strategy

promotes extraction close to demand and allows development

only in areas with minimal impact on coastal seascapes and

biodiversity.

L E I S U R E A N D R E C R E A T I O N

The coast continues to be a major attraction particularly for

those living in or near the main conurbations. People have

always felt free to be at the coast, but improved provision for

informal recreation and stronger, better-funded management

systems help promote better enjoyment of sensitive coastal

environments. The now stronger provision for the care of the

coastal and marine environment has enhanced people’s

appreciation and understanding of its value and significance.

By safeguarding the essential qualities and character of coast

and marine wildlife we have provided the basis for a stronger

tourism industry based on Scotland’s outstanding marine and

coastal wildlife. As coastal water quality has improved, many

of Scotland’s beaches are of bathing water quality standard

and are increasingly popular with both residents and tourists

as beautiful places for quiet recreation or more active leisure

pursuits. Scotland’s coastline is well known internationally and

used as a venue for a variety of well-managed, formal water-

based recreational events. The leisure industry makes an

increasingly significant contribution to the economy.

O U T C O M E S

The fruits of the integrated management structure that is now in

place are beginning to ripen. Some species populations are

showing strong signs of recovery, while for others there is a

reciprocal decline back to ‘more natural’ levels. Changes in

the social structure of some coastal communities, resulting from

fleet restructuring, have been cushioned through diversification

of the local economy with alternative employment linked to

greater but responsible recreation use, eco-tourism and a role

in the implementation and monitoring of the management

strategy.

Worries remain. Sea level continues to rise, sea temperatures

continue to increase, some habitats and species remain

unnaturally scarce. Nevertheless, the robust management

structures that are in place, combined with much better

awareness and understanding by everyone involved, ensure

that rational, well-considered solutions to current problems are

quickly found and implemented.

Vision

Harris golf course, Scarista Machair

O b j e c t i v e sO b j e c t i v e s

These are objectives for the natural heritage and indicate

what needs to be done to ensure that we use the natural

heritage sustainably. The objectives indicate the priorities

relevant to the natural heritage in the light of current

changes. Once agreed, these priorities can inform the

development of relevant action plans with more specific

objectives and resource implications: relevant Actions are

identified under each Objective.

- p r i o r i t i e s f o r t h en a t u r a l h e r i t a g e , a n d

a c t i o n r e q u i r e d

3 1C O A S T S A N D S E A S O b j e c t i v e s

O b j e c t i v e 1

To improve management, stewardship,awareness and understanding ofmarine ecosystems

It is widely but mistakenly believed that the sea remains largely

undamaged by human activities and that it can absorb all the

waste materials that we wish to discharge into it. The damage

being done to marine ecosystems, and the role of the seas in

regulating the climate and in maintaining all life on the planet

through the cycling of elements, water and nutrients, is not

widely appreciated. Good stewardship of the sea will be

obtained by new management approaches based on broad-

based integrated strategies. International agreements (e.g. UN

Convention of the Law of the Sea and the Oslo-Paris

Convention) are important in providing an international

framework for such national and local strategies. There is

scope to increase public involvement in the management of

coastal and marine areas through community involvement

programmes. The Scottish Coastal Forum and Firths projects

have undertaken some work of this nature and these

programmes should be expanded or integrated into other

initiatives such as Community Planning. There is scope for

considerable public involvement in Special Areas of

Conservation (SAC) management, Local Biodiversity Action

Plans (LBAPs) and new forms of marine protected areas (such

as Marine National Parks) and wider environmental

management. The lack of clarity regarding maritime ownership,

rights and responsibilities must be addressed.

Research and survey is required to improve our knowledge

and understanding of marine biodiversity. The seabed

mapping undertaken through the Natura 2000 programme

has shown how useful more data can be and also indicated

the need for further survey. The monitoring requirements of the

Habitats Directive will further enhance the knowledge base.

Biodiversity Action Plans have given the incentive to assess the

state of knowledge of other habitats and species and identified

further gaps in data. Information on the locations of sensitive

natural heritage sites in the marine environment must be made

more available on maps and charts for all sea users to enable

them to avoid causing damage.

ACTIONS

� Implement stronger management and stewardship of

the sea at government and international level.

� Develop and implement national and regional

integrated strategies for Scotland’s coast.

� Develop and implement new environmental

management for marine ecosystems including broad

measures and protected areas for special features.

� Develop access opportunities and related

interpretation to improve community understanding

and ownership of the coastal environment.

� Promote awareness and education of Scotland’s

marine natural heritage e.g. by using videos and data

obtained during underwater surveys.

� Ensure adequate visitor management at key sites with

interpretative provision to achieve maximum raising

of awareness and understanding of the natural

heritage.

� Encourage community involvement programmes in

integrated management initiatives, implementation of

Local and National Biodiversity Action Plans and the

management of Special Areas of Conservation.

O b j e c t i v e 2

To manage the coastline in sympathywith natural processes

There is a history of land claim and construction of sea

defences in firths and estuaries to obtain flat fertile land for

agriculture and urban development. Many intertidal areas in

firths have been lost to landfill. The total loss of intertidal

habitat area in Scotland is significant, amounting to more than

50% in the Firth of Forth since 1800. In developed areas, soft

coast habitats are being further squeezed between rising sea

levels and built sea walls. More intertidal habitat is being and

will be lost unless management action is taken. Managed

realignment has the potential to reduce further loss and restore

some coastal habitat. This policy should be adopted in low-

lying coastal areas where there is little development. To

achieve a natural dynamic coastline our aim should be no

future net loss of soft coast habitat as a result of erosion, sea-

level rise or development.

Aggregate extraction on or close to the shore reduces the

capacity of soft coast to perform its coastal defence role of

Objectives

S H O R T T E R M ( 0 - 5 Y E A R S )O N G O I N G M E D I U M T E R M ( 5 - 1 5 Y E A R S ) L O N G T E R M ( 1 5 - 2 5 Y E A R S )

Remotely operated video (ROV) used in seabed habitat mapping

Obj

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3 2 C O A S T S A N D S E A S O b j e c t i v e s

absorbing the energy of waves and storms. Relatively small-

scale engineering works such as causeway construction or

other developments may have a disproportionate impact on

coastal processes. All such proposals currently require

licensing but there is a need to strengthen the consideration of

coastal processes before the licence is approved. The impact

on erosion of any proposal should be fully understood and

agreed before such developments are permitted. Recycling of

aggregates should be promoted.

Certain human use of, and activity on, soft coast habitats can

enhance the natural heritage. Correct grazing regimes on

saltmarsh and sand dunes, traditional crofting activities on

machair and wildfowling on intertidal mudflats contribute to the

value, physical integrity and/or high biodiversity of these

habitats.

Kelp absorbs and dissipates wave energy, reducing the

erosion power of storms. It also provides habitat for numerous

other species. The harvesting of kelp by removing the fronds or

the whole plant has the potential to result in increased coastal

erosion and loss of biodiversity so impacts should be carefully

assessed before it is removed.

Long-term, cost-effective, sustainable protection for coastal

settlements threatened by erosion, depends on management

that respects natural coastal processes. A useful way to

develop such management is to produce Shoreline

Management Plans (SMP) which take a long-term look at the

changes in coastal development required to accommodate

coastal change. SMP provide the opportunity to integrate the

objectives of all interests and users and obtain consensus on

how the changes will be managed. SMP are most useful if they

are developed for sections of the coast which make up whole

sediment cells and they should be integrated with adjacent

SMP and other coastal management programmes such as

ICZM or river catchment management plans. A

biogeographical approach to the marine environment leading

to the identification of distinct areas of natural heritage,

reflecting the work undertaken for the terrestrial part of

Scotland, may be a useful exercise to help more sustainable

management of the seas.

Strategic planning of coastal defence needs, must be

supported by sensible development policies that recognise the

folly of building on land threatened by coastal erosion or

flooding and so discourage new developments in such areas,

allowing them to evolve naturally as far as possible.

ACTIONS

� In areas under long-term threat of coastal flooding or

erosion, promote approaches to coastal defence work

with nature and avoid diverting erosive forces

elsewhere by:

Developing shoreline management plans to assess

defence options and guide built development away

from areas at risk;

Promoting flexible land management and

managed realignment to reduce the sea’s power to

erode coastlines and to restore areas of soft coast

habitat;

Removing or abandoning hard sea defences where

they are not essential to allow low-lying land to

return to the sea, and using new built defences to

protect only essential developments or installations.

� Minimise the extraction of marine aggregates and

ensure all impacts of extraction on coastal processes

are understood.

� Recycle (clean) dredged sediment wherever possible,

e.g. in beach recharge operations. Where such

recycling is not possible, encourage disposal within

the active coastal cell from which the material was

dredged (thus maintaining the sediment supply within

the coastal cell and lowering the risk of coastal

erosion).

� Maintain natural processes and biodiversity on

coastal habitats such as saltmarsh, sand dune and

machair through sensitive agricultural and

recreational management.

� Improve understanding of the impacts of seaweed

harvesting on coastal erosion.

� Extend the Natural Heritage Futures framework to the

marine environment with the identification of distinct

marine areas and the development of targeted

policies.

S H O R T T E R M ( 0 - 5 Y E A R S )O N G O I N G M E D I U M T E R M ( 5 - 1 5 Y E A R S ) L O N G T E R M ( 1 5 - 2 5 Y E A R S )

Kelp forests provide habitat for many other species of faunaand flora

3 3C O A S T S A N D S E A S O b j e c t i v e s

O b j e c t i v e 3

To safeguard and enhance maritimebiodiversity and ecosystems

The sea, like other environments, comprises a natural

biodiversity of species forming a food web from planktonic

‘producers’ to top predators; large fish, birds, whales, and

including people. The balance of this ecosystem has been

seriously disrupted by many factors, principally, exploitation of

whales (historically), fish, shellfish, and by pollution.

Marine Protected Areas in various forms and at different

scales would bring benefits for the natural heritage by

providing areas where the wildlife of the sea and seabed can

develop to their full potential. The EC Birds and Habitats

Directives and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan will help to

address the need to protect and enrich biodiversity. The EC

Directives require assessment and monitoring of the condition

of identified habitats and species on designated sites and put

in place wider policy measures to protect wildlife. Biodiversity

Action Plans have set targets for threatened habitats and

species, which should be achieved by 2014. Habitat plans

include coastal habitats such as sand dune, machair, saltmarsh,

lagoons and sea grasses. Species plans include fishes, reef-

building species and rare seaweeds and invertebrates. Action

at local level is being encouraged by local biodiversity action

plans under development for all local authority areas in

Scotland. SNH is exploring the potential of marine national

parks to help achieve a sustainable coastal environment.

Marine mammals such as whales, dolphins and seals

suffer from by-catch, pollution and disturbance. Populations

should be restored and protected by reducing by-catch,

improving water quality, and avoiding disturbance or

harassment by whale-watching tourism or other activities.

Codes of conduct can help to achieve this (see Objective 8).

Seals are significant predators of fish including salmon and an

integral part of the marine ecosystem. Active management of

numbers may need to be reviewed in collaboration with

interested parties.

Cliff habitats and rock platforms exhibit unique geological

features and host some of the most important seabird colonies

in Europe. These are fairly robust habitats and damage is

localised. However, an undesirable consequence of the landfill

tax is the occurrence of more fly-tipping on cliff habitats, and

measures are required to address this. Agricultural incentives

could be used to maintain the biodiversity of cliff-top maritime

heath and grasslands or other coastal habitats such as

saltmarsh.

Seabirds that breed on cliff-top habitats may be disturbed by

agriculture, including grazing, or by recreational activities such

as wildlife watching, rock-climbing and walking, especially with

uncontrolled dogs, but with careful management most colonies

can be viewed and enjoyed by visitors. Predation by rats and

mink is a significant pressure in some areas. Bird colonies are

particularly important in raising awareness and understanding

of the natural heritage.

Maerl is an important feature of Scotland’s coastal waters. It is

widely distributed on the west coast and Northern Isles, but the

physical conditions it requires means that it only occupies a

small percentage of the seabed. It is an important habitat for a

high diversity of associated invertebrate species that live in the

refuges provided between the nodules. Maerl plants are

extremely slow growing and beds have a very slow rate of

accumulation. Therefore, recovery from extraction by dredging

or fishing activities is likely to take hundreds of years. Extraction

could therefore be considered unsustainable.

There is a risk of the introduction of alien species or human

disease pathogens to Scottish waters from ships’ hulls and

ballast water. Further measures are required to control and

manage ballast water discharges in Scottish waters to minimise

the threat of introductions. In addition, international control of

harmful anti-fouling systems for ships’ hulls is required to avoid

causing further pollution damage while attempting to prevent

transfer of organisms by attachment to ships’ hulls.

Objectives

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Bottlenose dolphin off Aberdeen

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ACTIONS

� Develop a Scottish coastal strategy including an

integrated management framework, designated sites

and wider environmental measures to provide

effective protective mechanisms for the natural

heritage of the coasts and seas.

� Designate marine Natura 2000 sites (SPA and SAC)

and secure appropriate management.

� Implement maritime habitats, species and local

biodiversity action plans to achieve targets relevant to

Scotland.

� Safeguard up to 15% of the sea and coast within

areas of special care and protection.

� Reduce by-catch of cetaceans and other non-target

species through fisheries policies and technical

measures.

� Review options for the management of predator/prey

issues such as seal numbers.

� Ensure developments on rocky cliffs and coastline

maintain the natural heritage and biodiversity value

of the coastline.

� Improve data and knowledge about the maritime

natural heritage and map the locations of special sites

on charts, etc, to enable other sea users to avoid

causing damage e.g. by anchoring or the use of

towed gear.

� Increase enforcement of regulations against fly-

tipping to protect coastal habitats.

� Clarify the distribution and abundance of maerl, and

minimise extraction.

� Ensure anti-fouling and ballast water control and

management measures are in place to prevent the

further introduction of non-native species, or disease

from ballast water or from ships’ hulls.

� Implement recommendations of the Donaldson report

to protect coastal areas, such as the Minch, at risk

from shipping, e.g. through the identification of

Marine Environmental High Risk Assessment

(MEHRAs).

� Use agri-environmental measures to protect and

enhance coastal biodiversity habitats and species.

O b j e c t i v e 4

To safeguard and enhance the finescenery and diverse character ofcoastal seascapes and landscapes

Many of the most diverse and stunning coastal landscapes and

seascapes are represented in the suite of National Scenic

Areas (NSA). Current proposals to improve and better

integrate land use and planning in these areas should inform

best practice for management of coastal landscapes more

generally. Cliffs and sea lochs are generally not highly

developed for industrial, urban or tourism uses and represent

some of the most attractive coastal landscapes contributing to

the character of Scotland. In addition to conveying an

important ‘sense of place’ for residents they attract many

visitors and are economically important to the tourist industry

locally and nationally. The extensive unspoilt beaches, as in the

Outer Clyde, Solway, Northern and Western Isles, Moray Firth

and East Lothian are valuable tourist resources that should be

managed as part of wider shoreline and coastal planning

policies.

There is considerable potential for coastal and offshore

renewable energy but the visual impacts can create

resistance from the public and agencies. The growth of this

sector needs to be viewed as part of a nationwide strategy for

exploiting renewable energy potential and locations selected

as part of wider coastal and maritime integrated management

policies. Developments must be carefully designed and sited

with regard to landscape character, making use of Landscape

Character Assessments (LCAs).

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Lighthouse on cliffs, Neist Point, Skye

3 5C O A S T S A N D S E A S O b j e c t i v e s

Landscapes in the more developed firths and urban coastlines

are dominated by industry and infrastructure. Some features

such as the Forth Bridges have become part of the cultural

landscape, highlighted by the proposal of the Rail Bridge as a

World Heritage Site. Developed coastlines often provide much

valued recreational areas for the local community and the

natural heritage of the coastline must be used wisely and

sustainably. Integrated Coastal Zone Management

programmes should take account of the local community

requirements and aspirations for the coast. The landscape and

coastal process impacts of all new developments on developed

and wild coastline should be fully assessed.

Large-scale aggregate extraction from coastal superquarries

has the potential for significant adverse impacts on the

landscape as well as local impacts on amenity and

biodiversity. Such developments need to be evaluated against

a complex range of issues, including the sustainable use of

natural resources and balancing local and regional or national

interests.

ACTIONS

� Ensure a strategic approach to marine and coastal

development, allowing only those for which a coastal

location is essential and relating site and design to

seascape character.

� Consider adverse visual impact of all coastal and

marine development proposals, particularly from

settlements and popular coastal and sea-based tourist

routes, and implement strategies for avoidance or

mitigation of visual impact.

� Develop a nationwide strategy for exploiting the

potential for renewable energy that seeks to direct

development towards areas of least landscape and

visual impact sensitivity.

� Ensure coastal and shoreline integrated management

initiatives:

are informed by approaches in National Scenic

Areas to integrate land use in coastal landscapes;

and

incorporate local people’s values and aspirations

for the coastal landscape.

� Enforce regulations that prohibit deposition of litter

and fly-tipping on coastal habitat and promote

removal of discarded plant, machinery, fencing and

other artefacts that impact on the landscape.

O b j e c t i v e 5

To enhance populations of over-exploited commercial fish species andensure that fishing is sustainable

Overfishing has wide-ranging implications for both the

exploited commercial stocks and for the wider environment. It

has become increasingly clear that the current levels of fishing

are unsustainable. Annual assessments have shown that some

of the most important commercial stocks have been reduced to

a state below safe biological levels. The catching capacity of

the fishing fleet has grown beyond the level that can be

sustained by the stocks and the EC has recognised the need to

address this issue. The most important action required to allow

fish stocks to recover is for less fish to be caught, especially

small fish.

Interactions between fisheries and the wider environment

are also important. There tends to be a decline in seabed

biodiversity in areas heavily fished using towed gear. This

impact is as important for fishermen as it is for the state of the

environment because of the negative impact that reduced

seabed biodiversity will have on the capacity of fish stocks for

recovery. There are also complex interactions between

seabirds and cetaceans and fisheries. While the populations of

some seabirds have been artificially elevated by an

abundance of discarded fish and offal, there may have been

negative impacts on other species due to reduced food

availability. Fishermen are concerned about the quantity of fish

taken by predators such as seals.

Changes in the physical marine environment also influence

the state of fisheries. Global warming may cause changes in

ocean current and circulation patterns and increased seawater

temperatures are known to have a negative impact on cod, a

cold-water species. It is therefore clear that the management of

fisheries cannot be conducted in isolation from the complexities

Objectives

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A modern pelagic trawler

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of the supporting environment. The quality of the marine

environment must lie at the heart of fisheries policy.

The Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) provides the framework

for fisheries management within UK waters. The current CFP

mechanism comes to an end in 2002 and this provides an

opportunity to establish a management system that takes a

much more holistic ecosystem-based approach with greater

application of the precautionary principle. Marine Protected

Areas, including control of some fishing activities, could play

an important role within this framework, defining areas where

fishing activities can be regulated (or excluded) and creating a

stock reservoir from which populations in the wider seas can

recover. Increased local management of fisheries is required at

least for inshore fisheries and the Integrated Coastal Zone

Management (ICZM) approach could be used to develop

greater community and stakeholder participation in

management of fisheries.

ACTIONS

� Influence the review of the CFP, and fisheries

management generally, to ensure that:

fishery and environmental objectives are more

effectively integrated;

management focuses initially on the recovery of

depleted stocks;

targeted and effective reduction in fishing effort

and capacity is achieved;

management takes a longer-term perspective than

is currently the case;

management takes an ecosystem-based approach

with greater application of the precautionary

principle;

the CFP is decentralised with an institutional

framework based on the existing inshore limits and

a regionalised approach; and

appropriate management tools such as the

zonation of fishing activity are encouraged,

bringing benefits for fisheries and the conservation

of biodiversity.

� Develop new approaches to management of inshore

fisheries using the principles of ICZM.

O b j e c t i v e 6

To ensure that salmon farming andother types of aquaculture areenvironmentally sustainable

There is growing evidence that salmon farming has significant

natural heritage impacts and will require some change if it is to

be environmentally sustainable. Salmon farming often

severely pollutes the seabed, destroying the natural biodiversity

directly under the cages, and altering the species present over

a much larger area. These changes usually take years to

recover. The effects can be reduced to some extent if farms are

located carefully to ensure maximum flushing of the site. In the

past, the salmon farming industry has used waste fish from the

fishing industry for the production of salmon feed. This practice

may enhance unsustainable exploitation of already pressured

fish stocks and is an inefficient use of fish protein. Fishfarming is

now seeking to use more sustainable sources of fish protein.

Escaped farmed fish are genetically different from Scottish wild

salmon with different reproductive and growth characteristics.

Despite the adoption of the code of practice on containment

by SQS (Scottish Quality Salmon) members, there is some

evidence that interbreeding of escaped fish with wild fish is

diluting the genetic make up of native stocks. Sea lice parasite

numbers increase on caged salmon and tend to increase

infection levels in wild fish that appear to be more sensitive to

their effects. Better husbandry is needed to limit the levels of

sea lice infestation on farmed salmon to protect wild fish.

Better regulation of the industry is required to ensure all the

environmental costs are assessed and taken into account

before further development of fishfarming takes place.

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A catch of herring is unloaded on the quay

3 7C O A S T S A N D S E A S O b j e c t i v e s

‘Organic’ salmon farms should be promoted, utilising waste

from fish processing and unavoidable by-catch as the principal

source of food, with lower stocking densities and minimal use

of chemical treatments. The efforts of SQS to promote the

implementation of independently accredited environmental

management systems (ISO 14001) throughout the industry

should help to reduce impacts.

Shellfish aquaculture has comparatively little environmental

impact since the culture of shellfish does not require the

addition of organic feed, biocides or pharmaceuticals to

reduce disease or infection. There may be landscape and

visual amenity concerns and some impact on the seabed from

the build-up of pseudo-faeces. The industry has common

objectives with natural heritage interests in requiring a very

high water quality to avoid shellfish diseases. The actions

under objective 3 in relation to water quality will benefit

shellfish farming and the further implementation of the Water

Framework Directive could provide a boost for the industry.

The impacts of introducing non-native species to Scottish

waters by the fin-fish and shellfish aquaculture industry have

highlighted the need to maintain the native biodiversity and

genetic pool of species in coastal habitats. Strong regulatory

measures are required to prevent the aquaculture industry

introducing alien species of fin-fish, including genetically

modified stocks, or shellfish, without a comprehensive

understanding of the potential impacts on native biodiversity.

Species introduced for aquaculture are certain to escape to the

wild and may interbreed with native stock reducing its chances

of survival, or they may establish competing populations with

impacts on native biodiversity. They may also bring new

diseases or pathogens into the Scottish environment that could

damage local biodiversity.

ACTIONS

� Develop a strategic approach to the selection of sites

for salmon farming that takes account of the carrying

capacity of coastal waters.

� Support the detailed siting and design of marine

aquaculture to minimise visual impacts on the

seascape character.

� Move existing and place new fishfarms away from

the mouths of salmon rivers and the migratory routes

of salmon and sea trout, to promote the recovery of

wild stock that have been damaged by impacts of

fishfarms e.g. through sea lice infection.

� Develop and implement strategies for sea lice

management to reduce the impacts of treatment on

the environment.

� Work with the industry and regulatory authorities to

develop policy and guidelines for the sustainable

management of salmon farms that take account of

natural heritage considerations.

� Encourage the adoption of the principles of ‘organic’

salmon farming.

� Ensure that salmon farming does not increase the

exploitation of other fish populations.

� Encourage fishfarms to adopt an independently

accredited industry standard environmental

management system such as ISO 14001.

� Implement fully the Shellfish Waters Directive by

designating more sites in Scottish waters.

� Implement the Water Framework Directive to enhance

water quality around Scotland.

� Promote the use of stock of local origin for

aquaculture and prohibit introduction of alien or

genetically modified (GM) species until the potential

impacts on local biodiversity from escapes or disease

introduction are understood.

� Use fallowing cycles that allow time for benthos

recovery as well as the breaking of disease cycles.

Objectives

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Oyster farming

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O b j e c t i v e 7

To improve the water quality ofestuaries and seas

The Water Framework Directive will integrate current water

legislation and should bring further improvements to coastal

water quality within at least one nautical mile from the coast.

It will include new standards and classification systems as well

as improved pollution regulation, monitoring, and the

introduction of obligations to progress integrated river basin

planning. The most pressing issues for Scottish coastal water

quality are the need to address effluents entering the marine

environment from storm water out-falls, fishfarms, small effluent

inputs from isolated communities and diffuse pollution sources

such as run-off from agricultural land.

Pollution tends to have a disproportionate impact on those

species that are rare or unusual because these species tend to

be in a more delicate balance with the ecosystem and are

more sensitive to novel chemicals or reduced levels of oxygen

in the water. The reduction in biodiversity is difficult to reverse

as these species have the narrowest ecosystem requirements.

The seabed biodiversity in estuaries and coastal waters has

been reduced as a result of heavy pollution from urban areas

and industry but is now recovering. The diversity of dependent

bird populations has been reduced although the abundance of

certain species has increased – these are now altering to more

‘natural’ levels. Efforts to further reduce pollution, particularly

from diffuse sources should continue.

Chemicals such as tributyl tin and endocrine disrupters require

tighter regulation at source to reduce their impacts on water

quality and wildlife. There are continued risks of oil pollution

from general shipping as well as production and transportation

of oil. Local authorities should be given a statutory

responsibility not only for preparation of oil spill plans but also

the provision of clean-up resources. ‘Best practice’

developments within the industry are driving major oil

companies towards zero emissions on new developments so

that greater risks are only associated with production on older

platforms. Pollution is also a risk from the decommissioning of

oil installations.

Certain types of marine litter are particularly dangerous and

exact a significant toll on seabirds, marine mammals and

turtles. Perhaps the worst culprits are plastic bags that can be

ingested, discarded fishing gear and plastic rings which

entangle wildlife. Sewage debris is also a problem in many

parts of Scotland. Legislation and regulation exists to prevent

the dumping of marine litter but requires improved policing.

Better facilities are now provided at most ports and harbours

for the safe disposal of waste, but there is a need to

encourage their proper use. Effort should focus on raising

awareness of the potential danger of litter to wildlife, changing

attitudes towards dumping waste into the marine environment

and improving traceability of dumped materials.

ACTIONS:

� Use the Water Framework Directive to achieve further

improvements in water quality and to restore natural

coastal biodiversity.

� Maintain adequate oil spill contingency plans, give

local authorities a statutory duty to contribute clean-

up resources. Strengthen environmental protection

measures in the oil production industry.

� Improve removal at source of all toxic substances in

coastal waters.

� Improve the enforcement of regulations to control

discharges and waste disposal from shipping.

� Ensure compliance with the requirements imposed on

shipping by Marine Environmental High Risk Areas

(MEHRA).

� Develop a wide partnership project to tackle marine

litter, improve traceability of materials and promote

better enforcement of regulations on disposal of

waste at sea.

Marine litter can be dangerous to wildlife

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O b j e c t i v e 8

To promote access to the sea and coastfor public enjoyment and recreation

For everyone’s benefit, it is essential to maintain those qualities

that make the coast so special: its beauty, diversity and

wildness. There is a public right to access and recreation on

the foreshore in Scotland. In the main, coastal habitats can

accommodate high visitor numbers, but problems can arise in

the absence of careful management. Issues include erosion of

dunes due to trampling of the vegetation; beaches spoilt by

litter and sewage; disturbance to cliff and coastal nesting birds

from recreational activities; poorly sited caravan sites

presenting an eyesore in otherwise wild landscapes. Some

parts of the coastline are fragile and we need to be aware of

how much impact our activities cause. There is a need to

ensure that visitors act responsibly, have regard to the

management activities on coastal areas, and respect the needs

of other recreational users. This is vital if we are to conserve

the quality of our coastline and ensure that it can be enjoyed

by many generations to come.

Unless carefully managed and operated with concern, wildlife

tourism trips can disturb and harass the animals leading to

reduced feeding and breeding success and potentially

increased mortality. Concern about the Moray Firth bottlenose

dolphins from a concentration of boat tours has led to the

introduction of a voluntary code of practice. The adoption of

such codes should help ensure that wildlife tourism continues

as a sustainable industry in the Scottish tourism sector with

opportunities for environmental education and raising

awareness of the marine natural heritage.

The numbers of beaches achieving the standards of bathing

water beaches is increasing but further designation requires

the development of facilities such as car parks and toilets that

must be carefully sited to avoid impact on the landscape. The

scope of the EC Bathing Waters Directive should be extended

to protect the health of those who participate in water contact

sports such as surfing, water-skiing and windsurfing.

ACTIONS

� Plan for the recreational use of coasts, and promote

responsible access to the sea and coast and to

maritime recreational resources, linked to well-

planned visitor management.

� Improve water quality for bathing, extend the Bathing

Waters Directive to protect the health of people who

practice water contact recreation, designate more

bathing water beaches and provide better

information on safe bathing beaches.

� Increase the length and quality of coastal paths,

create links to form a better network of paths and

develop well-planned interpretation.

� Identify and promote the use of appropriate areas of

the coast for water sports and promote codes of

behaviour for these sports.

� Develop and promote the use of codes of conduct for

cetacean watching, crag climbing, wild-fowling and

other recreational activities.

� Ensure wildlife tourism is operated responsibly and

that codes of practice are in place and adhered to by

operators and participants.

Objectives

Kayakers, Elgol, Skye

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National public bodies

Community Learning, Scotland

Crofters Commission

Crown Estate

Defence Estates

Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (UK)

Department of Trade and Industry (UK)

Forest Enterprise

Forestry Commission

Forward Scotland

Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Historic Scotland

Joint Nature Conservation Committee

Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Northern Lighthouse Board

Royal Navy

Scottish Biodiversity Group

Scottish Enterprise

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

Scottish Executive and Departments

Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

Scottish Natural Heritage

Scottish Parliament

Scottish Water

Sea Fish Industry Authority

Sportscotland

VisitScotland

Local authority and other local interests

Community Councils, trusts and other groups

Firths Partnerships

Local Authorities

Local Biodiversity Action Plan partnerships

Local Enterprise Companies

Local Record Centres

Local Rural Partnerships

Police

Port and harbour authorities

Stak

ehol

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C O A S T S A N D S E A S S t a k e h o l d e r s

S t a k e h o l d e r sThe stakeholders listed below all have interests in the natural heritage of Coasts and Seas. To work towards the Vision,further work is required with stakeholders to develop more specific objectives linked, where necessary, to action plans.

Note: For categories which encompass a large number of bodies, e.g. non land-managing environmental NGOs, recreational groups andindustry, organisations are not listed individually.

Land/water and marine management groups and

representatives

Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers

District Salmon Fishery Boards

Farming and Wildlife Advisory Groups

National Farmers’ Union of Scotland

Paths For All Partnership

Professional institutes

Scottish Crofting Foundation

Scottish Fishermen’s Federation

Scottish Gamekeepers Association

Scottish Landowners’ Federation

Scottish Quality Salmon

Scottish Whitefish Producers Association

Recreation and sporting representative bodies

Industry and their representatives

Non-governmental organisations with direct land

management interests

John Muir Trust

National Trust for Scotland

Scottish Wildlife Trust

Royal Society for the Protection of Birds

Other non-governmental organisations with environmental

interests, including Scottish Environment Link

Education, research and advisory organisations

Fisheries Research Services

Fisheries Trusts

Game Conservancy Trust

Scottish Agricultural College

Scottish Association for Marine Science

Scottish Coastal Forum

Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group

Sea Mammal Research Unit

Research institutes

Universities and colleges

P I C T U R E C R E D I T S :

Cover photography:

Main photograph: MNCR/SNH

Inset photographs: John Charity/SNH; George Lees/SNH; Lorne Gill/SNH; Sue Scott

Dave Ainsley: p31

Laurie Campbell: p7

John Charity: P15 (R), p20 (bottom), p37

Lorne Gill/SNH: p5 (R), p6, p10 (R x2), p11 (L), p12 (R), p13, p16, p18, p22, p23, p25 (R), p29, p30,

p34, p38

Hull Maritime Museum: p27 (R)

George Lees/SNH: p8 (bottom)

George Logan: p17, p21, p39

MNCR/SNH: p9 (L), p14

P & A Macdonald/SNH: p4, p5 (L), p8 (top), p10 (L), p11 (R), p12 (L), p25 (L), p27 (L)

John MacPherson/Scotland in Focus: p20 (top)

Chris Martin/SNH: p35, p36

Keith Ringland: p33

Sue Scott: p9 (R), p15 (L), p19 (L and R), p32, p33

Wavegen: p24

1 Shetland2 Orkney and Northern Caithness 3 Coll, Tiree and the Western Isles4 North West Seaboard5 The Peatlands of Caithness and Sutherland6 Western Seaboard7 Northern Highlands8 Western Highlands9 North East Coastal Plain

10 Central Highlands11 Cairngorms Massif12 North East Glens13 East Lochaber14 Argyll West and Islands15 Loch Lomond, The Trossachs and Breadalbane16 Eastern Lowlands17 West Central Belt18 Wigtown Machars and Outer Solway 19 Western Southern Uplands and Inner Solway20 Border Hills21 Moray Firth

Further copies are available from:

Publications Section, Scottish Natural Heritage,

Battleby, Redgorton, Perth PH1 3EW

T: 01738 444177

F: 01738 458613

E: pubs@snh.gov.uk

W: www.snh.org.uk

S C O T T I S H N A T U R A L H E R I T A G E

is a government body established by Parliament in 1992, responsible to the Scottish Executive and Scottish Parliament.

Our mission:

Working with Scotland’s people to care for our natural

heritage.

Our aim:

Scotland’s natural heritage is a local, national and global

asset. We promote its care and improvement, its

responsible enjoyment, its greater understanding and

appreciation and its sustainable use now and for future

generations.

Our operating principles:

We work in partnership, by co-operation, negotiation and

consensus, where possible, with all relevant interests in

Scotland: public, private and voluntary organisations, and

individuals.

We operate in a devolved manner, delegating decision

making to the local level within the organisation to

encourage and assist SNH to be accessible, sensitive and

responsive to local needs and circumstances.

We operate in an open and accountable manner in all

our activities.

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