In February 2023, NatureScot advised Scottish Ministers on the potential benefits of creating coastal and marine National Parks. These parks would protect landscapes and seascapes, support socio-economic recovery, boost tourism, and promote ocean restoration. They would also contribute to Scotland’s transition to net zero and a nature-positive future. Blue Marine supports this initiative and aims to collaborate with coastal communities to make it a reality. While the economic impact of Scotland’s National Parks has not been fully assessed, examples like Loch Lomond and Trossachs, generating £866 million annually, highlight the potential benefits. The report suggests prioritizing at least one coastal and marine National Park as a model for Scotland’s ecosystem and landscapes.
The Four Horsemen of the UK Fisheries Policy Apocalypse
The UK has the responsibility, and the policy frameworks available, to provide meaningful and lasting protection to all its marine areas. This includes the government proceeding with and concluding its plans to remove bottom trawling from MPAs, safeguarding the biodiversity and habitats that they were designed to protect.
28 September 2025