By 1990, the UK had three marine reserves –measuring 200km2 throughout the entirety of the British Isles. These – to some degree – protected species and habitats from damaging activity. Added to this was the nascent European marine protected area network, called Natura 2000 as a result of the Habitats and Birds Directives – EU Directives designed to protect and restore biodiversity as a result of the original Rio Biodiversity Convention (COP) in 1992.
Scotland’s Seas: An Environmental and Economic Opportunity
Scotland’s seas are six times larger than our land area and among the most ecologically important in the world. They support internationally important marine wildlife, globally significant ecosystems and the coastal economies that depend upon them.
16 September 2026
