Europe’s largest marine conservation area planned for Scottish waters

• Package of five new conservation areas proposed to EU

• Richard Lochhead backs protection of ‘rich and diverse ecosystems’

The proposed designation of the Hatton Bank, 310 miles West of Lewis, as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) would cover an area of 15,694 square kilometres – more than ten times the size of Fife.

A spokesman for the Scottish Government said the creation of the vast marine area of nature conservation at the Hatton Bank would form part of a package of five new SACs in offshore waters to the west and north of Scotland.

He explained: “The new sites would collectively cover an area larger than the entire Highlands region and contribute to the Marine Protected Areas network, an EU requirement under the Habitats Directive”

The other areas for proposed SAC designation are the Anton Dohrn Seamount, a subsea former volcano with steep cliffs; the East Rockall Bank; Pobie Bank off Shetland; and the Solan Bank Reef, off Cape Wrath.

Richard Lochhead, Scotland’s Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and the Environment, said: “Scotland’s seas provide rich and diverse ecosystems that are home to a wide array of plants and animals, including internationally important species. It’s our duty to protect this precious environment and these five SAC designations are a big step towards our commitments under the international Marine Protected Area networks.

“The Scottish Government and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee has carried out extensive and productive engagement with stakeholders – including the fishing industry – before these proposals were submitted.”

He added: “We are fully committed to getting the balance right between marine conservation and use of the seas to support economic growth. We will continue dialogue with stakeholders to ensure that any future management measures are well designed and appropriate.”

“Underwater landscapes such as Hatton Bank and Anton Dohrn are stunning and unique places, with dramatic crevasses and reefs that are home to thousands of species. We need to ensure these sites are protected for the benefit of both the marine environment and future generations.”