Scotland's fragile marine habitats need protection

SCOTLAND has a wealth beyond price in her coastline.

The seas that surround us are home to a wonderful diversity of habitats and species that are of local and global importance. With a growth in our knowledge and understanding of wildlife and habitat, and the critical interdependence of the two, there are now calls for action to ensure that such wildlife is afforded the protection it needs. We have two outstanding national parks in Scotland helping to protect species that are native to large areas of hill and glen. So why not a marine park, or a series of them, to protect and enhance the diversity of sea life that exists in and around our shores?

As a new report makes clear, Scotland's seas contain some of the most special marine environments in the world, but they are almost completely unprotected from human exploitation. The report eloquently warns that human activities are beginning to change the fundamental "web of life" under the waves. And it spells out the economic and environmental consequences if this is allowed to continue. Reserves, or "marine protected areas", would form a central plank of measures taken to reverse this trend.

The report, written for the umbrella group Scottish Environmental Link (SEL), coincides with growing calls at Westminster for a "marine act" to provide the planning framework within which sustainable development of our seas can be achieved, as well as setting aside conservation zones. It may thus come to have a significant impact in informing and shaping attitudes to marine conservation here in Scotland.

It has identified 31 sites around the coast, including St Kilda, the Firth of Forth and the Sound of Mull, which could become the basis for a network of marine reserves to protect the exceptional biodiversity and nationally important marine wildlife that is to be found around Scotland's coasts.

As much of our coastline is rarely disturbed by human encroachment and is for long stretches uninhabited, there would seem little need for marine legislation or the full apparatus of a national park. But there are several reasons for giving these proposals consideration. First, there is ample evidence around much of Scotland's coastline - in particular the Clyde and Forth estuaries - of human spoliation where co-ordinated effort is needed to limit and reverse that damage. Second, we need to protect those areas of coastline that are currently a valued habitat for marine wildlife. Third, an intelligent programme of zoning will itself enhance our understanding of marine life and provide an excellent educational resource for our young people. Such actions in aggregate should also enhance Scotland as an eco-tourism destination.

The immediate spur to action is the evidence that human activity is altering the web of life that the sea supports. Action to improve the management of the sea now should help the process of recovery of its health and abundant productivity.