Scotland top of world for coasts and seas

Scotland has world-class seas and coastline and much of it has the potential to be a coastal and marine national park, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) said recently in its advice to the Scottish Executive.

SNH suggested ten areas which are of high quality, five of which are particularly suitable for further consideration.

SNH was asked to provide preliminary advice to ministers by the end of March 2006 on the legal and policy framework of a coastal and marine national park, as well as a list of potential areas which would be appropriate. SNH worked with a range of marine interest groups to develop the advice, and extensive public consultation will be carried out if ministers decide to go ahead with the park.

The report suggests that the strongest case for a park can be made for any one of five areas, including: Solway Firth; Argyll Islands and Coast; Ardnamurchan, Small Isles and the South Skye Coast; North Skye Coast and Wester Ross; North Uist, Sound of Harris, Harris and South Lewis. Shetland, Orkney, Barra, and the Clyde and Moray Firths fell just outside this list.

Andrew Bachell, director for strategy and operations at SNH said: “Scotland has some of the most spectacular coasts and seas in the world and it has been a challenge for us to narrow down possible areas for a coastal and marine national park. We think the five areas listed are the top candidates but there is potential in the other areas we have highlighted – which together make up around two thirds of Scotland’s coastline. Most people agree that designation as a national park is a great accolade, one which brings considerable socio-economic benefits to an area. However it is important that any new national park goes to an area where there is local public support. We have not been asked to assess that support, indeed until there were proposals about what a park might do it would be hard to consult people. Nevertheless, with so many areas appearing to be suitable there is scope for communities to make a case for their area. If the Scottish Executive decides to go ahead with a park, this will be done only with full public consultation and I would encourage people to make their views known in that process.”

Scotland’s coasts and seas are famed for their varied wildlife, spectacular scenery, rich cultural heritage and the outstanding range of opportunities these resources provide for enjoyment and recreation. The report highlights the potential for a coastal and marine national park to care for and promote the better use of these resources, as well as bringing benefits to local communities, such as through increased tourism and funding. It recommends that the park should be innovative in its approach to management, building on current work to develop a sustainable approach to fisheries and other activities that help both communities and the environment in the long term. It also concludes that a park will offer increasing opportunities for local people to be more actively involved in the planning and management of their area.

SNH assessed all of Scotland’s coastline using a number of factors, such as the area’s importance for wildlife, landscape and the historic environment, the range of opportunities it provides for people to access and enjoy the natural and cultural heritage, and its potential for management as a National Park. It has run two seminars, in Inverness and Glasgow, which attracted over 150 people from a wide range of organisations with an interest in marine and coastal issues, and has written to over 300 people to seek views on the park. In addition a stakeholder group of key national coastal and marine organisations, as well as SNH’s website, has helped to provide a forum for discussion and feedback.