Develop high-resolution and comprehensive maps of Scotland’s blue carbon stores to support the designation of Marine Protected Areas, and implement management measures to protect the most vulnerable inshore sediments

Chapter Protect and restore Scotland's land and seas

Develop high-resolution and comprehensive maps of Scotland’s blue carbon stores to support the designation of Marine Protected Areas, and implement management measures to protect the most vulnerable inshore sediments

UK Govt

Scottish Govt

Local Authorities

International

Behaviour change

Emissions reduction

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) provide a vehicle to implement and monitor management measures for blue carbon – which also deliver for the wider marine environment. The ongoing process of introducing management measures to MPAs in both offshore and inshore areas must build on the proposals in the former Bute House Agreement and include the protection of blue carbon as an objective. In particular, the next Scottish Government should:

Ensure that all MPAs are protected from destructive activities that damage blue carbon habitats and threaten marine life.
Account for both carbon and biodiversity in designating new protected areas, to support ecosystem resilience and the role seas play in climate mitigation.
Adopt a site wide approach to managing damaging fishing activity across the offshore MPAs that were consulted on in 2024, and are now waiting for management measures to be implemented.

While actions for MPAs are important, there must also be management measures introduced to protect blue carbon habitats (including saltmarshes and seagrasses) irrespective of whether they are located within these.

Existing research and models developed in conjunction with the Blue Carbon Forum should be used to create detailed maps that will inform the selection and management of MPAs and related fisheries management. Whilst low granularity maps have been published for the UK Exclusive Economic Zone there is a need for higher granularity mapping to support the designation of protected areas.

This is particularly important for safeguarding “blue carbon hotspots” that are vulnerable to disruption from activities like bottom trawling. Precautionary measures are needed to protect fragile, organic-carbon-rich muddy sediments, especially in areas like fjordal sea lochs, regardless of whether further research on disturbed organic carbon is completed.