A vision for National Marine Parks in Scotland - Blue Marine Foundation
Ninety years after a government report first discussed national parks in Scotland, and almost twenty since the first two were established, coastal and marine experts are calling on the country to celebrate the full range of its environmental riches and to create a new generation of national parks embracing the sea as well as the land.
As people flock to open spaces and beaches to recover from a year of lockdowns, leading charities are asking why an incomparably beautiful country such as Scotland has so few national parks and no marine parks – when they could bring in substantial tourist income.
A new report, ‘Vision for National Marine Parks’ commissioned by Blue Marine Foundation (BLUE), reveals the extent that leaders in coastal communities are beginning to explore how community-led national marine parks could boost economic growth, public health and economic recovery and revolutionise how the public views the ocean in a future Scotland.
They say that local agreement on up to three national parks along the Scottish coast is possible in the next five years, led by communities not by government. Among those areas where community interest has been demonstrated are Argyll Coast and Islands, where a coastal and marine park was suggested by the local authority as recently as 2017. On the south coast, Galloway is an area where both past studies and recent consultation by a local campaign group have revealed local support for a national park which could extend into the sea. Further north and east the idea has been mooted in places as diverse as Fair Isle, Shetland and the Western Isles and BLUE’s main vision report includes Berwickshire and the Northumberland coast. However, the locations and boundaries of any national coastal and marine park would be for communities to decide.
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Posted On: 08/06/2021