Marine protected areas

BIRD charity RSPB is calling on the Scottish government to designate a network of marine protected areas (MPAs) for seabirds and other marine wildlife.

The RSPB said that despite the government committing itself to setting up such a network by the end of 2012, there is not a single protected area safeguarding the important places where seabirds feed at sea.

Senior marine policy officer Kara Brydson said seabird populations in Shetland and Orkney particularly were in trouble, some reserves indicating severe long term decline.

“The Scottish government has all the necessary tools to protect seabirds – and it is time to use them,” she said, presenting a petition to environment secretary Richard Lochhead.

The secretary said he welcomed the approach and that he intended to report plans to create a network of MPAs to Parliament this year.