Scottish Government's Marine Directorate

Our consultation on the draft Scottish Seabird Conservation Action Plan closes on 5 March 2025. Take part at https://lnkd.in/dqWyyYbG

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has welcomed record high export figures for Scottish salmon and noted our commitment to sustainable growth for the sector.

Only two weeks until the 7th ScotMER (Scottish Marine Energy Research Programme) Symposium. Have you booked your free place? Join us at this four-day online event to hear about research to improve the evidence base around how offshore renewables impact on the marine environment and other users of the sea. Topics include ornithology, marine mammals, fish and fisheries, diadromous fish, benthic ecology, physical processes and socioeconomics. There are also limited spaces for an in-person day taking place at the Stirling Court Hotel on Wednesday 26 February. Take a look at our programme and book now at https://lnkd.in/ekARzMwk For reports and findings from recent ScotMER research projects visit https://lnkd.in/esiT87S4 #scotmer #marineenergy #offshoreenergy #marineenvironment NatureScot JNCC Natural England RSPB Crown Estate Scotland The Crown Estate Cefas Scottish Renewables RenewableUK The Carbon Trust Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Pacific Northwest National Laboratory National Renewable Energy Laboratory MASTS Scotland Ocean and Coastal Futures (OCF)

📢 New PrePARED Report Release! 📢   The latest report by the #PrePAREDProject (Predators and Prey Around Renewable Energy Developments project) compares environmental conditions at offshore wind farms sites studied in the PrePARED project with the rest of the UK. The sixth report from the project, "Similarity assessment of offshore wind farms within UK marine habitats" has been published by the University of Exeter at https://lnkd.in/eHHk7jHE Findings from Report 6 include: • The east coast of Scotland and most of the North Sea were found to be most like the PrePARED study sites, with seasonal variations. • Future offshore wind farms were more like the PrePARED study sites than existing operational farms. • Wind farms with grounded jackets revealed significantly higher similarity to Firth of Forth study sites in comparison to floating and grounded monopile wind farms. This indicates potential transferability of PrePARED findings to other UK offshore wind farms. For further reports from the PrePARED project can be found at https://lnkd.in/eVjbDWsC The Crown Estate Crown Estate Scotland SMRU Consulting #renewableenergy #offshorewind #marinehabitats

Fisheries Management Scotland has published new catch and release best practice guidelines for Scotland’s anglers to help protect wild Atlantic salmon. We continue to work with our delivery partners to progress our Wild Salmon Strategy and support the recovery of this iconic species in Scotland’s rivers and coastal waters. #scottishsalmon #atlanticsalmon #wildsalmonstrategy

We’re counting down to the 7th ScotMER Symposium taking place online from 25 to 28 February! We’ll hear from a range of national and international research projects looking to improve the evidence base around how offshore renewable energy developments may affect the marine environment and other users of the sea. The event is free to attend and there are also limited places for the in-person day in Stirling on 26 February. Book now to secure your space at https://lnkd.in/ekARzMwk #ScotMER #marineenvironment #offshoreenergy

From 7 March 2026, Remote Electronic Monitoring (REM) will be mandatory for any pelagic vessels in Scottish waters, and for Scottish pelagic vessels wherever they are fishing.     We have published guidance to help vessels to conform to the technical specifications. Vessels must also undergo a remote inspection and system test trip with our Fully Documented Fisheries Unit, which can be carried out from 7 September 2025.  Find our guidance for pelagic vessels here: https://lnkd.in/e5h6dNQJ     

The analysis report for our Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPA) consultation has been published⬇️ https://lnkd.in/eCsJ-TQn The consultation sought views on proposed management measures for 20 offshore MPAs and on a boundary amendment of the West of Scotland MPA. The responses received will help to inform how we protect marine features in these areas. #marineprotection #consultation

Less that a month to go until the 7th ScotMER Symposium! Have you booked your free place yet? ScotMER publishes research findings to address evidence gaps in our understanding of the potential impacts of offshore energy on the marine environment and other users of the sea. Last year we published 8 research publications including: ● Seabirds: strategic ornithological compensatory measures https://lnkd.in/ehEB8Shc ● Marine mammals: methodology for combining data https://lnkd.in/eYMqQ6Gc ● Diadromous fish and impact of offshore wind: review of potential evidence gaps https://lnkd.in/e6Ardr2S Join us next month to hear groundbreaking national and international research projects on these and other areas such as benthic, physical processes and socioeconomics. This four-day event takes place online but there are also a limited number of places at our in-person day on 26 February at the Stirling Court Hotel, Stirling. Visit https://lnkd.in/ekARzMwk to book your place. #scotmer #marineenergy #offshoreenergy #marineenvironment

Our consultation on the National Marine Plan 2 Planning Position Statement is closing soon. Find out more and have your say at https://lnkd.in/dgqZtNME by Friday 7 February. #marineplanning #blueeconomy