How we can save Scotland's ocean wildlife
From the smallest Puffin to the largest whale, Scotland's marine wildlife needs our help.
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Scotland's seas are home to extraordinary wildlife.
It's here that you'll find raucous seabird cities, swaying seagrass meadows and otherworldly kelp forests, Basking Sharks gorging on plankton and Otters scurrying through rockpools.
Sounding the alarm
Sadly, Scotland's sea life is in serious trouble.
As top predators, seabirds are a good indicator of ocean health. If marine wildlife is doing well, there will be enough food for seabird colonies to thrive. But sadly, 70% of seabird species in Scotland – including Puffins, Gannets and Guillemots – are in decline.
A new report by NatureScot has found we’ve lost 93% of Scotland’s Arctic Skuas and 75% of our Little Terns since 1986. It also found seabird breeding success is decreasing over the long term. This reflects a worrying picture for ocean ecosystems.
Over decades, precious habitats and species have faced ongoing threats including unsustainable industrial fishing, climate change, and poorly located offshore wind developments. The depletion of ocean life affects us all; we need healthy seas to support ecosystems, fishing and communities.
Seabirds are the ocean's warning system and they are sounding the alarm. Scotland's marine environment is in serious decline and needs us to act now. If we protect our habitats and ecosystems, we can help wildlife recover, and that benefits everyone."
How to bring oceans back to life
The good news is nature has an incredible ability to recover. Evidence shows when marine habitats are protected from harm, they can bloom with life once more. This abundance spills out beyond these habitats, healing ecosystems and benefiting everyone.
To help our seas thrive again, we need to protect the most important places for marine wildlife.
Scotland already has a network of Marine Protected Areas, but currently they are little more than lines on a map. Less than 30% of these areas have the necessary protections in place. That means the most destructive industrial fishing practices can still go ahead in many of them, destroying sensitive habitats and precious marine life.
How you can help
The Scottish Government has committed to a public consultation on inshore Marine Protected Areas, some of the most important places for sea life. Protections can't go ahead until this consultation is complete.
This consultation will gather people in Scotland’s views on how to protect these precious habitats and is expected to launch soon. When it does, we need your help to call for strong protections for marine wildlife.
If you haven’t already, sign up to our campaigns emails for the latest news and updates. Together we can help our seas teem with life once again.