Scotland's Wildlife – an assessment of biodiversity in 20

TARGET Summary of progress Progress
by Dec
2010
3 A3.2 Principal pollutant pressures on marine biodiversity
substantially reduced by 2010, and again by 2013.
Levels of monitored contaminants in the open
seas have decreased significantly. The main
contamination problems which are identified
are in part due to the legacy of the past -
levels of metals in marine sediments and
eutrophication of certain estuaries (Scotland's
Sea, 2008).
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Comments
94% of bathing waters
achieved the EU
mandatory standard ,
(Bathing Waters Report,
2009).
3 A3.3 Ecosystem approach to the protection of the seas in
place and implying fisheries management measures
no later than 2016.
The Marine Scotland Act (2010) introduced
marine ecosystem objectives into national
and regional marine plans.
However, one measure of marine ecosystem
integrity, the proportion of large fish caught in
the North Sea, has declined from 15% in the
early 1980s to 5% in 2000 and has fluctuated
around this lower level since then.
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Marine nature
conservation strategy
developed with 3 pillar
approach. Marine Scotland
is developing a set of
national marine ecosystem
objectives to guide the
marine planning process.
3 A3.4 Substantially enhanced funding provided to
environmentally-friendly fisheries management from
2007 onwards.
3 A3.5 Stock levels maintained or restored to levels that
can produce maximum sustainable yield, where
possible no later than 2015.
The Conservation Credits Scheme, funded
through the European Fisheries Fund, makes
grants available to vessels to support the cost
of switching to modern gear that reduces bycatch.
Of the 11 continental shelf finfish stocks
where assessments have been made,
five (45%) were not at full reproductive
capacity in 2007, (Scotland's Biodiversity
Indicators)
Green
Red
A licence parking scheme
has recently been
introduced at the cost of
£8M which will significantly
reduce both capacity and
impact of Scotland's
whitefish and nephrops
fleets.
In 2009, 74% of the Total
Allowable Catch Scotland's
key commercial fish stocks
was set in line with
scientific guidance.
(National Performance
Framework Indicator).
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