Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
Special Protection Areas (SPAs) are classified under the Birds Directive, which requires the Member States of the European Community to identify and classify the most suitable territories, in size and number, for certain rare or vulnerable species (listed in Annex I of the Directive) and for regularly occurring migratory species. SPAs are intended to safeguard the habitats of the species for which they are selected and to protect the birds from significant disturbance.
Situated at the north-west of Europe and possessing a wide variety of wild and semi-natural habitats, Scotland is internationally important for many species of wild birds. SPAs represent the most valuable sites for these species and are therefore of great importance in an international context. At the end of March 2010, 148 Scottish SPAs had been classified for 79 species, covering a total area of approximately 671,315 hectares. 62 provide protection to species of seabirds. In addition there are 3 SPAs which have been subsumed into larger sites since their initial classification.
Unlike the Habitats Directive, the earlier Birds Directive contains no specific criteria for site selection, so SPAs in the UK are identified using Selection Guidelines published by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee. These are based primarily on the number of birds of a given species or group of species which use sites regularly, for breeding and / or wintering. The guidelines also take into consideration factors such as population density, breeding success and history of occupancy by a given species. Many SPAs in Scotland are wetland areas, such as estuaries or lochs, which are also designated under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance.
Current Marine Activities
Marine Scotland is working with SNH and JNCC to identify possibly important inshore aggregations of waterbirds around the Scottish Coast. Such SPAs would recognise the important feeding areas in the open sea used by aggregations of waterfowl during the non-breeding season that are essential for the individual species survival. Further analysis will be undertaken before scientific advice is submitted to Scottish Ministers.
JNCC is also undertaking analyses to identify any important offshore areas for seabirds. The maps below along with their titles, legends and captions should be read and interpreted carefully. They show wider search or survey areas and spatial analyses to inform the development of advice to Government. SNH and JNCC have not completed their final advice to Government and the maps do not imply any action by Government to classify as SPAs any of these locations or parts of them.
Map of important seabird concentrations being considered in an SPA context
Map of classified SPAs, pSPAs and areas of search (AoS) for inshore aggregations of waterbirds and Balearic shearwater outwith the breeding season
Map of breeding shag SPAs, breeding tern SPAs, and important areas for breeding red-throated divers
Conservation measures in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 include powers for the creation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the duty to create a network of MPAs.