Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba ©

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Jam

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NH

Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

Who we are & aims• Scottish Public Agency

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• Promote the sustainable use of Scotland's natural heritage

• Promote, care for, and improve our natural heritage

• Help people enjoy nature responsibly

• Enable greater understanding and awareness of nature

Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

Role

• Advising Government and all relevant interests on everything related to the natural heritage

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We are not a Regulator

•We advise on:•Sensitivity of wildlife and landscapes to stressors/ pressures/activities•Implications for conservation•Proportionate mitigation

Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

Ways we provide advice & influence

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• Mainly…Individual activities/developments – Marine licensing (MS LOT), T&C Planning consents

(Council) & EIA

• Designated site management measures• Guidance & Policy Development

Also…. Involved with sector-specific planning • IFGs; renewables strategic plans & associated

SEAs• Marine planning (across sectors) – consider at

early stage to avoid impacts

Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

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Overview of activities capable of affecting protected features (e.g.…) • MRen developments

• Oil & Gas • Acoustic surveys• Aquaculture• Shipping• Fishing (static and mobile)• Leisure boat users• Wildlife tour operators• Anchorages• Scientific research

Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

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http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A1007918.pdf

Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

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Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

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Case study – Loch Creran SAC

• Features– Bedrock reefs– Biogenic reefs (Serpulid vermicularis; modiolus

modiolus)• Pressure

– V. sensitive to physical damage• Activities

– Moorings/anchorage– Shellfish/finfish farming– Vessel traffic (commercial and leisure)– Effluent discharge/ dumping– Scientific research

• Protection– Zonation management plan

• Closed to scallop dredging

Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

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Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

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• Feature– Bottlenose dolphin

• Pressures– Disturbance (acoustic and visual)– Vessel collision risk– Marine pollution

• Oil • chemical (e.g. POPs)• Plastics• Entanglements

– Bycatch– Disease/pathogens– Variability in prey resource– Climate change

Case study – Moray Firth SAC

Scottish Natural Heritage Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba

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Marine Stressors and SNH

• Advice– Policy/legislation– Protected species/area

• Research– Advice on relevance of proposal for conservation– Advice on in field study locations - any licencing required– Funding….(!?)

• Website - http://www.snh.gov.uk/• Contact - marineenergy@snh.gov.uk