Arran's Community Marine Protected Area, protecting the sea from high impact fishing while promoting sustainable fisheries & tourism. The MPA public consultation documents have now been published and the consultation is open for responses for the next 16 weeks. This includes the management options paper which outlines the different levels of management proposed for the Arran MPA.

During this time it is vital that individuals respond to the consultation to highlight the importance of sustainably managing our waters for future generations.

Over the coming weeks COAST will be providing guidance on how to respond to this including the provision of helpful statements to assist you in your response.

The proposed marine protected area will:

Promote sustainable fishing such as creeling, hand diving and sea angling
Create an area protected from bottom trawling and dredging
Protect important habitats and fish nursery grounds
Reinstate the three mile limit around the South of Arran

The area will not:

Be a No Take Zone
Stop anyone from sea angling, sailing, diving, kayaking or swimming in the area

Six reasons to support Arran Community Marine Protected Area

    1. The Marine Protected Area (MPA) will protect and regenerate vital marine habitats.

    2. It will act as a major focus for tourism on Arran and the Clyde bringing jobs and economic benefits.

    3. Protect areas of exceptional and rare biodiversity and sensitive niches will help to regenerate the Clyde’s fish stocks.

    4. A switch to sustainable fishing practices will bring real benefits to commercial and leisure fishermen within the MPA.

    5. The MPA’s central location in the Clyde will help to stimulate marine recovery in adjacent waters.

    6. Arran’s MPA will be a key part of Scotland’s network of Marine Protected Areas. Something we can all be proud of.