MSS

Marine Scotland Science

The Scottish Government is the devolved government for Scotland and has a range of responsibilities that include: the economy, education, health, justice, rural affairs, housing, environment, equal opportunities, consumer advocacy and advice, transport and taxation.

MSS is responsible for MPA identification, designation, monitoring, compliance and review. Its Science Division has competence in providing scientific advice to support decision making at all levels and has scientific expertise in MPA monitoring and assessing ecological coherence. It also has significant modelling expertise, marine mammal ecology and acoustics expertise and is the only organisation monitoring ocean acidification in Scottish waters. MS is well placed to participate in the current project. MS Science is responsible for MSFD monitoring in Scottish waters.

The project should help Marine Scotland report to the European Commission in 2018 on the condition of the MPA network, including understanding the pressures on the network, its ecological coherence as well as relate changes in site status to environmental factors. The project should also help deliver on MSFD monitoring requirements.