Letter from the Minister for Environment, Biodiversity and Land Reform, Mairi McAllan, to the Convener, 1 February 2022
Dear Convenor,
I am writing to inform you of the next steps with the Red Rocks & Longay Marine Protected Area (MPA).
As you will recall Red Rocks & Longay was designated as an urgent MPA in March 2021 to protect flapper skate eggs, and then extended in December 2021. An urgent Marine Conservation Order (MCO) was put in place to ensure the conservation objectives could be achieved.
In order to ensure that the area receives permanent protection, I am pleased to advise the RAINE committee that a consultation to make Red Rocks & Longay a permanent MPA, with an associated MCO, has been launched this morning. The consultation will close on 26 April 2022 and can be found here; https://consult.gov.scot/marine-conservation/red-rocks-longay-marine-protected-area. The existing urgent MPA will remain in force throughout this process.
A government initiated question will also be lodged with parliament this morning on the same topic to inform parliament of the launch of the consultation.
The existing MCO expires in March 2022 unless continued. I am therefore making a Continuation Order which will be laid in Parliament on Thursday 03 February. This should ensure continuity of management measures whilst public consultation is undertaken.
Thank you for your continued support of the Scottish Government’s marine conservation programme.
Mairi McAllan