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How are SACs managed in the marine environment?

In addition to management methods identified (where appropriate) for terrestrial Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) there are a number of the Habitats Regulations that specifically refer to marine SACs (mSACs).  Regulations 33 to 36 describe special provisions for protecting and managing mSACs:

  • Regulation 33 includes the requirement for Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) to advise other relevant authorities about the conservation objectives of the site and any operations which may cause deterioration to the protected habitats and species (the qualifying interests) of the site.
  • Regulation 34 allows for the creation of a management scheme for each mSAC.  However, management schemes are only established if there is a benefit to the site.  There are two ways a management scheme can be established - by the relevant authorities or by the relevant Minister giving directions to the relevant authorities (regulation 35)
  • Regulation 36 allows SNH to make byelaws for the protection of a mSAC.

These specific arrangements only relate to European Marine Sites (which include marine Special Protection Areas (SPAs) as well as marine SACs).  The management requirements of other types of Marine Protected Area will be taken forward by the Marine (Scotland) Bill external site .

Site information including 'regulation 33 packages'

Under regulation 33(2) Scottish Natural Heritage has produced advice packages for 28 marine SACs in Scotland. 

  • Search a list of Scottish marine SACs and find links to their regulation 33 packages  PDF document
  • The conservation objectives and qualifying interests (habitats and species) for all marine SACs in Scotland can also be found by using Scottish Natural Heritage's Sitelink external site tool
  • Protected habitats and species in marine SACs are included in Scottish Natural Heritage's Site Condition Monitoring programme - find out how this is done and how the information collected is used.

Management schemes

Not all marine SACs have special management schemes - they are only set up where there is a need for them, which generally means where there are a lot of different users of a site.  If you want to know more about management schemes and groups please take a look at the following examples:

Relevant authorities and other key terms

Relevant authorities are defined in regulation 5 of the Habitats Regulations.  The relevant authorities, where they have functions in relation to land or waters within or adjacent to a European Marine Site (including marine SACs), are: a nature conservation body; a local authority; water undertakers; a navigation authority; a harbour authority; a lighthouse authority; Scottish Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA); a district salmon fishery board; a National Park authority and a local fisheries committee.

All relevant authorities are also competent authorities under the Habitats Regulations.  Competent authorities are those with the power or duty to determine whether or not any proposal which may affect a European site can proceed.  Such decisions must be based on a Habitats Regulations Appraisal, which may include an appropriate assessment.