Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 23 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government how it assesses the contribution that Scottish measures are expected to make towards the agreed Scottish share of UK-wide seafloor integrity targets.
The UK wide Marine Strategy Regulations 2010 set out various requirements related to the UK wide endeavour of the achievement or maintenance of Good Environmental Status of marine waters within the marine strategy area, including with respect to seafloor integrity.
Environmental Standards Scotland's (ESS) report, Protecting Scotland's seafloor: an assessment of Scottish Ministers' implementation of the Marine Strategy Regulations 2010, includes findings and recommendations relating to the assessment of the contribution that Scottish measures make towards UK wide seafloor integrity objectives and targets.
The Scottish Government is carefully considering the report. I have written to the Chief Executive of ESS confirming that the Scottish Government will work constructively with ESS to agree an appropriate action plan within the suggested timescale. The Scottish Government's position on the matters raised in the report will be set out through that engagement and in its formal response.