Views sought on new marine wildlife code
Common seals - a popular wildlife attraction
Members of the public are being invited to contribute to the development of a code for watching marine wildlife in Scotland.
The code is being developed by Scottish Natural Heritage to help people comply with the new Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act which came into force in January. The Act makes it illegal to intentionally or wrecklessly harass cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises) and basking sharks. The code will be produced following extensive discussions and consultation with groups associated with marine wildlife, as well as input from members of the wider public via a special website. The aim is to provide guidance on what activities can cause disturbance to marine wildlife and how these can be avoided while still enabling and encouraging access and enjoyment of the marine natural heritage.
Scotland has a tremendous coastline, and a wealth of marine wildlife to watch, either deliberately or as a surprise unforgettable encounter. From whales and dolphins to puffins and sea eagles, we have a rich natural heritage, and wildlife watching is becoming increasingly popular.
Voluntary codes of practice already exist for wildlife watching in some areas and the new Code will draw on the experiences of these to create more comprehensive guidance, and will cover a wider range of species, including cetaceans, basking sharks, seals, seabirds, turtles and otters.
Work to co-ordinate the development of the Code is being carried out by Hambrey Consulting on behalf of SNH. In order to develop a workable code, which is simple, practical and effective, we are keen to hear views from anyone who has an interest in marine wildlife. You don’t need to be an “expert” to contribute to the Code and comments can be submitted via the special website at www.marinecode.org which also provides information about the code and how you can input into its development.