07/12/2020
Four new sites have been designated as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to give extra security to some of Scotland's most vulnerable species and habitats.
Minke whale, basking sharks and Risso's dolphins will be among a range of animals to be safeguarded.
The areas include north-east Lewis, Sea of the Hebrides, Shiant East Bank and Southern Trench.
The designation aims to protect habitats from marine industry projects and some types of fishing.
Shiant East Bank is a stretch of water between the Outer Hebrides and the mainland, while the Southern Trench stretches from Buckie to Peterhead off the Aberdeenshire coast.
A further 12 sites have been given Special Protection Area status (SPA), giving additional protection to Scotland's vulnerable marine birds including sea ducks, divers and grebes.
The Sea of Hebrides is the largest of the new MPAs and includes habitat visited by basking sharks.
The sharks, the world's second largest fish, arrive off Scotland in summer from waters around Madeira and the Canary Islands off west Africa.
