Habitats and Species

Shetland has internationally, nationally and locally important marine natural heritage features and designated areas. As well as their conservation importance these habitats and species directly and indirectly support a range of goods and services including wild fisheries, tourism, recreation, carbon sequestration and coastal protection. This natural capital has benefited the people of Shetland since the first evidence of human activity from around 4300 BC.

The Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan (SIRMP) contains a number of policies to designed to safeguard and enhance biodiversity through the protection of habitats and species, and by limiting the impact from non-native species.

Find out more about the Marine Spatial Planning team’s Biosecurity Plan, how they monitor for non-native species and mapping species and habitats using the buttons below: