Marine Special Areas of Conservation

European Marine Sites are nature conservation sites of European importance. They are legally protected under European and UK law and collectively represent the best examples of marine habitats or populations of species, within the European Union.

The people living and working within or adjacent to these conservation areas are becoming involved in their management and in time it is hoped that European Marine Sites will offer tangible social, economic and environmental benefits to locals.

Six sites have been selected in the Western Isles because of rare, threatened or special attributes.