Historic Marine Protected Areas
Historic Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) aim to preserve marine historic assets of national importance. Historic MPAs were introduced in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and may be designated in Scottish territorial waters (up to 12 nautical miles). The Inventory is compiled and maintained by Historic Environment Scotland and more information is available on their website.
The term ‘marine historic assets’ is defined in law and can include the remains of a wide variety of man-made structures, including wrecks of boats and aircraft. It can also include more scattered remains such as groups of artefacts on the seabed from a submerged prehistoric landscape.
Within the Highland Council area there are 4 Historic MPAs:
Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross
Ross, Skye and Lochaber