For the past year now, The Ferret has been investigating the health of Scotland's seas.

The Scotland's Seas in Danger project - funded by Journalismfund Europe - is a collaboration with Fada Collective and the Investigative Reporting Project Italy (IRPI).

Our aim has been to highlight problems and solutions to pressing issues impacting our oceans and seas, which produce more than half the world's oxygen and hold most of the planet's nature. They also support nearly half the global population's livelihoods, providing crucial food, jobs and energy.

But the marine environment is at risk, and our investigation has spotlighted threats to our waters from climate change, fish farming, oil spills, and plastic pollution, among other issues.

The final report of our series - a collaboration with IRPI - explains what's been happening with marine protected areas (MPAs) in both Scotland and Italy.

These environmental protection zones are intended to safeguard a wide range of marine features - including important habitats, aquatic life and geological features.

Both Scotland and Italy have made bold claims over their MPAs, but green campaigners in both countries fear their respective governments are failing to protect these threatened seas.

What protections does Scotland have in place for its waters?

In Scotland Marine protected areas (MPAs) span 247 sites, covering 37 per cent of Scottish seas. These areas were designated for protection in 2014.

Inside these MPAs, activities like fishing, aquaculture and energy infrastructure are allowed, if they are licensed and in line with legislation.

The Scottish Government can issue fines for breaking rules in MPAs, such as fishing within restricted areas.

Different types of protection zones exist, including nature conservation MPAs, special areas of conservation, special protection areas, sites of special scientific interest, and Ramsar sites, which cover wetlands of "international importance".

Scotland's marine protection measures explained

Why are green groups criticising the Scottish Government over MPAs?

Green groups claim that many MPAs are vulnerable to the impact of poorly-managed fishing such as scallop dredging and bottom trawling because ministers have failed to tighten laws on controversial fishing methods.

Scallop dredging and bottom-trawling - the most environmentally harmful forms of fishing - are restricted in less than five per cent of Scotland's seas. Scallop dredging involves heavy-duty metal framed nets being pulled over the seabed, while bottom-trawling involves nets towed to catch fish and other marine species close to the seabed.

In 2021 the Scottish Government said it was committed to establishing new fisheries management measures for MPAs by March 2024. But these commitments have been pushed back.

Attempts to strengthen protections for marine sea life ran into controversy, particularly the government's proposal to introduce highly protected marine areas (HPMAs). It was planned that these areas would cover about ten per cent of Scotland's seas, with a number of activities believed to put pressure on marine environments banned or severely restricted within their boundaries.

When the plan was announced, it was criticised by some in coastal communities as well as island and fishing industry organisations. The HPMA policy was shelved after this criticism and the response to a consultation, which showed strong opposition to the proposed plans.

Last year, the Our Seas coalition - which comprises more than 130 organisations including community groups, marine conservationists and fishers - claimed the biggest threat to the marine environment was the government's "ongoing failure to protect it due to broken promises and endless delays".

Scottish Government accused of "broken promises" over marine protection

In response, the Scottish Government told The Ferret that new measures to protect MPAs remain a "top government priority" and it is now consulting with a view to updating the Natio...