Dataset descriptions

The locational guideline areas seek to categorise sea lochs and voes in Scotland, dependent upon the likely scope for further aquaculture development in each loch or voe by using predictive modelling to estimate nutrient enhancement and benthic impact. Areas are categorised as one of the following:

Category 1: where the development of new or expansion of existing marine fish farms will only be acceptable in exceptional circumstances.

Category 2: where new development or expansion of existing sites would not result in the area being re-categorised as category 1.

Category 3: where there appear to be better prospects of satisfying nutrient loading and benthic impact requirements, although detailed circumstances will always need to be examined carefully.

The maps show the extent of each of the categorised areas.