Marine Protected Areas and Offshore Petroleum Licensing in Scotland

Abstract

Economic growth and development have been prioritized over marine conservation, even though conservation measures such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) remain one of the few effective tools for protecting marine species and habitats from human activities. In the UK, energy companies bid for marine blocks under the Offshore Petroleum Licensing process, a system that reflects the ongoing tension between economic interests and environmental protection. This research examines the regulatory process of the UK offshore petroleum licensing rounds, focusing on the legislative framework, the role of regulators for both oil and gas and environmental protection, and the influence of other actors such as conservation bodies, eNGOs, and the public. As part of a broader series of case studies, existing interview questions, coding templates, and themes developed by a PhD student (Rutherford, J.) and an MES alumni (Kapoor, A.) were adapted to the UK context. 15 interviews were conducted, both in person and online, with stakeholders involved in marine conservation and petroleum licensing. For data analysis, a three-day coding workshop provided training in paper-based coding methods (highlighting and marginal notes), and additional instruction was obtained through online courses on NVivo software. This major research portfolio includes an introductory chapter on the general issue of marine conservation and social and economic development, followed by a literature review on topics relevant to the research, including energy transition, marine spatial planning, public consultation, and marine protected areas. The final component is a manuscript prepared for submission to the Journal of Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems. The manuscript examines the licensing of ocean blocks within MPAs for offshore oil and gas exploration (and possible development) in Scotland. It identifies significant shortcomings in the UK’s offshore petroleum regulatory framework, including limited credibility in consultation and engagement processes and weak or absent consideration of cumulative environmental impacts. The findings suggest that while the regulation of offshore oil and gas in the UK primarily prioritizes economic development, it does include environmental assessments and conservation regulations intended to protect marine ecosystems. However, in practice, these environmental safeguards are often weakened or overridden in favour of the energy industry interests. This not only undermines the effectiveness and benefits of MPAs, but also threatens the health and survival of marine ecosystems. Therefore, it is imperative that policy makers strengthen the implementation of environmental assessments and regulations, along with establishing highly protected MPAs to help marine species and habitats recover and thrive. These measures are essential to achieving the target of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030.