Seabirds and reefs with feather stars and a large clam that can live for centuries are among the species that will benefit from 30 new marine protected areas, the Environment Secretary has announced.

Approximately 20% of Scotland's seas are now in marine protected areas with the North East Faroe Shetland Channel estimated to be the largest such area in the European Union.

Scotland's seas are the fourth largest in the EU and support many habitats and species including cold water coral reefs, 22 individual species of whales and dolphins and almost half of the EU's breeding seabirds.

(READ the story from the Evening Telegraph)

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