PEOPLE enjoying diving and angling in new areas of conservation in the seas around Scotland would boost the economy by hundreds of millions of pounds, according to new research.
Experts from Aberdeen University assessed the value of 20 proposed Marine Protection Areas (MPAs) around Scotland and found them to be worth between £67 million and £117m a year to the economy.
In addition, recreational divers and anglers questioned said they would make a one-off payment collectively worth between £142m and £255m to see these sites protected and damaging activities stopped.
In December, the Scottish Government published plans for a network of MPAs, with 33 definite and four possible sites. The Aberdeen research looked at 20 of these.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) welcomed the report and said it shone a light on some of the wider benefits MPAs might bring to the public purse.
MCS has recommended this report be taken into account by the Scottish Government in its consultation on a network of MPAs.
MCS Scotland programme manager Calum Duncan said: "This research only questioned divers and anglers, which means the figures don't provide a full account of the value of our seas. Other large sea user groups like sailors and tourists are also likely to attach value to the enjoyment and protection of the sea and these values have yet to be measured."
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