Scotland Designates Two New Historic Marine Protected Areas in Orkney and Shetland

Scotland has officially designated two new Historic Marine Protected Areas (Historic MPAs), the World War-era naval base at Scapa Flow in Orkney and the Queen of Sweden shipwreck off Shetland, recognising their national significance and securing legal protection for the future.

According to an announcement from the Scottish Government, the new designations aim to preserve these irreplaceable marine heritage sites, both of which hold remarkable historical importance.

The Scapa Flow site, located off the coast of Orkney, contains the UK’s largest concentration of warship wrecks and wartime artefacts. Serving as a key naval base during both World Wars, it became the final resting place of the German High Seas Fleet after their internment and scuttling at the end of the First World War.

The Queen of Sweden, meanwhile, is one of the best-preserved Swedish East India Company vessels in Scottish waters. Built in Stockholm in 1741, the largest ship ever constructed for the company at the time, she was intended for trade with China. Strong winds claimed her in 1745, sending her to the seabed off Shetland, where she remains a popular dive site today.

The Scottish Government first began designating Historic MPAs in 2013 to protect nationally important marine heritage assets within its territorial waters. It is a criminal offence to remove, alter, or disturb any protected site.

Officials say the new designations will ensure that future generations can continue to explore and learn from Scotland’s underwater heritage, while responsible access for diving, research, and education will remain possible.