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Scotland’s soils are an important natural resource providing a wide range of benefits for people, the environment and the economy. It is essential to protect soils to ensure they are able to continue to provide these benefits for future generations. Why are soils important? Soils are a vital natural resource as they carry out a wide range of essential functions, such as growing food and timber, co

Information regarding activities that may be exempt from waste management licensing, and the statutory controls to prevent environmental pollution and harm to human health From the 1st November 2025, you will no longer be able to apply for the exemptions listed on this page. The information on this page remains to help existing exemption holders comply with their legal obligations, before transitioning to the new Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulation (EASR) framework for authorisations. To find out what authorisation you will need when your exemption exp

Frequently asked questions Why is a sea lice framework needed? Populations of wild Atlantic salmon have been in serious decline in recent decades and are now at crisis point. The pattern of decline is repeated across the salmon’s North Atlantic range and is likely caused, at least in part, by the effect of climate change on the survival of salmon during their time at sea. To build resilience of Sc

Marine aquaculture modelling Computer modelling is used as a guide to determining licensed discharge quantities of anti-parasitic chemicals and organic waste arising from marine fish-farm operations. The modelling tools promoted by SEPA provide robust predictions in most cases, requiring relatively little site-specific information. Nevertheless, the quality of the model outputs is dependent upon g

To make this section of our website easier to use, we have broken down the questions most commonly asked of us into two sections: Section A gives an introduction to the regulations and how they are enforced and may be of use to smaller businesses and contractors. Section B goes into more detail and describes definitions, concepts and processes and is a useful resource for consultants, regulators and larger businesses and contractors. It also gives more information about how the regulations differ between Scotland and England. To make this section of our website easier to use, we have broken down the questions most commonly asked of us into two sections: Section A gives an introduction to the regulations and how they are enforced and may be of use to smaller businesses and contractors. Section B goes into more detail and describes definitions, concepts and processes and is a useful resource for consultants, regulators a

What are invasive non-native species? Non-native species (NNS) are plants and animals which have been introduced (accidentally or deliberately) outside of their native range through human activity. Many non-native species contribute positively to our lives, as livestock, crops, timber, garden plants or pets. However, a small proportion (10-15%) of non-native species spread rapidly and cause damage