Scotland's Blue Economy: current status review
Describes our starting position in the transition to adopting a Blue Economy approach to marine sectors, communities, and the environment. It provides us with the foundation to consider how we can track our progress and determine if significant and lasting change is occurring.
4 Overview of Data Sources
This section shows, for each of the six outcomes, a selection of data sources used in the current status review. This is not an exhaustive list of all potential data sources relevant to a particular Blue Economy Outcome. In many cases, more comprehensive overviews are available through assessments like the UK Marine Assessment or Scotland's Marine Assessment.
Natural Capital
Sub-outcome
Healthy marine environment & Clean marine environment
Description
OSPAR Quality Status Report, assessment of the environmental status of the North East Atlantic.
Source
Quality Status Reports - OSPAR-OAP (Prod)
Frequen-cy
Most recent reports are 2010 and 2023 (with an intermediate assessment for 2017 available as well)
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
Depends on the assessment, most contain data up until 2022
Cover-age
The North East Atlantic (subregions of relevance to Scotland are Arctic Waters, Greater North Sea,Celtic Seas, and the Wider Atlantic)
Sub-outcome
Healthy marine environment & Clean marine environment
Description
Assessment of both the state of Scotland’s seas and of the main activities and pressures in the various UK Marine Regions and Offshore Marine Regions
Source
Frequen-cy
Every 6 years (most recent report is 2018)
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
-
Cover-age
UK
Sub-outcome
Healthy marine environment & Clean marine environment
Description
Assessment of both the state of the UK’s seas and of the main activities and pressures in the various Scottish Marine Regions and Offshore Marine Regions
Source
Scotland's Marine Assessment (SMA)
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
-
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Healthy marine environment
Description
Marine and terrestrial species indicators
Source
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No (Experimental)
Data availa-bility
1994-2016
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Healthy marine environment
Description
The Seabird index (abundance of breeding seabirds) is used in the NPF as an index for the abundance of marine species. However, the SMA shows a complex picture when multiple food-web components are assessed.
Source
NPF Biodiversity Indicator and/or SMA
NatureScot information on Marine Abundance Indicator
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Marine abundance part of NPF biodiversity indicator
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2013-18
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Healthy freshwater environment
Description
Estimated numbers of returning Atlantic salmon, size of salmon, catch numbers for salmon and trout, and estimates of young salmon (smolt)
Source
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
1971-2018
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Healthy freshwater environment
Description
River gradings
Source
Salmon fishing: proposed river gradings for 2023 season
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
-
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Clean marine environment
Description
Clean seas: contaminant assessments in Scottish marine waters showing concentrations that are unlikely to harm marine organisms.
Source
NPF Clean Seas Indicator and/or SMA
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2015-19
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Clean marine environment
Description
Eutrophication, marine litter, microbiological contamination, noise
Source
SMA
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
-
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Clean freshwater environment
Description
Percentage of freshwater surface bodies rated good or better.
Source
River basin management planning (SEPA)
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
-
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Safeguarded marine environment
Description
No data identified yet
Source
-
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
-
National Statistics
-
Data availa-bility
-
Cover-age
-
Sub-outcome
Natural capital
Description
No data identified yet (existing sources focus on UK Marine or Scotland as a whole, but not Scottish marine)
Source
-
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
-
National Statistics
-
Data availa-bility
-
Cover-age
-
Climate Change
Sub-outcome
Decarbonisation
Description
Marine vessel emissions (excl. naval) part of Scottish Greenhouse Gas Statistics
Source
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Shipping and fishing are included as part of NPF greenhouse gas emissions
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
1998-2020
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Decarbonisation
Description
Scottish fishing fleet’s engine power
Source
Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2021
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
1922-2021
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Marine renewable energy
Description
Energy generation by offshore wind from Scottish Energy Statistics Hub, expressed as total of energy generation
Source
Scottish Energy Statistics Hub
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Offshore wind energy generation is part of NPF renewable energy indicator
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2007-2021
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Marine climate change adaptation
Description
No data identified yet
Source
-
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
-
National Statistics
-
Data availa-bility
-
Cover-age
-
Sub-outcome
Circular economy
Description
No data identified yet
Source
-
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
-
National Statistics
-
Data availa-bility
-
Cover-age
-
Economy and Trade
Sub-outcome
-
Description
Scottish Quarterly GDP
Source
Gross Domestic Product: Quarterly Output by Industry
Frequen-cy
Quarterly
NPF indicator
Yes
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
1998 Q1 – 2022 Q3
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Productive marine sectors
Description
Measure of the economic value of the Scottish Marine Economy (excl. offshore wind)
Source
Scotland Marine Economic Statistics (SG)
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No (Experimental)
Data availa-bility
2016-20
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Productive marine sectors
Description
Measure of the economic value of the Scottish offshore wind sector
Source
Low carbon and renewable energy economy estimates (ONS)
Frequen-cy
Annual / tba
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No (Experimental)
Data availa-bility
2014-20
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
-
Description
Global investment into offshore renewable energies
Source
Blueprint for improved measurement of the international ocean economy : An exploration of satellite accounting for ocean economic activity (OECD) using IEA data
Frequen-cy
..
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2019
Cover-age
World
Sub-outcome
Innovative and entrepreneurial marine sectors
Description
High-growth businesses across Scottish industry sectors (not Blue Economy specific)
Source
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (High Growth Businesses)
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2010-21
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Innovative and entrepreneurial marine sectors
Description
Innovation active businesses in Scotland (not Blue Economy specific)
Source
UK innovation survey 2021: results for Scotland
Frequen-cy
Bi-annual
NPF indicator
Yes (Innovative Businesses)
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2010-21
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Innovative and entrepreneurial marine sectors
Description
Expenditure on R&D in Scotland (not Blue Economy specific)
Source
Gross expenditure on research and development Scotland 2019 incl. custom extract
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (Spend on Research and Development)
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2001-19 (custom extract for 2019)
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Internationally competitive marine sectors
Description
Scottish international and rest-of-UK exports (not Blue Economy specific)
Source
Export Statistics Scotland 2019
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (International Exporting)
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2002-19
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
-
Description
Scottish GDP
Source
GDP Quarterly National Accounts: 2021 Quarter 4
Frequen-cy
Quarterly / Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (Economic Growth)
National Statistics
Yes
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
-
Description
Exports to GDP ratios of other countries, e.g. Denmark
Source
Denmark Trade Statistics (WITS, World Bank)
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
-
National Statistics
-
Data availa-bility
2004-20
Cover-age
World
Sub-outcome
Productive marine sectors
Description
Value in £ of Scottish seafood exports (adjusted for inflation)
Source
HMRC RTS (with GDP deflators applied)
Frequen-cy
Quarterly
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2013-21
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Productive marine sectors
Description
A combination of Marine Fund Scotland and Transport Scotland payments (reliable sources for private investment were investigated but are currently not included in status review)
Source
Transport Scotland contributions
and
Marine Fund Scotland 2021-2022
Frequen-cy
Quarterly
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2020/21 and 2021/22
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Productive marine sectors
Description
Seaport freight in and out of Scotland
Source
Transporting Scotland's Trade - 2020 edition (Transport Scotland)
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2018-20
Cover-age
Scotland
Food Security, Health, and Nutrition
Sub-outcome
Sustainable Scottish seafood production
Description
Sustainability of commercial fish stocks
Source
Sustainability of Fish Stocks (NPF) and/or SMA
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (Sustainability of Fish Stocks)
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
1991-2020
Cover-age
-
Sub-outcome
-
Description
Global production of fish and seafood
Source
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture 2022 (FAO)
Frequen-cy
Annual / bi-annual
NPF indicator
-
National Statistics
-
Data availa-bility
1994-2022
Cover-age
World
Description
FSS monitoring of food consumption data
Source
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2001-2018
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Dietary benefits of seafood
Description
Quantity of seafood purchased per consumer per week in Scotland
Source
Family Food Datasets (Defra) using data from the LCFS
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2001-2021
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Dietary benefits of seafood
Description
Types of seafood consumed by young people
Source
E. Jones, C. Chikwama (2021). Access to marine ecosystems services: Inequalities in Scotland's young people.
Ecological Economics, Volume 188. ISSN 0921-8009.
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2016 (using results from the Young People in Scotland survey)
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Scottish seafood on the global stage
Description
Scottish fish and seafood production: fisheries
Source
Scottish Sea Fisheries Statistics 2021
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
1922-2021
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Scottish seafood on the global stage
Description
Scottish fish and seafood production: farmed fish
Source
Scottish Fish Farm Production Survey Data
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
1979-2020
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Scottish seafood on the global stage
Description
Scottish fish and seafood production: farmed shellfish
Source
Scottish Shellfish Farm Production Survey Data
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
1986-2021
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Scottish seafood on the global stage
Description
Global fish and seafood production
Source
Global fisheries and aquaculture production by source (FAO)
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
-
National Statistics
-
Data availa-bility
2015-19
Cover-age
World
Social Inclusion and Equalities
Sub-outcome
Access to marine environments
Description
Attitudes to access to marine environments
Source
Marine social attitudes: survey
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
-
National Statistics
-
Data availa-bility
2019
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Access to marine environments
Description
Walking distance to nearest blue or green space
Source
Scottish Household Survey (incl. custom extract for coastal communities)
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (part of Access to Green and Blue Space)
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2013-19 (custom extract for 2019)
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Access to marine environments
Description
Neighbourhood perceptions
Source
Scottish Household Survey (incl. custom extract for coastal communities)
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (part of Social Capital)
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
1999-2020 (custom extract for 2019)
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Access to marine environments
Description
Visits to the outdoors
Source
Scottish Household Survey (incl. custom extract for coastal communities)
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (part of Access to Green and Blue Space)
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2012-19 (custom extract for 2019)
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Access to marine environments
Description
Quality of marine environment (coastal bathing water)
Source
Frequen-cy
Annual / more frequently
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2005-22
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Perceived health benefits from visiting marine environment
Description
Percentage of respondents in Scotland saying that visits to the marine environment are good for their health
Source
Scottish Ocean Literacy Survey
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2022
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
-
Description
Employment within the Scottish Marine Economy (excl. offshore wind)
Source
Scotland Marine Economic Statistics (SG)
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2016-19
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
-
Description
Employment within the Scottish offshore wind sector
Source
Low carbon and renewable energy economy estimates (ONS)
Frequen-cy
Annual / tba
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2014-20
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Diversity and inclusion in marine sectors
Description
Diversity in combined agriculture, forestry, and fishing sector
Source
Labour market statistics (incl. custom extract for some marine sectors)
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2016-21 (custom extract for 2021)
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Diversity and inclusion in marine sectors
Description
Diversity in fishing sector
Source
2021 Employment in the UK Fishing Fleet (Seafish)
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2021
Cover-age
UK and/or Scotland
Sub-outcome
Diversity and inclusion in marine sectors
Description
Gender balance in fishing sectors, unpaid labour, and barriers from entry
Source
Women in Scottish fisheries: literature review
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
-
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Community involvement and decision-making
Description
Percentage of people agreeing with statements about their involvement with other people in the neighbourhood
Source
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (part of Social Capital)
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2012-19
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Community involvement and decision-making
Description
Percentage of people participating in volunteering
Source
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (part of Social Capital)
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2013-19 (formal) and 2018 (informal)
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Community involvement and decision-making
Description
Community ownership
Source
Community Ownership in Scotland (incl. custom extract for coastal communities or marine assets)
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
Yes (Community Ownership)
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2017-21 (custom extract for 2021)
Cover-age
Scotland
Ocean Literacy
Sub-outcome
Awareness and knowledge
Description
Knowledge about marine environments, sectors, etc.
Source
Marine social attitudes: survey
Frequen-cy
-
NPF indicator
-
National Statistics
-
Data availa-bility
2019
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Awareness and knowledge
Description
Percentage of respondents in Scotland that know of, have heard of or have some understanding of key Blue Economy terms
Source
Scottish Ocean Literacy Survey
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2022
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Awareness and knowledge
Description
Public awareness and concern about climate change
Source
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
Yes
Data availa-bility
2013-2019, now discontinued
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Attitudes and actions
Description
Economic contribution of Scotland’s marine historic environment (tourism activities)
Source
Scotland’s Marine Recreation and Tourism Survey
Frequen-cy
One-off
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2015
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Attitudes and actions
Description
Percentage of respondents who say that protecting the marine environment is important
Source
Scottish Ocean Literacy Survey
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2022
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Attitudes and actions
Description
Percentage of respondents who say they have made or plan to make lifestyle changes to protect the marine environment
Source
Scottish Ocean Literacy Survey
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2022
Cover-age
Scotland
Sub-outcome
Attitudes and actions
Description
Percentage of respondents who have already taken action to protect the marine environment
Source
Scottish Ocean Literacy Survey
Frequen-cy
Annual
NPF indicator
No
National Statistics
No
Data availa-bility
2022
Cover-age
Scotland
Contact
Email: blueeconomy@gov.scot
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