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Protection for sea birds extended
Seabirds are being given greater protection in Scottish waters, the Scottish government has announced.
Protection areas on land have been extended out to sea to help birds such as the guillemot, puffin and gannet.
The 31 extension areas will reach between one and four kilometres out to sea, depending on the species.
They include St Kilda, an archipelago with World Heritage status, the Forth islands, parts of Shetland, Orkney and Highland and Aberdeenshire coastlines.
Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "It is vitally important they receive suitable protection throughout their lives at sea and on land."
"A seabird's marine habitat is as crucial to its ability to survive as nesting sites on dry land."