80Advice etc. by Scottish Natural Heritage as regards Nature Conservation MPAs and Demonstration and Research MPAs
(1)Scottish Natural Heritage may give advice and guidance as to—
(a)the matters which are capable of damaging or otherwise affecting any protected feature (or the protected features) of a Nature Conservation MPA or (as the case may be) a stated purpose for a Demonstration and Research MPA,
(b)the matters which are capable of affecting any ecological or geomorphological process on which the conservation of any such protected feature or features or (as the case may be) any such stated purpose is (wholly or in part) dependent,
(c)how any stated conservation objectives for a Nature Conservation MPA or any stated purpose for a Demonstration and Research MPA may be furthered, or how the achievement of any such objectives or purpose may be hindered,
(d)how the effect of any activity or activities on any Nature Conservation MPA, Demonstration and Research MPA or such marine protected areas generally may be mitigated,
(e)which activities are, or are not, of equivalent environmental benefit (for the purposes of section 83(4)(b)(iii) (public authorities authorising certain acts)) to any particular damage to the environment (within the meaning of that provision).
(2)Advice or guidance as to any of the matters in paragraphs (a) to (e) of subsection (1) may be given—
(a)in relation to—
(i)a particular Nature Conservation MPA or Demonstration and Research MPA,
(ii)each such category of marine protected area, or all such marine protected areas, generally,
(b)in relation to a particular public authority or public authorities generally.
(3)Scottish Natural Heritage must give such advice to a public authority if the authority requests it.