Editing Orkney (section)

===Protected areas===
There are 13 [[Special Protection Area]]s and 6 [[Special Area of Conservation|Special Areas of Conservation]] in Orkney.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/SPA.htm|title=Special Protection Areas SPA|access-date=25 November 2019|publisher=Orkney Islands Council|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806045531/https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/SPA.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/SAC.htm|title=Special Areas of Conservation SAC|access-date=25 November 2019|publisher=Orkney Islands Council|archive-date=6 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200806051531/https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/SAC.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> One of Scotland's 40 [[National scenic area (Scotland)|national scenic area]]s, the [[Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area]], is also located in the islands.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2017-07/Publication%202010%20-%20SNH%20Commissioned%20Report%20374%20-%20The%20Special%20Qualities%20of%20the%20National%20Scenic%20Areas.pdf|title=The special qualities of the National Scenic Areas|publisher=Scottish Natural Heritage|date=December 2010|access-date=25 November 2019|page=17|archive-date=25 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180125015417/https://www.nature.scot/sites/default/files/2017-07/Publication%202010%20-%20SNH%20Commissioned%20Report%20374%20-%20The%20Special%20Qualities%20of%20the%20National%20Scenic%20Areas.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref> The seas to the northwest of Orkney are important for [[sand eel]]s that provides a food source for many species of fish, seabirds, seals, whales and dolphins, and are now protected as [[Marine Protected Areas in Scotland|Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area]] (NCMPA) that covers {{convert|4365|km2|sqmi|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.jncc.gov.uk/pdf/North%20West%20Orkney%20-%20Site%20Summary%20Document%20-%20July14.pdf|title=North-west Orkney Marine Protected Area Summary|access-date=25 November 2019|publisher=Joint Nature Conservation Committee}}{{Dead link|date=May 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10451|title=North-west Orkney MPA(NC)|access-date=12 October 2020|publisher=NatureScot|archive-date=27 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927013349/https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/10451|url-status=live}}</ref>