Faroe–Shetland Channel
| Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt MPA | |
|---|---|
Faroe-Shetland Sponge Belt MPA shown in red, in Scottish Waters | |
| Location | North Atlantic, Scotland |
| Coordinates | 61°22′N 3°38′W / 61.367°N 3.633°W |
| Area | 5,278 km2 (2,038 sq mi) |
| Established | 2014 |
| Governing body | Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) |
| North-east Faroe-Shetland Channel MPA | |
|---|---|
North-east Faroe-Shetland Channel MPA shown in red, in Scottish Waters | |
| Location | North Atlantic, Scotland |
| Area | 23,682 km2 (9,144 sq mi) |
| Established | 2014 |
| Governing body | JNCC |
The Faroe–Shetland Channel is stretch of the North Atlantic lying between the two island groups of Shetland and the Faroe Islands. The channel is a rift basin that separates the Scottish and the Faroese continental shelves, and has a maximum depth of 1900 m, compared to the surrounding seabed which mostly lies at 200 m. It was first noted by Charles Wyville Thomson during the mid-nineteenth century.
Strategically, the channel forms part of the GIUK gap.