[2] Since 2014 the banks have been protected as a single Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area, which comprises three discrete zones covering a total area of 213,000 hectares (2,130 km2) of Scottish Offshore Waters.

[1] The seabed of the banks is formed of many different types of sands and gravels, and is highly influenced by the strong currents at the mouth of the Firth of Forth.

This creates a highly productive habitat, which supports a rich array of sea creatures including crabs, starfish, flatfish, seals and dolphins; the Berwick Bank in particular is noted as an important spawning ground for plaice.

The sand and gravel of the banks also support ocean quahog, a large and slow growing clam which have a lifespan of more than 400 years and are thus considered to be amongst the oldest living animals on Earth.

[2][3] The richness of the seas here means that the banks are also important for seabirds nesting on the east coast of Scotland, which regularly visit the area to feed.