Marine Spatial Planning – An effective new planning system for Scotland’s seas

What is the problem?

Without an effective planning system for Scotland’s seas, key areas for wildlife will continue to be at risk from uncoordinated developments.

In contrast to the well-developed terrestrial planning system in the UK, no overall framework exists for planning the use of our seas. Instead, more than 80 different acts of parliament and regulations regulate the many different activities in Scotland’s seas.

This has left our marine wildlife poorly protected, as it struggles to cope with the pressures from the increasing demands on our seas. It also often leads to planning disputes that are a waste of time and money and undermine the potential economic and social benefits of new developments. Marine Spatial Planning could help protect important wildlife, by providing greater certainty about where and how developments should take place.

An integrated planning system for all activities in the marine environment is a crucial step towards making Scotland’s seas sustainable, allowing the environment to be placed at the centre of the planning process, helping to safeguard wildlife and historic sites.

It would also reduce conflict and red tape. Industries from marine renewables to tourism will benefit from clear guidance on where they can develop sustainably and important fishing grounds can be protected from development.  It is also the only way to examine the combined impacts the many different maritime industry sectors have on our seas and coasts, by presenting an overview of all human activities and developments in the area.

The Marine (Scotland) Bill proposes a statutory marine planning system to manage the resource needs of different sectors for marine space. The Bill has provisions for a national marine plan in inshore waters and regional marine plans. Scottish Ministers will be responsible for the national marine plan which will guide planning and licensing in the Scottish inshore and offshore areas. The Bill allows for the delegation of marine planning to Scottish Marine Regions, allowing greater local involvement and accountability in the management of the regional sea.

What is the solution?

The Marine (Scotland) Bill has already provided an excellent starting point and LINK welcomes the proposals for a statutory planning system, with local accountability. However, LINK believes that the Bill would be considerably strengthened by the addition of the following amendments:

A duty on Scottish Ministers to prepare and adopt a national marine plan.

A duty to ensure that Scottish Marine Regions cover the whole Scottish marine area (0-12nm). 

A requirement for plans to include clear objectives, along with policies and programmes to deliver those objectives.