In May 2019, the Environment, Climate Change and Land Reform Committee agreed to examine the experience of developing and implementing Regional Marine Plans in Scotland, ten years on from the Marine Planning (Scotland) Act 2010 that provided the framework for Plans.
The Act envisages eleven Regional Marine Plans in total, formulated by Marine Planning Partnerships (MPPs). Currently two MPPs have been established (Shetland and the Clyde), with a third one in development (Orkney). The draft Regional Marine Plans formulated by the two MPPs have not yet been given Ministerial approval.
This report summarises information gathered by the Committee to date. In the next phase of the Committee’s inquiry, the Committee intends to commission academic research exploring international comparisons of the implementation and governance of marine planning to-
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better understand how the implementation of marine spatial planning can balance competing demands on the marine environment; and
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deliver protection and enhancement of the marine environment
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using examples from other countries and the rest of the UK.
Click here for the full interim report.