Wednesday, 21 January 2009
SHETLAND’S MARINE SPATIAL PLAN MOVES ON TO NEXT STAGE
The Marine Spatial Plan for Shetland, which was launched as a consultation document last year, has moved onto the next phase in its development. Now incorporating the feedback and suggestions which came out of last year’s exercise, the Interim Draft Marine Spatial Plan is ready to be tested as if it were formal policy before it is finalised.
The Plan is the product of three years of work by project officer Dr Lorraine Gray (who is now on maternity leave) and a supporting team at the Centre, assisted by local and central government, stakeholder and industry representatives. This next stage of the process is being co-ordinated at the NAFC Marine Centre by Rachel Hope, who is providing temporary cover for Lorraine, and project manager Martin Holmes.
The initiative is one of four pilot projects falling under the umbrella of the Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative (SSMEI). SSMEI was initiated by the Scottish Government to inform future marine policy and test new management framework options for Scotland’s marine and coastal environment. The Government will be evaluating the success of all four pilots when it considers the new Scottish Marine Bill.
For Shetland, this project aims to progress a model of marine spatial planning that can build on the islands’ marine planning processes.
The work at the NAFC Marine Centre has brought together existing data from relevant organisations and bodies into one central accessible resource. The Plan consists of two parts – a policy document and a Marine Atlas highlighting important features and planning considerations around the Shetland coastline. It outlines what developers already have to comply with and also what might arise when applying for planning permission or a works licence. It has also been designed to be an asset from a regulator’s point of view.
Commenting on project progress, Shetland’s coastal zone manager, Martin Holmes said: “The Plan has been updated and developed using feedback and suggestions from last year’s consultation. We feel that it has reached a stage where it has developed sufficiently to form an Interim Draft Marine Spatial Plan.
“There will be a soft implementation period from now until May, when we hope developers, users and regulators will consult the draft when considering marine developments and activities.
“We welcome all feedback and would encourage people to come forward with any difficulties they experience or areas where policies could be finely tuned before the Plan is finalised. This is a crucial time where all those with an interest in the marine environment and planning have the opportunity to test the Plan, provide further comment and have a final say before it is fully implemented.”
An electronic version of the plan, together with feedback forms, can be downloaded at www.nafc.ac.uk/SSMEI.aspx or paper copies are available from the Marine Planning Department at the NAFC.
Further information:
For further information, please contact: Rachel Hope or Martin Holmes, NAFC Marine Centre, tel 01595 772000, email info@nafc.uhi.ac.uk or visit www.nafc.ac.uk
Or, Louise Rosie, Shaw Marketing and Design Ltd, tel 01595 692465 or email louise.rosie@shaw-online.com