The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 established a statutory marine planning framework for Scotland. This act requires Scottish Ministers to prepare and adopt a national marine plan for Scotland’s marine area and allows them to prepare and adopt regional marine plans for Scottish Marine Regions.
National Marine Plan
A National Marine Plan for Scotland was adopted by Scottish Government in 2015. This plan sets out strategic policies for the sustainable use of Scotland’s marine resources out to 200 nautical miles.
Find out more about the National Marine Plan
Regional Marine Planning
Regional Marine Planning will be implemented within defined regional areas known as Scottish Marine Regions. Two regions cover the Argyll and Bute area, the Argyll region which is fully within Argyll and Bute, and the Clyde region which encompasses our coastal waters from the Mull of Kintyre to Helensburgh. These regions extend from mean high water springs out to twelve nautical miles.
Scottish Ministers intend to delegate regional marine planning powers to Marine Planning Partnerships (MPP) to give local stakeholders’ ownership and decision making opportunities when developing statutory Regional Marine Plans that best reflect the economic and environmental needs and sensitivities of their area. Each MPP will be responsible for forming a Regional Marine Plan for their area in accordance with any direction to it by Scottish Ministers. The Regional Marine Plan must meet the requirements of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and be consistent with the National Marine Plan. Regional Marine Plans will be subject to adoption by Scottish Ministers.
Clyde Marine Planning Partnership (CMPP)
Argyll and Bute Council is a member of the Clyde Marine Planning Partnership (CMPP). Scottish Ministers have given the task of developing a Regional Marine Plan for the Clyde to the CMPP and its Public Authority members.
To find out more about the CMPP and the development of the Clyde Regional Marine Plan please visit the CMPP website.
A Statement of Public Participation sets out a timetable for plan development and provides details of opportunities for engagement and participation with the development of the Regional Marine Plan. It also describes the stages of plan development and what these stages will involve, for example when consultations will happen. The SPP is available to read here.
To keep up to date with the CMPP and the development of the Clyde Regional Marine Plan, you can sign up to its newsletter here.