Using marine planning to balance competing demands on the marine environment: International comparisons. MAST-S report to ECCLR committee, Scottish Parliament

Scottish and UK context
The Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 established an integrated planning system for the UK’s marine environment. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have developed separate marine planning processes with the 2009 Act remaining the overarching legislation. This has resulted in a variety of institutional and governance arrangements across the UK.

Marine plans are now integral to marine development and conservation. Decisions to license marine activity or development must take the marine plan into account in reaching a decision as part of a discretionary decision-making process.

Scotland’s key milestones since the Marine (Scotland) Act (2010) was passed:
• Adopted a National Marine Plan 2015 • Identified marine regions to implement regional marine planning 2015 (The Scottish Marine Regions Order 2015 No.193).
• Established two marine planning partnerships in Shetland (2016) and Clyde (2017)
• Orkney is in the process of establishing a marine planning partnership (2020)

Contrasting Scottish and UK marine planning practice to that of Europe, North America and New Zealand has identified key strengths in the Scottish approach and opportunities for learning from other nations.