This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Strategy for marine environment
19/04/2004
A consultation paper,
Developing a Strategic Framework for Scotland's Marine
Environment, was launchesd today.
The paper takes forward the Executive's Partnership
Agreement commitment to consult on the best strategy for
protecting and enhancing all of Scotland's coastline,
including the options of establishing a national coastline
park and marine national parks.
Speaking during a visit to Marine Harvest's facility in
Mallaig, First Minister Jack McConnell said:
"Scotland has an environment that is second to none. Our
marine and coastal waters support many thousands of species
of birds, fish and other sealife. But they also support
many thousands of jobs and countless communities depend on
the sea and the coast for their livelihood.
"That is why we must strike the right balance between
protecting this precious environment and promoting the
tourism and other industries on which so many communities,
so many people depend.
"We said in the Partnership Agreement that we would be
consulting with the public on the best ways to develop and
protect our waters and coasts. Today we begin that process.
Today we begin gathering the views and opinions that will
deliver a sustainable, environmental future for our
country."
Commenting on the consultation paper, Darren
Kindleysides, Convenor, Scottish Environment LINK Marine
Task Force said:
"We strongly welcome the initiative taken by the
Scottish Executive in preparing a strategy for Scotland's
marine environment, this will meet an urgent need. We hope
it will deliver the changes needed to help Scotland's
decision-makers and coastal communities achieve healthy
populations of marine wildlife and effective long term
management of our seas."
A shorter leaflet, designed to attract wider public
interest in the sea, will be produced in parallel to the
consultation process.
The seas around Scotland support 8,000 complex and
36,000 single celled species of marine wildlife. These
include internationally important species like basking
sharks, leatherback turtles and certain whales and
dolphins.
Our seas also support 14,000 fishing related jobs, over
60% of the total UK catch with a landings value of £300m;
5.5m passenger and 90m freight movements through Scottish
ports; 90% of UK farmed fish, with a retail value of £700m;
£57m of revenue and 2,500 jobs in marine wildlife
tourism.
Scotland has devolved responsibility for certain matters
relating to the sea around Scotland's coast out to 12
nautical miles. A number of initiatives have been developed
by the Executive to protect Scotland's coast and sea and to
ensure sustainable development of our marine resources. The
Executive wants to bring those initiatives closer together
to give greater clarity to how they interrelate and the
overall policy objective they serve; to identify any gaps
in existing policy; and to consider whether any structural
and/or legislative changes are needed to provide for even
better governance of the marine environment. The
consultation paper sets out, for the first time, a clear
vision for the future of Scotland's marine environment.
The consultation paper takes forward the coalition
Partnership Agreement commitment to consult on the best
strategy for protecting and enhancing all of Scotland's
coastline, including the options of establishing a national
coastline parks and marine national parks. And it seeks
views on whether any changes might be necessary to the
following four specific pieces of legislation relating to
marine and coastal development consents for which the
Scottish Executive has devolved responsibility:
Part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985
(deposits in the sea)
Coast Protection Act 1949 (navigational safety)
Harbours Act 1964 (port developments)
Electricity Act 1989 (offshore electricity
generation)
The consultation period will end in July 2004. A
shorter leaflet, designed to attract wider public interest
in the sea, will be produced in parallel to the
consultation process.