This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Scotland aims for first Marine Park
15/06/2005
Scotland could have its first Coastal and Marine
National Park by 2008 under plans made public today.
Environment and Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie
announced a two stage process to create the first park of
its kind in the UK.
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) will now undertake work
to identify where and how a Coastal and Marine National
Park could be established.
Mr Finnie said:
"Scotland's coastline and seas are a valuable natural,
cultural and economic resource.
"We are committed to better managing that resource in
the interests of our communities and the wide range of
important species the seas and coasts support.
"Taking care of our coasts and marine environment will
help to boost jobs too.
"While there are marine nature reserves elsewhere in the
world. I am clear that our approach is about people too. As
with our terrestrial national parks we will include local
communities to secure the sustainable economic and social
development of the park area.
"We will shortly be publishing a Marine Strategy and
Scotland's first coastal and marine national park is just
one important strand in the work we are doing to establish
a coherent approach to managing Scotland's coastal and
marine environments.
"I have now asked SNH to begin work to identify a park
that will promote access to, and enjoyment and
understanding of our rich coastline and marine
environment."
A coastal and marine park would have the same broad
purpose as terrestrial national parks.
- conserve and enhance the natural and cultural
heritage of the area
- promote the sustainable use of natural
resources
- promote access, enjoyment and understand
- promote the sustainable economic and social
development of local communities
SNH will be invited to undertake a scoping and
feasibility study into the future creation of a Coastal and
Marine National Park.
They will be asked to work closely with stakeholder
interests and to report to Ministers in early 2006 with an
initial assessment of potential candidate areas. This will
be followed by full consultation with all stakeholder
interests before final decisions are made.
The process of designating a Coastal and Marine National
Park will be overseen by a new outcome-focused stakeholder
group, chaired by Mr Finnie.
The consultation on Developing a Strategic Framework for
Scotland's Marine Environment was launched in May 2004.
This sought views on the better long-term management of the
seas and coastline.
Responses to the consultation will be published this
summer.