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Marine Bill planned
19/06/2007
The new Scottish government intends to introduce a Scottish Marine Bill, delegates at the Oceans '07 conference in Aberdeen were told today.
Rural Affairs and Environment Cabinet Secretary Richard Lochhead said the bill would deliver:
- A simpler regulatory system for the marine environment
- More action on marine nature conservation
- A strategic national approach
- Greater local control over marine and coastal areas
Mr Lochhead said:
"Scotland has a unique coastal and marine environment which provides an important natural resource upon which so many communities depend.
"With over 11,000 km of coastline, our waters generate hundreds of millions of pounds for the economy and support many thousands of jobs, most notably through the oil and gas industry, aquaculture and fishing.
"We also have significant coastal tourism and recreation sectors and internationally significant species, including various birds, seals and dolphins, which attract wildlife enthusiasts from around the world.
"There is now a greater awareness than ever before of the importance of sound management of our marine environment and promoting the sustainable use of our coasts and seas.
"More can and must be done to turn these aims into action. I am currently considering the findings of two reports which will help shape the content of a new Marine Bill for Scotland. There are dozens of pieces of legislation from three different parliaments that regulate Scotland's waters, which makes the area overly cluttered.
"I hope to announce plans for a new single piece of streamlined legislation to protect marine and coastal environments soon.
"The case for integrated legislation for Scotland's marine environment has been made. It's time to rise to the challenge of managing our seas in a manner fit for the 21st Century, for the benefit of Scotland's people, Scotland's communities, and for Scotland's generations to come."
The Cabinet Secretary is currently considering the findings of reports by the Scottish Parliament's Environment and Rural Development Committee and the Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy (AGMACS).
The Rural Development Committee made several recommendations in relation to legislative reform to simplify the governance of the marine environment; this includes statutory marine spatial planning and marine nature conservation through networked marine protected areas.
Mr Lochhead was a member of this Committee when it undertook the inquiry.
The AGMACS report made several proposals for reform:
- Introduce a marine spatial planning system aimed at managing the multiple, cumulative, and potentially conflicting uses of the sea in a sustainable way
- Form a Scottish marine management organisation to deliver marine spatial planning
- Introduce improvements to marine nature conservation
- Consider further devolution to Scotland of powers for marine spatial planning and nature conservation
Both reports were published in March this year.
This is the first time that the Oceans conference has taken place in Scotland. It brings together experts on ocean science, engineering and research. The Executive is one of the event's sponsors.