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8. Summary of Recommendations
Section 3 - Science, Research and Performance Indicators
3.4.1 AGMACS endorses the Recommendations from the Science Workstream as stated above.
Section 4 - Conflict Resolution and Integrated Coastal Zone Management
4.6.1 There should be a Scottish Marine Management Organisation with a remit of national coordination of ICZM and Marine Spatial Planning delivery.
4.6.2 The Marine Management Organisation should have a local dimension with powers that can be delegated as required.
4.6.3 The local dimension should be fitting to the needs, uses and geographical requirements of the areas concerned.
4.6.4 The boundaries of the local dimension of the MMO could be called, for example, a Regional Policy Area and could be based around, for example, existing Local Coastal Partnership areas or other suitable bodies, e.g. local authorities.
4.6.5 ICZM and MSP policy at local level should be based on planning or policy statements. Consideration should be given to a delivery model consisting of Regional Policy Statements being prepared within Regional Policy Areas, possibly by the existing Local Coastal Partnerships or local authorities.
4.6.6 The issue of funding for Local Coastal Partnerships should be revisited.
Section 5 - Marine Spatial Planning
5.3.1 There should be a system of Marine Spatial Planning;
5.3.2 The planning system needs a statutory basis, though potentially with a variable control (e.g. the flexibility to incorporate a non-statutory framework of local stakeholder engagement and planning).
5.3.3 The system should be based on 3 tiers: the top level should be UK level, ensuring connection to regional seas; the middle level should be "Scotland" in some sense; and the bottom level should be local. The options for the local and "Scotland" level tiers need further exploration.
5.3.4 Management of across the boundaries of these tiers is a key area to get right.
5.3.5 There should be a Scottish Marine Management Organisation to carry out Marine Spatial Planning in Scotland.
5.3.6 Consideration should be given to the Scottish MMO having responsibility for Marine Nature Conservation and Fisheries to 200nm, and also the role of ensuring a properly integrated approach with the UK system.
5.3.7 The options for establishing such a body should also be considered further including the possibility of using or reorganising existing organisations.
5.3.8 Further policy development on Marine Spatial Planning must consider the relationship with existing regimes (e.g. river basin management planning, ICZM) and competent authorities (e.g. local authorities, SEPA), and future policy initiatives (e.g. EU Marine Strategy Directive).
Section 6 - Marine Nature Conservation
6.4.1 Scotland's system of marine nature conservation should follow a 3-pillar approach, based on objective scientific guidance, with specific measures for species conservation, policy, and site protection. The precise detail of these measures should be subject to further consideration and exploration, with the overall aim of meeting the biodiversity commitments already made by Ministers. The measures should take socio-economic considerations fully into account to ensure an overall sustainable development approach.
6.4.2 That a Scottish set of Marine Ecosystem Objectives ( MEOs) should be drawn together, with full stakeholder engagement, during 2007. These should have the ecosystem approach at their heart, and should be fully integrated with the broad policy approach of 'living within environmental limits'. They should be nested within a wider set of MEOs for UK waters and for the Regional Seas around Scotland.
6.4.3 AGMACS notes the UK Government's obligations and commitments under the Natura Directives, OSPAR and the nature conservation aspects of the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
6.4.4 AGMACS acknowledges the in-depth analysis of the nature conservation requirements and priorities in Scotland's marine environment undertaken by the workstream group.
Section 7 - Other Work of the Group
Reviewing the objectives, outcomes and outputs in "Seas the Opportunity"
7.1.1 A review of the objectives, outcomes and outputs in "Seas the Opportunity" should be undertaken as part of the longer term policy development of the Marine and Coastal Strategy, perhaps by a successor forum to AGMACS.
Sustainable Development Indicators
7.10.1 AGMACS recognises the importance of the socio-economic dimension and the need for sustainable development objectives and indicators. The current work being undertaken at the UK level was noted. AGMACS recommends that its members be engaged fully in this process to ensure the Scottish dimension is incorporated and that objectives and indicators developed are used in future Scottish marine and coastal policy.
Extending Planning Controls for Marine Fish Farming
7.14.1 Aquaculture should be considered within the context of further policy development on Marine Spatial Planning.
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