The Scottish Government

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Summary

Following the Partnership Agreement of 2004, Scottish Ministers announced their intention to develop a proposal for Scotland's first Coastal and Marine National Park. This report presents an analysis of responses received on the consultation paper launched in October 2006. 940 responses were received from individuals and organisations on the issues surrounding designation, including: benefits; selection criteria; location and boundaries; the functions, powers and governance arrangements of a Park Authority; and potential financial implications. This summary report follows the general structure of the consultation paper, and will inform Ministers' decisions. No decisions have yet been taken.

72% of respondents signalled support in principle for the establishment of a Coastal and Marine National Park. 10% of respondents opposed designation. Analysis of responses identified overall support from individuals and organisations across most interest groups that participated, and in all candidate regions. This report also sets out concerns expressed by those opposed to a Coastal and Marine National Park, and compares them with other views on these specific issues.

Respondents identified the benefits that designation could deliver, in order of importance, as:

• improved environmental management and planning, particularly through rationalising and integrating existing regulatory structures;
• sustainable development of the local economy; and
• better understanding of natural resources, both generally through dedicated research projects and by the general public through gateway resources;

and also suggested that a Coastal and Marine National Park could:

• bring together the diverse aims and shift the strategic focus of those involved in the area with conservation, sustainable development and public enjoyment;
• place the local needs of fragile communities, such as the need to improve physical infrastructure on a national stage; and
• unlock additional funding streams to fund local projects and develop community assets, over and above the direct funding that would flow from designation.

Overall, those who responded to the consultation considered that the location of a Coastal and Marine National Park should be selected by:

• the balance of conservation needs and threats to natural and cultural heritage; and
• the potential to make a significant contribution to the social and economic development of local communities.

Responses from individuals placed more importance on the first criterion and organisations considered the second more important.

Respondents considered the most appropriate locations for Scotland's first Coastal and National Park to be, in order of preference:

• the combination of the Argyll Islands and coast and the Ardnamurchan, Small Isles and South Skye coast candidate regions; followed by:

Those who submitted a response to this issue preferred to set the seaward Park boundary at 12 nautical miles (nm) and the inclusion of coastal communities within the landward limit. They also considered that these boundaries should be set according to:

• the general selection criteria and aims for the Park; and then refined according to:
• administrative complexity;
• existing use of resources, drawing on the experience of other National Parks; and
• natural limits, taking into account the direct influence of the marine environment.

A small number of responses commented on the more technical issues of the functions, powers and governance of a Park Authority. Of these, no clear consensus emerged regarding the range of functions a Park Authority should undertake, although most preference was accorded a lighter touch, planner and enabler model. The majority of those respondents that took a definite position considered that 'stop' powers should be vested in a Park Authority, but not terrestrial planning powers. Where the composition of a Park Board drew comment, respondents emphasised the importance of local representation.

The final section of this report outlines the wider context to these proposals. Respondents' views on the way forward included:

• consideration of a detailed, inclusive interim consultation with which to inform Ministers' decision to progress with formal statutory processes (3% of respondents);
• shortlisting 2-3 areas for which to focus evidenced proposals and develop local engagement; commissioning rigorous, independent economic and regulatory impact assessments; making more widely available evidence regarding the potential impact of designation to local business, controls on local fishing activity, and the ability of local infrastructure to support an increase in tourism; and
• allowing for a period of reflection, enabling the proposals for a Coastal and Marine National Park to flow from other initiatives, emerging with the authority of wider review.

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