The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters area has been identified as one with significant renewable energy resources, as well as being of exceptional environmental quality and are a resource of importance to both national and local economies.
There is a need to examine how future marine energy developments can be taken forward in this area in a manner that avoids conflicts with other users of the seas and which ensures that the marine environment is protected.
Ultimately, this would be achieved though the preparation and implementation of regional Marine Plan(s) for the area. This will happen once the legislative framework setting out the requirements and content of regional marine plans is in place.
However, this will take time and there is a need to progress the process. Therefore, following an informal consultation, we have developed a Marine Spatial Plan (MSP) Framework which sets out a process for the development of future plans in this area. This Framework document contains a summary of existing information on different uses of the seas, shows how these different uses may impact on each other and makes recommendations for future research to ensure that the plan is properly underpinned by relevant and good quality information. It sets out how the plan will be developed. The Framework document is informed by Regional Locational Guidance which provides more detailed consideration of the specific issues associated with marine energy projects.