Marine / New marine plan could be adopted this year, government minister suggests
THIS YEAR could finally see a new Shetland regional marine plan being adopted by the Scottish Government – despite it being approved locally by councillors back in 2021.
Acting cabinet secretary for net zero and energy Gillian Martin said “work to ensure the final plan is adoptable is advancing”.
Writing in response to a question from Shetland MSP Beatrice Wishart about when the plan would be adopted by government, Martin added: “Officials will continue to work constructively with Shetland Marine Planning Partnership to refine and develop their plan with an aim to seek approval of the Scottish ministers for adoption in 2025.”
Frustration over delays in adopting the plan have regularly been aired in the Shetland Islands Council chamber.
The aim of the local marine plan – developed by the council and UHI Shetland – is to manage the marine environment in Shetland in a sustainable way to have clean, healthy, safe, productive and diverse seas that manage to meet the long-term needs of nature and people.
A report presented to councillors in February said the plan is currently with the Scottish Government’s legal department for checking and further engagement is ongoing with the Marine Directorate.
A briefing note given to councillors in December 2023 said the Scottish Government had admitted that some delays “could have been avoided” and that the “level of communication, support, advice and service provided” had been “insufficient”.
Meanwhile in the summer of 2023 the Scottish Government undertook a “gateway review” of all developing regional marine plans, including the Shetland one.
The development of new Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan built on the existing marine spatial planning work.
The first Shetland marine spatial plan was created in 2008, and there have been four editions since, with the last one published in 2015.
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