Local planning for the seas around Orkney agreed

Local management of the seas around Orkney moved a step closer this week – with the delegation of regional marine planning functions to Orkney Islands Council by Scottish Ministers today.

An Orkney Marine Planning Partnership (OMPP) will be developed by the OIC’s Development and Marine Planning Team with an additional officer funded by the Scottish Government to be recruited to the team. The Partnership is to be established to deliver statutory regional marine functions within the seas around Orkney out to 12 nautical miles.

A key function of the OMPP is to prepare the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan, while also enabling local stakeholders to shape local marine planning policy for Orkney, taking into account local circumstances.

The aim of marine planning – which is similar in many ways to town planning on land – is to ensure a sustainable future for coastal and offshore waters through managing and balancing the many activities and developments affecting the marine area.

It is anticipated that an OMPP Advisory Group – consisting of a range of environment, economic, recreational and community interests and experts - will be set up early in 2021.

The Advisory Group will be steered by formal Terms of Reference to ensure a transparent and inclusive approach to governance.

A Statement of Public Participation (SPP) will be required to outline how the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan will be prepared and identify opportunities for more than 300 stakeholders to participate and engage in the plan making process. They will be encouraged to contact the OIC Development and Marine Planning Team to provide and receive information.

In addition, there will be ongoing engagement with the Advisory Group members and via the OIC website.

The benefits of regional marine planning include:

• Safeguarding the functioning of marine ecosystems whilst supporting economic activities.
• Policies, spatial allocations and data to improve certainty at the development consenting stage and support investment.
• Regional marine planning can help to reduce conflicts between marine users.
• Partnership working and building a collective understanding between the many marine interests, including the issues and constraints within which each other are working.
• The development of a locally relevant marine planning strategy; often national legislation carries with it a one size fits all approach and one size certainly does not fit, particularly in an island context.
• Regional marine planning will allow the national interest to be interpreted at the local level in a way that is appropriate to local circumstances.

The Council is required to prepare the Plan within four years.

Chair of the OIC’s Development and Infrastructure Committee, Councillor Graham Sinclair, said: “This is actually quite a landmark for Orkney, to be among the first three regions in Scotland to receive Delegation of Functions under the Act. In essence this means that we can begin to go forward with preparing a Regional Marine Plan for Orkney Islands Region for adoption---a plan that will protect the best interests of Orkney communities, as well as enabling local aspirations.

“This will require wide consultation with marine stakeholders, from large commercial interests to someone catching a few ‘sillocks’ for supper, and everyone in between. This is the culmination of many years work and OIC’s Marine Planners should all be very proud of the roles they have individually played in making this happen. It is an historic moment for all who value the coastal waters around Orkney.”

Minister for the Natural Environment Mairi Gougeon said: “This is an important opportunity for people and organisations living and working in Orkney to lead on the development of marine plans for their area.

“Orkney has a rich marine environment and heritage as well as an excellent track record on sustainable development and innovation. It is therefore ideally placed to use this opportunity to build on this for current and future generations.”

For more information on how stakeholders can get involved contact: marine.planning@orkney.gov.uk

A Marine Planning Partnership was first established in Shetland in 2016, followed by Clyde region in 2017.

More information on Marine Planning Partnerships is available here: http://marine.gov.scot/information/marine-planning-partnerships

The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 can be viewed here: https://www2.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement/marineact

• Divers making a photogrammetry survey of the wreck of the drifter Chance which sank in Scapa Flow in 1916 following a collision. (Picture: Dr Joanne Porter).