Marine Planning Milestone

Marine planning for Orkney hit another significant milestone this month with the inaugural meeting of the Orkney Marine Planning Advisory Group - the first group of its kind to cover such a wide range of marine interests across Orkney.

The group, which met online, is made up of local experts from organisations that represent the physical, environmental, social, cultural and economic characteristics of our marine waters.

It will provide specialist advice and guidance to support the production of the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan, which will be prepared by Orkney Islands Council. The Advisory Group will promote engagement with regional marine planning in Orkney and beyond to ensure sustainable development of our waters, whilst protecting the quality of our rich biodiversity.

Chair of the group, Councillor Graham Sinclair, said: “We are delighted to have so many dedicated experts on board, willing to share their knowledge to ensure the marine plan supports our economic recovery and protects our marine and coastal habitats.”

Over the next few months, with help from the advisory group, OIC will be publishing a Statement of Public Participation. It will outline the indicative timescale and ways that all Orkney communities can engage in the marine plan-making process over the next few years.

Local management of the seas around Orkney out to 12 nautical miles was delegated to Orkney Islands Council by Scottish Ministers in November 2020.

OIC will prepare the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan, supported by the Advisory Group.

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.

For more information on how stakeholders can get involved email Orkney Islands Council's Marine Planning team.

Notes to editors:

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

More information about Marine Planning Partnerships is available on Marine Scotland website. 

View the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 on the Scottish Government website.