Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan

The purpose of the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan is to provide a statutory policy framework for public authorities, including regulators, planners and other decision-makers to make decisions on sustainable development and activities. Public authorities are required to take any authorisation or enforcement decision in accordance with the appropriate regional marine plan.  Note: the decision-makers on developments and/or activities remain the current consenting bodies i.e. Marine Scotland, SEPA, Crown Estate Scotland, OIC etc for all licencing, consents and permissions, but these decisions must be in accordance with the marine plan, once published.

Orkney Islands Council has prepared the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan: Consultation Draft (OIRMP: Consultation Draft) and supporting information on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

The OIRMP: Consultation Draft has been prepared with significant input from the Orkney Marine Planning Advisory Group (OMPAG) to the drafting of the plan’s vision, aim and objectives.

Local communities and wider stakeholders have been and will continue to be engaged in the plan making process in accordance with the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan: Statement of Public Participation (SPP).

In addition to the requirements of the SPP, community engagement was carried out during Spring/Summer 2022 to inform the preparation of the OIRMP: Consultation Draft and raise awareness of the purpose and scope of the plan, as outlined in the related downloads section. This included in person public events and school visits in Stronsay, Hoy, Sanday, Westray, St Margaret’s Hope, Kirkwall and Stromness.