SCF gives evidence to Marine Environment Inquiry
The Scottish Coastal Forum was invited to present evidence to the Environment & Rural Development Committee's (ERDC) Marine Environment Inquiry in January 2007. The Committee was interested in knowing more about the ways in which Scotland's coastal resources are currently managed. The SCF gave its evidence as part of a suite of witnesses, which also included the three current Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative pilot projects.
The Forum made the case that Scotland needed integrated government to successfully deliver integrated coastal management and called for existing initiatives, including the seven Local Coastal Partnerships, to be given sufficient resources to underpin the work they are already doing within their geographic areas. The SCF also emphasised the role that Local Coastal Partnerships could play in the development of a model for Marine Spatial Planning within Scotland's coastal waters, where the majority of maritime activities take place.
The Members of the Scottish Parliament were left in no doubt that the required solution cannot involve either Marine Spatial Planning or Integrated Coastal Zone Management in isolation. Rather, the former facilitates delivery of the latter. Gordon Mann, speaking on behalf of the Forum, said:
"In areas of our coastal waters, competition for uses and sensitivities means that a spatial dimension needs to be considered in all the management and planning of activities, which is where Marine Spatial Planning comes to the fore. Certainly in coastal waters, we see Marine Spatial Planning as a mechanism or tool for delivering Integrated Coastal Zone Management. The answer to the question whether we should have one or the other is that we need both. We need to tailor them to the circumstances on particular areas, which is why we need strong local input as much as to consider national and international areas."
The value of appropriate data, involvement of stakeholders and the flexibility to adapt to emerging coastal management issues were also highlighted as key aspects of the ongoing process of securing sustainability.
A full transcript of SCF's contribution to the ERDC Marine Environment Inquiry is available from the Scottish Parliament's Official Report. The Forum's written submission of evidence, along with other SCF material, can be viewed in the SCF Publications section of this website.
Minister's Advisory Group considers recommendations on Scottish coastal & marine strategy
The Ministerial Advisory Group on Coastal & Marine Strategy (AGMACS) met for its sixth and final time on February 13 2007. The Minister, Ross Finnie, acknowledged that it had been a useful method of working and discussing some complex issues in order to improve understanding amongst participants. He commented that AGMACS had demonstrated its worth and he felt there was a future for a group of this nature.
The main business was discussion of a draft Final Report, which will be presented to the Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs before the conclusion of this second Parliamentary session. The Report will include recommendations from the Advisory Group on the key issues of ICZM and conflict resolution, Marine Spatial Planning, science and research needs and nature conservation issues. The SCF led the AGMACS-commissioned conflict resolution and ICZM workstream, which submitted its report to the group at this meeting as AGMACS(06)18.
The Minutes for this and all previous meetings of AGMACS are available from the Scottish Government's AGMACS websection.
New Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy
On September 12 2005, Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs, announced his intention to chair a new advisory group to take forward the development of the marine and coastal strategy, with a specific remit to:
- review the objectives, outputs and outcomes incorporated within the strategy;
- consider the potential for Marine Spatial Planning and how such a system might operate in practice;
- identify indicators of progress towards objectives, including identifying new research and science needs;
- make input to the early stage assessment , by Scottish Natural Heritage, of potential candidate sites for the first Scottish coastal and marine national park;
- identify the scale of any conflicts between sector based objectives;
- develop a suite of measures for conflict resolution at various scales; and
- identify whether any elements of the strategy might require underpinning by new legislation and/or new delivery mechanisms.
The group intends to be very much outcomes focused, meeting on a quarterly basis and delivering its remit within a year. More information is available from the Scottish Government's AGMACS websection.
Seas the Opportunity
The Scottish Government published its long-term national strategy for the sustainable management of Scotland's coastal and marine environment Seas the Opportunity. This takes into account advice from the SCF publication A Strategy for Scotland's Coast and Inshore Waters together with responses to the 2004 consultation Developing a Strategic Framework for Scotland's Marine Environment.
Ministerial foreword (abbreviated)
Over the summer of 2004 we consulted widely on developing a strategy for Scotland's coasts and seas. The outcome of that confirmed my view that we need to ensure the fundamental principles of sustainable development are applied to marine-related activities in a way that matches the unique circumstances of our coastal areas and territorial waters. We do a lot already to integrate socio-economic and environmental factors into decision making processes, often on a sector by sector basis. But the time is right to take a wider view, to get better at co-ordinating activity and at measuring and tackling cumulative impacts on our seas. We also need to manage more positively the potential tensions between sectors and between environmental and socio-economic objectives.
This document sets out the way in which I intend to put that into practice. It draws heavily on last year's consultation and also on the considerable work of the Scottish Coastal Forum and the Scottish Biodiversity Forum, for which I am grateful. It does not purport to give everything to everyone, but it does set out a clear vision for our coasts and seas, underpinned by high level objectives and specific action-focused targets. I want it to be a living, long-term strategy, which will evolve and develop over time with benefits for a generation to come. I intend to take forward the delivery of the objectives initially through a new group on to which I will invite stakeholder representatives to play an active part.
ROSS FINNIE
Minister for Environment and Rural Development
Scottish Coastal Forum 'Strategy for Scotland's Coast and Inshore Waters'
On July 15 2004 Capt. Jim Simpson presented the SCF publication A Strategy for Scotland's Coast and Inshore Waters to Mr Allan Wilson, former Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development. The document sets out a long-term national strategy to sustainably manage Scotland's coastline, with actions to:
- create a national planning framework which includes a system of coastal and marine spatial planning;
- encourage local authorities to prepare coastal policy statements covering the inshore waters within 12 miles of terrestrial boundaries, for inclusion in structure and district wide plans;
- create a co-ordination group within government to oversee, lead on and champion the development and delivery of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Scotland;
- carry out an audit to ensure that the best use is being made of existing mechanisms for collection, analysis and dissemination of data;
- generate an understanding of the monetary and non-monetary value of the coastal zone; and
- produce a good practice report on how to get people and communities involved in decision-making related to the coast and inshore waters and review at a national level.
Deputy Environment Minister Allan Wilson said:
"Our coasts and seas are important in both environmental and economic terms. They support many species of birds, fish and other sealife and continue to support many coastal communities.
"This important work by the Scottish Coastal Forum will help us develop a strategy to protect Scotland's marine environment and I look forward to working together with the wide range of interests involved in the Forum."
Capt. Anthony Wilks, SCF Chairman said:
"Scotland is justly famous for its coast - for its scenic beauty, rich wildlife and importance in our national culture and economy. However, there is an increasing pressure on this valuable resource, and a growing recognition that we should manage our coastline in a more strategic and coordinated way"
The Strategy has been produced through a series of national events in partnership with the members of SCF, who have worked hard to involve key organisations and draw together the main issues and opportunities in the document.
In 2002 the SCF published its statement of intent for the strategy as to:
- take stock - review the resources and key management issues associated with Scotland's Coast and Inshore waters at the beginning of the 21st Century;
- look beyond the short-to-medium term - develop an influential vision for the wise use of Scotland's coast and inshore waters based on a 25-year forward view;
- build coherence and synergy in coastal policy and management - taking account of the needs of all sectors and the EU's encouragement for the development of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM); and
- identify objectives and key actions for implementing the strategy.