Marine environment inquiry

The Environment and Rural Development Committee conducted an inquiry to examine the management of the marine environment from November 2006 to March 2007.

Background

The Environment and Rural Development Committee (and the Enterprise and Culture Committee, and predecessor committees in Session 1) undertook some work on specific sectoral issues relating to the marine environment - such as fisheries and renewable energy. The ERDC also considered some relevant issues in relation to specific work. For example, it has examined marine protected areas in the context of PE799 on Lamlash Bay, and marine nature conservation (including taking some evidence on the need for a new look at the legislation which applies to the marine environment) during the passage of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004. However, there has been no specific consideration of the marine environment as a whole in the Parliament since 1999.

There was an increasing political focus on the marine environment at the time of the inquiry. This included a range of initiatives aimed at developing a new statutory framework for the management of the marine environment. Defra consulted in 2006 on proposals for a marine bill and produced a summary of responses. The consultation indicated that Defra and devolved administrations were working together on how to achieve an integrated approach, but that it would be for the devolved administrations to decide whether and how to take forward any of the issues in their own areas. 

In Scotland there was a range of sector-specific strategies and initiatives both before and during the time of the inquiry. The Executive published a Scottish Marine Strategy “SEAS the opportunity” in September 2005. It initiated a programme of work under a Ministerial advisory group to build on existing initiatives, take forward projects outlined in the Marine Strategy and decide if anything further was needed. It is expected that the advisory group may identify whether any of the elements of the strategy might require underpinning in new Scottish legislation. The Executive also consulted on proposals to create a coastal and marine national park.

Remit of the Inquiry

The overall aim of the inquiry was to direct attention, both inside and outside the Parliament, to the important issues which need to be considered in managing the marine environment effectively.   

The inquiry focussed on a number of points, including:

• Uses: What are the varied, and often competing, demands which are placed on the marine environment? Where are the key pressure points and challenges – with a particular view to any that have distinctively Scottish perspectives?

• Planning: What good practice is developing in Scotland from some of the initiatives which exist to co-ordinate the various activities, and manage potential conflicts, in the marine environment (e.g. marine spatial planning pilots, the coastal forum network, etc).

• Development of governance: What do these initiatives show about how legislation and organisational structures etc. need to change? What is the best way to create an overarching framework for effective management of the marine environment?

Timetable for the Inquiry

The Committee agreed a timetable for the inquiry in the context of its overall work programme. The Committee took oral evidence over three meetings on 9, 17 and 24 January 2007.

Oral Evidence

The Committee sought oral evidence from a range of interested parties, e.g. representatives of those who use or manage use of the marine environment from a range of sectors and interest groups.  The Committee was particularly keen to hear views from communities and individuals who live and/or work in coastal or marine areas.  Witnesses invited to give oral evidence were asked to provide a written submission to be circulated prior to the meeting.

Oral and associated evidence sent to the Committee for the inquiry

Written evidence

A call for evidence was issued by the Committee for interested parties to submit evidence on the inquiry.

Written evidence sent to the Committee for the inquiry

Papers from the Scottish Executive

• Correspondence from the Minister for Environment and Rural Development (6 January 2007) (pdf)

Report

The Committee published its report on the inquiry on 12 March 2007.

Contacts

For further information on any aspect of this inquiry, please contact:

Jenny Goldsmith, Assistant Clerk to the Committee, Direct Tel: 0131 348 5242 (RNID Typetalk calls welcome), or

Email: ERDC@scottish.parliament.uk