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A new future for Scotland's seas, balancing conservation and economic growth, will be the focus of a Moray Firth Partnership meeting in Inverness on September 10. The new proposals in 'Sustainable Seas For All - A Consultation On Scotland's First Marine Bill', published for consultation in July, include: * Improved conservation to ensure a healthy future for Scotland's unique marine wildlife, including internationally important populations of seabirds
* A new marine planning system and a streamlined licensing system to encourage economic investment in areas such as renewable energy
* Measures to ensure a viable future for Scotland's traditional and new marine industries
* The creation of Marine Scotland combining the efforts of existing bodies to act as a champion for Scotland's seas. The public meeting will be hosted by the Moray Firth Partnership at the Tulloch Caledonian Stadium between 11am and 4.30pm on September 10. Speaking ahead of the public meeting, Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Scotland's seas are special. In the 21st century, we need to ensure that we have arrangements in place to provide a sustainable future for our marine environment and the many industries that depend on productive and healthy seas. "Striking the right balance between the long-term viability and growth of all these industries and the enhanced protection of our special marine environment is at the heart of our proposed Bill. "By introducing Scotland's first Marine Bill we hope to do just that. I would like to encourage everyone who has an interest in our seas to give their views on the proposals. That will in turn help us produce legislation that will secure and protect our seas for generations to come." It is proposed that Marine Scotland will be based on existing organisations that will be brought together. Its creation will streamline the governance of Scotland's seas. Our seas are among the most biologically productive in the world, containing over 40,000 species and internationally important populations of marine mammals and sea birds. At the same time, the seas are a major asset for Scotland and generate more than £2.2 billion for the Scottish economy. We have huge potential to increase economic growth from our seas but need to do so in a sustainable way. We have 25 per cent of Europe's total tidal and offshore wind resource and 10 per cent of its potential in wave power. Scotland is also a top marine tourism destination. In addition, many communities around Scotland's coasts depend on fishing and fish farming, which together account for 60 per cent of all food exports from Scotland with a value of £422 million. http://www.scotland.gov.uk |
