SECTION 6 MILITARY ACTIVITIES
Key challenge
Continue to support the seas delivering military and security objectives, maintaining freedom of movement for the navy and other sea users |
Objectives
The objectives of the MOD in terms of their use of Scotland's seas for defence purposes are: - Where possible, to minimise the impact of its activities on the environment.
- Maintain flexibility to close sites and create by-laws for complete closures
- Maintain exclusive use of areas during particular times of the year
- Maintain ability to deploy flexible and broad range of capabilities
- Exemptions in planning law for the purposes of national security
- Maintain MOD agreement with fisheries in accordance with code of conduct.
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Background
Defence is a reserved issue but there is a need to identify the implications of defence marine use for other marine users and to minimise the impacts.
The Ministry of Defence uses Scotland's seas and coasts mainly for training. Coastal establishments and the adjacent seas are used for maritime training activities, and surveillance and monitoring of potential threats to the country's offshore interests. All UK armed services use the marine environment, the primary user being the Royal Navy for its naval establishments, fuel depots, jetties and exercise areas. Coastal locations are used for both land based military training activities, camps and firing and test evaluation ranges. Detailed information about the intensity of military use of the seas is not available for reasons of confidentiality. However it's worth noting that military firing ranges are not in constant use and where appropriate other activities are permitted where consistent with operational requirements.
Current
The major training activity each year is the Exercise Joint Warrior with Navy, Army and Air Force exercises conducted mainly in northern area. These waters, including those of the Inner Hebrides, form the Navy's Scottish Exercise Areas, part of the overall Practice Exercise Areas. These are marked on navigation charts and cover large areas of sea which are used extensively for training throughout the year. The areas marked on the chart emphasise the defence use of the sea.
Figure 12.17 Environmental Impacts of MOD activity
Pressure theme | Pressure | Impact |
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Pollution and other chemical pressures | Introduction of non-synthetic substances and compounds | Release of oil and other hazardous substances (from accidental and incidental discharge of cargo or fuel, munitions, discharges from port facilities and shipbuilding/ship repair yards) may result in contamination of water and sediments and ecological impacts on wildlife, mariculture and tourism. |
Introduction of radio nuclides | Radionuclide contamination. |
Other physical pressures | Litter | Ships rarely dispose of shell cases at sea due to tight regulations fired. |
Noise impacts | Noise from construction, ship movements, sonar activity and use of live explosives for training purposes. Use of live explosives and other exclusive activities may restrict other users which could have an overall positive effect on an area. |
Habitat changes | Habitat damage, loss and / or abrasion | Infrastructure associated with military activity, such as ports, replaces natural coastline (habitat loss) with man-made structures. Capital and maintenance dredging associated with shipping can damage marine benthic habitats. Ship wash can damage habitats. |
Biological pressures | Microbial pathogens | Release of sewage introduces pathogens and nutrients into the water, affecting water quality and potentially passing on diseases to humans through contact with contaminated water or consumption of contaminated shellfish. |
Introduction or spread of non-native species | Non-native species may be translocated or spread in ballast water and as fouling organisms on ships' hulls. These may cause habitat modification and competition with native species. |
Source: Based on CP2 PSEG Feeder Report table 3.24 and 3.53 (See also table in Maritime Transport section for shipping related pressures and impacts ) and draft UK Marine Policy Statement
Future
Short - medium term goals
This section highlights the short to medium term goals of the MOD and the economic challenges it presents. The need to designate security zones, the decline of oil and gas and conflicts with other sectors such as commercial fishing, aquaculture, recreational activities, and offshore renewables are issues. Access to Faslane is a significant issue as are marine reserves/ MPA protection measures. The Scottish Exercise Areas are very much interlinked into this. Scottish seas will continue to be used for training in all aspects of defence, although an increase in size of these areas is not envisaged.
Figure 12.18 MoD exercise areas, firing ranges and military coastal locations
