Supporting Publications and Legislation

Strategies and Initiatives

Information about Marine Scotland
Marine Scotland Annual Review 2011Details of Marine Scotland's performance against its Strategic Priorities.
Marine Scotland Strategic Plan 2010 - 2013Sets out the direction of travel, and key priorities, for Marine Scotland for operating years 2010/11 to 2012/13

Scottish Marine Science Strategy 2010 - 2015

The strategy sets the direction for the public bodies in Scotland with a responsibility for policy, management, monitoring and environmental protection in our seas. It also seeks to inform other marine organisations of Scottish priorities.

Fish Health Inspectorate (FHI) Service Charter

Explains the standards and quality of service that the Fish Health Inspectorate aim to provide in their dealings with customers.

Other
Strategic Framework for the Scottish Aquaculture IndustryA Scottish government initiative for a strategic framework for the Scottish Aquaculture Industry
Strategic Framework for the Scottish Sea Fishing IndustryThis document provides the basis for a strategic framework for the Scottish sea fishing industry. It sets out a number of aims, which the Scottish Government is pursuing in order to deliver the best possible conditions for the successful operation of a sustainable Scottish sea fishing industry.
Marine (Scotland) Act 2010A framework to help balance competing demands on Scotland's seas.
UK Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy (UKMMAS)A UK strategy to co-ordinate the monitoring of the marine environment. The overseeing high level committee is co-Chaired by Marine Directorate.
Safeguarding our Seas: A Strategy for the conservation and sustainable development of our marine environment (2002)This report provides the basis for a Strategy for the conservation and sustainable development of the marine environment, based on a vision of clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse oceans and seas. It contains a number of new ideas and initiatives to turn this vision into a reality.
The UK strategy for radioactive discharges 2001-2020The UK Strategy for Radioactive Discharges 2001-2020 sets out how the UK will implement the OSPAR Radioactive Discharges Strategy. The aim of the OSPAR Strategy is to ensure progressive reduction of concentrations of radioactive substances in the marine environment such that by 2020 they add close to zero to historic levels.
EU Marine Strategy DirectiveIn July 2008 the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSD) became European law. The Scottish Government Marine Strategy Team is fully engaged with Defra and the other UK administrations to transpose the MSFD into domestic legislation by July 2010.

EU Integrated Maritime Policy

Launched in October 2008 this sets out the EU Action Plan on maritime affairs.

Acts and Directives

UK Marine and Coastal Access Act
Water Framework DirectiveIntroduced in 2000 to establish systems to manage the water environment, and was transposed into Scots Law in 2003. The WFD applies to all water in the natural environment - rivers, lochs, estuaries, coastal and underground water.
Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009Introduced a more sustainable and modern approach to flood risk management, suited to the needs of the 21st century and to the impact of climate change.
Coast Protection Act 1949
Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Act 2007
Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003
Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds(Otherwise referred to as the EU Birds Directive) Marine Scotland leads on the implementation of the EU Birds Directive in Scottish territorial waters and the Scottish offshore region. This includes designation and management of SPAs, establishing and operating a system of strict protection for particular species that are listed in the Directive, and responsibility for surveillance and monitoring of the species and habitats protected by the Directive.
Directive on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Fauna and Flora(Otherwise referred to as the EU Habitats Directive) Marine Scotland leads on the implementation of the EU Habitats Directive in Scottish territorial waters and the Scottish offshore region. This includes designation and management of SACs, establishing and operating a system of strict protection for particular species that are listed in the Directive, and responsibility for surveillance and monitoring of the species and habitats protected by the Directive.
Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994In combination with the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 implements the EU Birds and Habitats Directives in the inshore area.
Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004Contains legal provisions to implement national-level policies on nature conservation including equivalent protection for some other species of national importance and a biodiversity duty on all public bodies inside territorial waters, which is implemented in Scottish territorial waters by the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.
Offshore Marine Conservation Regulations (2007)Implements the EU Birds and Habitats Directives in the UK offshore area
Conservation of Seals Act 1970
Conservation of Seals (Scotland) Order 2004
Conservation of Seals (Scotland) Order 2007


Page updated: Friday, July 29, 2011