Origins of the Scottish Coastal Forum
On March 20 1996, the Scotland Office launched "Scotland's Coasts - a discussion paper" at the Scottish Fisheries Museum, Anstruther. This consultation document included proposals to establish a national forum centred around the complex and sometimes conflicting uses and management of the coastal and marine environment.
Following widespread support for these proposals, on November 22 1996 the Minister announced the formation of a Scottish Coastal Forum to provide a national focus for coastal issues, as well as to set the national context for the work of local coastal parterships.
Scottish Coastal Forum Remit
- Encourage the formation of local coastal fora, providing a point of coordination for these as well as acting as a central point to communicate their views and concerns.
- Encourage debate on coastal issues at a national level.
- Seek opportunities for better coordination of national frameworks and policies, consider the need for further advice and guidance and assist in its preparation.
- Gather information about approaches to coastal management and disseminate good practice to local Fora.
'Scotland's Coasts - a discussion paper' proposals
- Encouragement of local coastal fora to take forward integrated management of local coastal areas.
- Creation of a Scottish Coastal Forum, bringing together representatives of bodies with a major interest in, or responsibility for, coastal issues to provide a national context for the work of local fora.
- Preparation of a series of national guidance and advice publications, drawing upon the work and experience of the Scottish Coastal Forum and of the local coastal fora.