A plan will be prepared next year to guide development activity in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters.
The Government Directorate Marine Scotland, Orkney Islands Council and The Highland Council have set up a working group to take forward the project and are encouraging stakeholders to get involved in the development of the plan.
The Plan Scheme can be downloaded from the Marine Scotland website that sets out how the Marine Spatial Plan will be developed and shows how stakeholders can take part in the process.
The Highland Council recently approved the Plan Scheme and speaking on the proposed plan Councillor Thomas Prag, Chairman of the Council’s Planning, Environment and Development Committee said: “We are delighted to be jointly working with Marine Scotland and Orkney Islands Council on the preparation of the draft marine spatial plan for the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters. There is now an important opportunity for stakeholders to become engaged in the plan making process, which will allow for the appropriate consideration of competing interests in the area. I encourage all with an interest in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters to get involved.”
Local Highland Councillor Roger Saxon attended a recent information day hosted by the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Leadership Forum, in the Pentland Hotel Thurso. He said: “This is excellent news for communities in Caithness and Orkney. The published plan will acknowledge the aspirations of the marine renewable energy sector in this important region of Scotland and will facilitate progress in the sector in a sustainable manner.”
The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters are the location for the world’s first leasing round for commercial wave and tidal energy projects. In total, the Crown Estate has agreements with developers for 12 marine renewable energy projects within the area.
The organisations involved in preparing the plan will examine how future development, including wave and tidal projects, can be delivered in ways that balance the needs of other users of the seas and which ensure that the marine environment is protected.
They will look at the requirements of the marine renewable energy sector, inshore fisheries, aquaculture, shipping and navigation, the oil and gas industries, recreation by local people and visitors, and tourism.
When completed in 2014, the pilot plan will be used to inform marine development decision making in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters.
To find out more about the development of the plan and how to get involved, please visit www.scotland.gov.uk (search for ‘Plan Scheme 2012’, click on Pilot Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan The Plan Scheme 2012 then go to Associated Downloadable Documents).
The Plan Scheme document contains a list of agencies, organisations, businesses and individuals with an interest in the development of the Marine Spatial Plan. Anyone who would like to be added to the stakeholder database please contact PFOWmarinespatialplan[AT]scotland.gsi.gov.uk