A Blue Economy Vision for Scotland

5. Vision and Outcomes Explained

Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision. By 2045 Scotland’s shared stewardship of our marine environment supports ecosystem health, improved livelihoods, economic prosperity, social inclusion and wellbeing.

Scotland’s blue economy vision is consistent with the vision defined within the UK Marine Policy statement for a “A marine environment, which is clean, healthy, safe, productive and biologically diverse, managed to meet the long-term needs of nature and people”, and recognises that our economy and society are embedded in nature.

Complementing the position set out in Scotland’s third Land Use Strategy (published 2021), the blue economy vision acknowledges that our marine, coastal and interlinked-freshwater resources are national assets and part of Scotland’s cultural identity that has shaped our economy. For these habitats to continue to play this important role in lives and livelihoods, we must manage, protect, and enhance these ecosystems to achieve long-term health and sustainability. The blue economy vision therefore offers framing for Scotland’s existing and future marine management policies, strategies and plans e.g. Scotland’s National Marine Plan and Future Fisheries Management Strategy.

The blue economy vision will provide the context for marine related activity across the Scottish Government, support greater cohesion of policies and help guide our national and international marine ambitions. It sits alongside other existing high-level government strategies, including but not limited to the Environment Strategy, The National Plan for Scotland’s Islands and the National Planning Framework, and Scotland’s National Strategy for Economic Transformation

Setting out our six outcomes to 2045 will provide a context for the development and delivery of existing strategies and plans and inform areas of development such as the new Biodiversity Strategy (which encompasses both terrestrial and marine environments), the Energy Strategy, and future updates to the Climate Change Plan. Our outcomes will help provide focus on areas for investment and help establish shared goals with stakeholders in the public, private and third sectors. Overall, the outcomes will support an ambitious and inclusive economic and social recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic and the impacts of European Union withdrawal, in particular in rural, coastal and island areas.