Consultation Report on the Draft Scottish Marine Regions Order 2013

1. Introduction

The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 introduces statutory marine planning for the first time in the Scottish marine area. Section 5 (5) of the Act allows the Scottish Ministers to create Scottish Marine Regions through secondary legislation. Section 165(5) of the Act states that an order under section 5(5) is not to be made unless a draft of the instrument has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the Parliament. The Scottish Marine Regions Order will designate and identify the boundaries of 11 Scottish Marine Regions ( SMRs).