Consultation Report on the Draft Scottish Marine REGIONS ORDER 2013

7. NEXT STEPS

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 2013 establishing SMR boundaries will be laid in Parliament shortly and the regulations should come in to force in January 2014. After the establishment of the Scottish Marine Region boundaries in legislation, an announcement will be made identifying which of the marine regions will begin the creation of a statutory regional marine plan. This will require the establishment of Marine Planning Partnerships.