Draft Scottish Marine Litter Strategy: Analysis of Consultation Responses

Question 5 - 6 Strategic Directions

Q5. Do you agree that Strategic Directions are a suitable way of outlining action under the Strategy?

Question 5 was answered by 21 people (27%). All respondents who answered agreed that Strategic Directions are a suitable way of outlining action under the Marine Litter Strategy.

Q6. Do you agree with the list of Strategic Directions?

Two-thirds (67%) of those respondents who indicated that they agreed with Question 5, stated that they did not agree with the list of Strategic Directions outlined in the consultation document.

Although four respondents suggested broad agreement with the Strategic Directions, the majority (90%) of overall respondents offered suggestions for improvement in the scope, and changes to wording to strengthen Strategic Directions. The key issues raised were as follows:

Strategic Direction 1

• One respondent suggested that it needs to involve campaigns that are focussed on particular sectors.
• Four respondents highlighted that it needs to reflect business and industry attitudes and behaviour too.
• One respondent suggested adding the word 'coastal' to give sense of responsibility for both industry and the public.
• One respondent indicated that 'educational facilities' should be included to encompass marine litter in the curriculum.
• One respondent suggested removal of word 'marine' - 'Improve public and business awareness of, and behaviour changes, around litter'.

Strategic Direction 2

• Three respondents felt that this Strategic Direction should also include marine based sources of litter and a commitment to reducing existing litter in the marine environment.
• Three respondents suggested that there should be a reference to work on-going in Europe (The Clean Europe Network).
• One respondent suggested that this Direction should either be reworded to include land and sea based sources and activities, or alternatively a two-tiered Strategic Direction which addresses the issue of land sourced and sea sourced litter.
• Two respondents highlighted that reference should be made to Sewage Related Debris, as outlined in the Scottish Water case study within the Marine Litter Strategy consultation document. One of those respondents felt that in terms of sewage related debris being reduced, it was essential that the issue of inappropriate disposal of household items and industrial waste was tackled within both Litter Strategies.
• One respondent suggested that this Strategic Direction needs to be able to reflect geographic and industry differences, and potential pathways of litter.
• One respondent suggested that the wording of the Strategic Direction should be simplified to read 'Reduction of land based sources of litter reaching the marine environment, working in parallel with the National Litter Strategy'.

Strategic Direction 3

• One respondent commented that actions under this Strategic Direction need to be more specifically linked to, and focussed on marine litter.

Strategic Direction 4

• Three respondents called for a standardised classification method and reporting mechanism to evaluate the incidence and impact for the various categories of marine litter.
• One respondent sought clarity on what specific action and aims under this Strategic Direction might include e.g. beach or seabed surveys.
• Two respondents felt that improved monitoring could be achieved by ensuring that data is collated in a consistent manner across Scotland. Both respondents made reference to the Environment Protection Act 1990, and associated Code of Practice which they felt should be considered for the monitoring of coastal litter.

Strategic Direction 5

• One respondent highlighted that this Strategic Direction needs to consider local action.
• One respondent stated the importance of ensuring that links already in place are supported and stakeholder engagement is maximised.

More general comments stressed the need for flexibility in the Strategy with regular reviews of the Strategic Directions and associated actions necessary. Indeed respondents highlighted that monitoring success of the Strategy should be an essential element. Many respondents said that the Strategic Directions should have more of a focus on marine-based sources of litter as well as land sourced litter, with a focus on integrated management across a trans-boundary issue. It was also suggested that the Strategic Directions should give a greater emphasis to supporting the development of local and regional coastal litter strategies.

The remainder of respondents suggested additional Strategic Directions as follows:

• Two respondents suggested that there should be a Strategic Direction which would support research into litter collection methods and an analysis of the impacts of cleaning; and the potential for removal of marine litter.
• Three respondents suggested that there should be an additional Strategic Direction around the improved use of and enforcement of existing legislation.
• Four respondents suggested an additional Strategic Direction to address the reduction of marine based sources of litter. Further to this, two of those respondents made reference to microplastics.
• One respondent suggested that there should be a new Strategic Direction to manage a programme to clean the coastline, providing local employment and utilising the existing network of organisations, volunteers and environmental groups.

Three respondents suggested that the link with the National Litter Strategy cannot be seen as the only way of delivering Strategic Directions 1 and 2, particularly if timescales for delivery are different.