Highly Protected Marine Areas - policy framework and site selection guidelines: ICIA – partial screening report
This report seeks to complete the first two stages of the island communities impact assessment (ICIA) process by identifying whether there are issues which merit further exploration. Consultation responses will be used to determine whether a full ICIA is required once specific HPMA sites are proposed.
7. Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement
Our aim throughout is to be fair, transparent and inclusive and to strengthen the process by engaging with stakeholders at all key stages of policy development, site selection, assessment, and designation.
To help guide our engagement we have produced a Stakeholder Engagement Plan. This sets out how and when stakeholders can engage throughout the process of designating HPMAs, from bilateral engagement to cross-sectoral workshops and statutory public consultations.
Initial informal engagement with stakeholders was carried out in Spring and Summer 2022 to introduce the commitment, plan for delivery and inform development of the Policy Framework and Site Selection Guidelines. Stakeholders engaged at this stage included:
- Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers (ASSG)
- British Trout Association (BTA)
- Coastal Communities Network (CCN)
- Communities Inshore Fisheries Alliance (CIFA)
- Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA)
- Crown Estate Scotland (CES)
- Oceana
- Regional Inshore Fisheries Groups including:
- North and East Coast Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (NECRIFG)
- Orkney Sustainable Fisheries (Regional Inshore Fisheries Group)
- Outer Hebrides Regional Inshore Fishery Group
- Shetland Fisherman's Association (SFA)
- West Coast Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (WCRIFG)
- Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
- Salmon Scotland
- Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation (SCFF)
- Scottish Environment LINK
- Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)
- Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF)
- Scottish Renewables
- Scottish Sea Farms Ltd
- Scottish Seaweed Industry Association (SSIA)
- Scottish White Fish Producers Association (SWFPA)
Following the end of public consultation the Policy Framework and Site Selection Guidelines will be finalised and published.
A phase of site selection and assessment will then begin. During this phase, a series of cross-sectoral themed workshops will allow stakeholders to contribute to and comment on proposals as they emerge. The themes of these workshops will include a focus on potential impacts to island communities.
A final public consultation on the proposed locations for HPMAs will be held in 2025.
Contact
Email: HPMA@gov.scot
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