Pilot Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan. Consultation Analysis and Modifications Report.

36. Future Development of Regional Marine Plans

36.1 Background

36.1.1 There were five questions that set out to gather information that could be used to inform a Lessons Learned report. The summary of responses and the main themes are set out for each question below.

36.2 First question:

36.2.1 Are there any issues or opportunities relevant to the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters area that you consider are not addressed by the pilot Plan and should be taken forward in future Regional Marine Plans?

36.3 Summary of responses received

Stakeholder	Count
Commercial	3
Fisheries and aquaculture	2
Individual	1
Non-governmental organisation	1
Public sector	6
Recreation	2
TOTAL	15

36.4 Main themes

36.4.1 Nine of the respondents had no further comments to make. Of the remaining responses two stakeholder (public sector and non-governmental organisation) made a number of specific points and these are listed in the table.

36.4.2 Of the remaining responses comments one respondent noted that work to fill the acknowledged data gap relative to tourism and recreation was ongoing.

36.4.3 Another stakeholder noted it would be useful to know how the two Scottish Marine Regions covered by the PFOW Plan are likely to interact in the regional planning process.

36.4.4 A fisheries stakeholder commented that a sustainability scoring method should be devised. The same stakeholder noted that there needs to be a biological plan to show sea temperature and salinity seasonally and at different depths and acknowledgement that the sea is already a worked area and has been shaped by human intervention.

36.5 Second question:

36.5.1 Do you believe you have had sufficient opportunity to influence the content of the Plan? If not, at what stage and how would you like to have input to the future statutory regional marine planning?

36.6 Summary of responses received

Stakeholder	Count
Commercial	3
Fisheries and aquaculture	2
Individual	1
Non-governmental organisation	0
Public sector	6
Recreation	2
TOTAL	14

36.7 Main themes

36.7.1 Only one respondent replied 'no' to this question but provided no further comment. The majority of the remaining responses responded 'yes' although one noted they would have preferred to have had earlier input to discussions and challenges relevant to this area and another noted that they would like post-consultation updates and continued engagement in the process.

36.7.2 One fisheries respondent acknowledged the 'productive meetings along the way' but felt there needed to be fisheries representation on the advisory group.

36.7.3 One respondent (public sector) provided a list of contributions they could make to the future marine planning partnerships. Another requested clarity on the transition from the PFOW Plan to the production of the regional marine plans.

36.8 Third question:

36.8.1 Do you believe that the Plan includes sufficient and accurate information about the activities of your sector or interests in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters area? Are there additional information sources that could be accessed or generated?

36.9 Summary of responses received

Stakeholder	Count
Commercial	3
Fisheries and aquaculture	2
Individual	1
Non-governmental organisation	1
Public sector	6
Recreation	2
TOTAL	15

36.10 Main themes

36.10.1 The respondents provided comments that related to the sector they represented and noted where they felt further data was required or could be accessed.

• The Royal Yachting Association noted the UK Coastal Atlas of Recreational Boating is currently being updated
• It was noted work on marine tourism and recreation was ongoing and would contribute to future plans
• The availability of data on species, habitats, substrates and processes of the marine environment was noted to be problematic and that efforts to generate more data of this kind would be useful
• The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds is working with Marine Scotland to have seabird tracking data available on National Marine Plan interactive
• More detail is required for floating offshore wind, including devices which combine wind and wave generation
• It was noted that there are a number of data gaps in relation to fishing, stocks and information on their biological vulnerability and development vulnerabilities are missed

36.11 Fourth question:

36.11.1 Do you believe that the Plan includes sufficient and accurate information about the activities or other sectors or interests? Identify any particular priorities for filling data gaps for future regional marine plans.

36.12 Summary of responses received

Stakeholder	Count
Commercial	3
Fisheries and aquaculture	2
Individual	1
Non-governmental organisation	0
Public sector	6
Recreation	2
TOTAL	14

36.13 Main themes

36.13.1 The majority of the stakeholders either agreed that there was sufficient and accurate information or had no further comment.

36.13.2 Of the remaining responses the data gaps highlighted were:

• Inshore fisheries data is incomplete and there is a need for more rapid roll out of tracking systems for all vessel sizes
• Improvement of effort, catch and landing data for more inshore fisheries would ease the process of becoming part of a plan led regime
• It was noted that there is a data gap in terms of marine recreation but acknowledged that there is an ongoing study to fill this data gap
• Availability of data at the appropriate resolution to support regional marine planning was highlighted as a data gap
• One respondent felt there should have been more information on dinghy use in the area
• Data in relation to proposed nature conservation areas within the Plan area would be useful
• More information on impact pathways between sectors would be useful
• A requirement for better data and knowledge on human-introduced pollutants and their effects on the developmental stages of commercial fishing stocks

36.14 Fifth question:

36.14.1 Do you have any comments regarding the resources (human, financial, skills etc.) required to deliver Regional Marine Plans?

36.15 Summary of responses received

Stakeholder	Count
Commercial	3
Fisheries and aquaculture	2
Individual	1
Non-governmental organisation	2
Public sector	6
Recreation	2
TOTAL	16

36.16 Main themes

36.16.1 The main themes that were expressed were that there was need for proper financing and staffing of marine planning and that the team taking the work forward will require a range of skills ranging from project management, policy analysis and development and GIS skills as well as others.

36.16.2 It was noted that as well as resources there is a need for good leadership from national bodies and host institutions and appropriately skilled or trained planning staff.

36.16.3 One respondent noted it would be useful to centralise generic planning resources such as data and assessment of cumulative impacts and GIS skills.

36.16.4 The importance of conducting effective consultation and engagement with local communities was noted.

36.16.5 One stakeholder noted that for some organisations with a Scotland wide remit there would likely be limited resource to contribute to all eleven regional marine plans. Another stakeholder noted there was a risk of inconsistency between the marine regions and this could cause issues.

36.17 Lessons Learned

36.17.1 An overview of these key points will be included in the Lessons Learned report for use by future regional marine planning partnerships.