Highly Protected Marine Areas - policy framework and site selection guidelines: sustainability appraisal

5 Next Steps

5.1.1 The consultation on the Policy Framework and Site Selection Guidelines for HPMAs and the accompanying partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), partial Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) screening, SEA Environmental Report, SEIA and SA is now open and will close on 20 March2023. Views and opinions on this SA, and the draft Policy Framework and Site Selection Guidelines, partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA) and partial Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA) screening are now invited.

5.1.2 As the location of HPMAs have not yet been identified, it is only possible to undertake an initial SA at this stage involving a preliminary consideration or scoping of the type of impacts that could arise from the future designation of HPMAs and restriction/limitation placed on activities within HPMAs. Once sites have been selected and proposed for designation, it will be possible to undertake an updated SA involving spatial analysis of specific potential sites and a more detailed assessment of the scale of potential environmental, social and economic effects.

5.1.3 Please provide any comments on this SA in your responses to the consultation questionnaire, including any comments on general issues or cumulative effects.

5.1.4 Following the consultation period, the responses received will be analysed, and the findings from this analysis will be taken into account in the finalisation of the Policy Framework and Site Selection Guidelines.

5.1.5 A Post-Adoption SEA Statement will be prepared after an updated SEA is undertaken, reflecting the findings of the assessment and the views expressed in the consultation, and outlining how the issues raised have been considered.

5.1.6 Copies of the consultation documents and the Environmental Report are available for viewing during office hours at the Scottish Government library at Saughton House, Edinburgh (K Spur, Saughton House, Broomhouse Drive, Edinburgh, EH11 3XD).

5.1.7 Please send your response, with the completed Respondent Information Form, to:

By email to: HPMA@gov.scot or

By post to:

On line: www.consult.gov.scot

If you have any enquiries, please send them to HPMA@gov.scot