National marine plan 2: engagement strategy

Annex A

Statement of Public Participation (SPP)

The key aim of this SPP is to set out:

• how and when we will engage people in the preparation of Scotland's new National Marine Plan ("NMP2");
• indicate the associated timeframe for the development of NMP2, and;
• invite comment as to the matters to be included in NMP2.

1.1 Background

This SPP sets out how and when we will engage with stakeholders during the preparation of the updated NMP2. The SPP will be kept under review by Scottish Ministers throughout the development process and amended as necessary to address key issues and feedback.

This SPP has been prepared in accordance with schedule 6 to the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 ("the 2009 Act") and schedule 1 to the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 ("the 2010 Act").

The SPP provides a statement of the policies settled by the Scottish Ministers for or in connection with the involvement of interested persons in the preparation of the proposed NMP2. This SPP should also be read in correlation with the Stakeholder Engagement Strategy prepared to support the development of NMP2.

The publication of a SPP formally commences the start of the planning process.

1.2 Stakeholders we will engage with during the planning process

Marine plans guide decision-making in our marine regions and are therefore important resources for everyone who uses, relies on, or has an interest in the marine environment and plan area. Marine plans are also important tools for those who make regulatory or development decisions that affect the marine environment and marine space.

Marine Scotland Directorate is committed to engaging with representatives from a wide range of interest groups. We hope to engage with stakeholders in the following groups, representing various interests:

Table 2: Stakeholder groups and interests we will engage during the national marine planning process.

Stakeholder groups

• Scottish Government
• UK Government and other Devolved Administrations
• Non-UK bordering nations and administrations
• Public bodies
• Marine Planning Partnerships and Local Coastal Partnerships
• Representative bodies and charities
• Private sector
• Academic and research institutions
• Other local community groups (e.g. youth)
• Members of the general public

Stakeholder interests

• Aquaculture (finfish, shellfish)
• Coastal change, flood and coastal erosion risk management
• Community development
• Defence and national security
• Ecology and biodiversity
• Emerging marine industries
• Energy production
• Fisheries
• Gas and electricity interconnectors and cable
• Historic environment
• Hydrogen and carbon capture and storage (CCUS)
• Infrastructure development
• Marine aggregates
• Marine conservation and protection
• Marine dredging and disposal
• Navigation and safety
• Ports and shipping
• Rural and island communities
• Seascape and landscape
• Seaweed harvesting and cultivation
• Telecommunications
• Tourism and recreation

1.3 Methods of engagement

We are committed to carrying out engagement with stakeholders that is inclusive, targeted and transparent. We realise that not all stakeholders will have the resources or interest to participate in each stage of plan development. For this reason, we plan to provide a mix of active engagement opportunities – through collaboration and formal consultation – and regular communication and updates to keep stakeholders informed of the process.

Table 3: Stakeholder engagement matrix, showing the minimum level of engagement we hope to achieve at each stakeholder group at each stage of the planning process.

Plan stage / stakeholder group	UKG, devolved administrations, other administrations	Public bodies	Local Coastal Partnerships, Marine Planning Partnerships	Representative bodies, charities	Private sector	Academic and research	Other community groups	General public
Vision and objective setting	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult
Strategic appraisal of NMP (2015) and refining scope of NMP2	Consult	Collaborate	Consult	Keep informed	Ad-hoc communication	Consult	Ad-hoc communication	Ad-hoc communication
Preparation of statutory assessments (SEA, BRIA, HRA, etc.)	Collaborate	Collaborate	Collaborate	Collaborate	Collaborate	Collaborate	Ad-hoc communication	Ad-hoc communication
Policy framework development	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Keep informed
Monitoring and evaluation framework development	Consult	Consult	Keep informed	Keep informed	Keep informed	Consult	Keep informed	Keep informed
Draft plan and draft assessments	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult	Consult

The following engagement matrix outlines the extent of stakeholder engagement we intend to undertake with each broad stakeholder group at each stage of the planning process.

The coding indicates the minimum level of engagement we commit to for each main stakeholder group.

As discussed in Section 3 of the Stakeholder Engagement Strategy, we will use a range of methods to engage and communicate with stakeholders at each stage of the planning process to achieve our intended outcomes. These will include, but are not limited to:

• face-to-face, hybrid and online workshops, webinars, meetings and events;
• the Scottish Government's online consultation hub – CitizenSpace;
• publication of information and data online at gov.scot;
• direct postal and email communication, and;
• social media, via the Scottish Government's social media channels.

Full details of events, workshops, webinars and other meetings will be provided online in due course.

1.4 Proposed timetable for the development of NMP2 and engagement activities

Table 4: Proposed timetable for the development of NMP2 and engagement activities.

Stage of plan preparation:

Vision and objective setting, and a strategic appraisal of the current National Marine Plan (NMP1)

Description: developing the social, economic, ecosystem and climate mitigation and adaptation objectives underpinning NMP2 in consultation with stakeholders. Assessing NMP1 as well as other recent strategies and policies impacting marine industries, resources and the environment, against the new objectives to refine the scope of NMP2, in consultation with stakeholders.

Estimated timing:

Autumn 2022 to Spring 2023

Planned engagement activities:

• Webinar announcement outlining planning process and ways for stakeholders to be involved.
• Workshops and discussions with stakeholders via existing fora. B
• espoke meetings with the purpose of agreeing new objectives for NMP2.
• Workshops to assess NMP1 against these new objectives and using the findings to refine the scope of NMP2.
• Communications summarising the process and outputs of this stage of plan development.

Stage of plan preparation:

Statutory assessments

Description: preparing the Sustainability Appraisal on the draft Plan (comprising the Strategic Environmental Assessment, Habitats Regulations Appraisal, amongst other impact assessments). This stage takes place in parallel with other stages.

Estimated timing:

Autumn 2022 to Spring 2024

Planned engagement activities:

• Workshops and detailed discussions to agree the assessment methodologies and evidence to inform the Sustainability Appraisal and other assessments; we will set up relevant advisory groups as necessary.
• Communications summarising the process and outputs of this stage of plan development.

Stage of plan preparation:

Policy framework development, policy drafting, monitoring and evaluation framework development, plan drafting

Description: reviewing and developing the plan policy framework, in line with the new objectives and informed by the Strategic appraisal and statutory assessments.

Estimated timing:

Autumn 2022 to Spring 2024

Planned engagement activities:

• Workshops, detailed discussions to develop draft policies for inclusion in NMP2 – informed by outputs of Sustainability Appraisal and other assessments.
• Communications summarising the process and outputs of this stage of plan development.

Stage of plan preparation:

12-week Public Consultation on the draft NMP2 and Sustainability Appraisal

Description: publication and formal, public consultation on the draft plan and all relevant assessments. The plan will be revised based on consultation feedback. In the event that major changes are required to the draft plan as a result of the consultation, further assessment and/or consultation may be required. This will result in revised timescales for final adoption and publication.

Estimated timing:

Spring / Summer 2024

Planned engagement activities:

• Formal public consultation and engagement on the draft NMP2 and Sustainability Appraisal documents – which will be available online to view and respond to. Consultees will also be able to respond via the contact details below.
• As required by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, the consultation period of the Sustainability Appraisal report will be advertised in relevant newspapers.

Stage of plan preparation:

Consultation analysis, revision of draft NMP2

Description: preparation of a consultation analysis report, which will be presented with the draft NMP2 for Parliamentary approval. A statement on inclusion of retained functions and conformity with the UK Marine Policy Statement will be prepared).

Estimated timing:

Autumn 2024

Planned engagement activities:

• NMP2 and consultation analysis report will be brought to Parliament.
• UK Ministerial approval of statement on inclusion of retained functions and conformity with UK Marine Policy Statement.

Stage of plan preparation:

Independent investigation

Description: dependent on outcome of consultation process. Scottish Ministers will determine if this is required for any unresolved issues.

Estimated timing:

Autumn / Winter 2024

Planned engagement activities:

No activities planned.

Stage of plan preparation:

Lay draft NMP2 before Parliament for final approval (in accordance with paragraph 13 or schedule 1 of the 2010 Act).

Estimated timing:

Winter 2024 / Spring 2025

Planned engagement activities:

• Draft NMP2 will be laid before Scottish Parliament for a period of 40 days and will be considered by relevant Parliamentary Committee(s).
• NMP2 will also be submitted to the Secretary of State for agreement.

Stage of plan preparation:

Final considerations, adoption and publication of NMP2.

Estimated timing:

Spring / Summer 2025

Planned engagement activities:

• Notification that NMP2 has been published.

1.5 Retained functions

The plan will also include provisions relating to retained functions and a statement on inclusion of retained functions and the conformity of NMP2 with the UK Marine Policy Statement^[6] will be prepared following consultation on the draft NMP2.

We will collaborate with officials in the UK government and other devolved administrations to enable joined-up marine planning across borders.

1.6 Sharing your views

If you, or your organisation, would like further information or if you have any comments on our approach to stakeholder engagement, the SPP, the matters to be included in NMP2 or the national marine planning process more generally, please contact us using the details provided below.

Write to:

Marine Planning and Strategy Team
Marine Scotland
Scottish Government
Area GB North, Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ

Email: NationalMarinePlanning@gov.scot

Visit: https://www.gov.scot/policies/marine-planning/national-marine-planning/

Prepared: 20 September 2022