Shetland – Shetland – Marine Spatial Planning Marine Spatial Planning

in Practicein Practice

Local Advisory Group: Local Advisory Group: Shetland Islands Council, Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environment Protection Agency, Shetland Aquaculture, Seafood Shetland, Shetland Fishermen's Association, Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation, Royal Society of the Protection of Birds, BP,

Shetland Amenity Trust, the Association of Shetland Community Councils, and the Fair Isle Marine Environment and Tourism Initiative.

• Initiated by Government

• Ecosystem-based Plan aimed at making more informed decisions and streamlining planning regimes

• 12nm scope – major conflicts between oil, aquaculture, fishing and conservation

• 2731 km of coastline

• 10,580 km² of sea

Characteristics• Local objectives (process- and plan-led)

• Conceptual and operational

• All sectors are considered

• First draft took two years - now 3rd edition

• Substantial consultation at all levels

• Implementation since 2008 and adopted by Council through Supplementary Guidance

• Low budget (£36k / yr over 4 years)

Part One: Policy Framework

Part Two: Marine Atlas

OutputsOutputs• Policy (conflict, temporal)

• Decision-support tools (sensitivity matrix, maps, ecosystem-based risk assessments)

• Seabed habitat map

• Action plan

• Online data portal

• Data harmonisation with EU INSPIRE

• SEA

• Distribution of Distribution of activitiesactivities

• Statutory constraintsStatutory constraints

• Advisory constraintsAdvisory constraints

Achieving Evidence-Based Achieving Evidence-Based PolicyPolicy

Activities: 

Dredging & disposal

Commercial fishing

Aquaculture

Recreation & tourism

Access 

Coastal archaeology

Statutory Constraints:

Main shipping routes

Protected ship wrecks

Pipelines & cables

Wastewater discharges

Sectoral policy areas

Fin fish farming Locational Guidelines

Designated nature conservation areas

Advisory constraints:

Otters & seals

Whales & dolphins

Seabirds

Sea ducks

Water habitats

Kelp Forest

‘At Risk’ waterbodies

Seabed habitats

Ship wrecks

Shore species & habitats

• Interactions weighting – conflicts weighted against each other according to subjective judgements

• Lessons learned: very contentious, restricted opportunity, risk of false-positive

Wave and Tidal Resource Study:

•5 “hotspots” for wave power and tidal velocity found (funded by SIC and HIE)

•MSP to include a locational guideline

• Planning applicants (gas pipeline, port expansion, wave and tidal, aquaculture): approx. 100%;

• Statutory Consultees (SEPA, SNH, HS): 100% use of policy, data to target monitoring;

• Fisheries managers to negotiate closed areas – achieve objectives

Who uses the SMSP?Who uses the SMSP?

Future WorkFuture Work

• Measure added value of the plan, make improvements

• Cumulative pressure mapping based on risk assessments and thresholds

• Socioeconomic impacts of displacement

• Invasive species distribution study

• Real-time spatial management of inshore fisheries data

Key to Success (Process)Key to Success (Process)• Personnel (scientist situated with planners)

• Identify objectives early on

• Clear timelines and deadlines

• Leadership

• Transparency

• Coordination

• GIS invaluable process and output

• Getting the MSP out into the public domain

Thanks for your attention!Any Questions?

lorraine.gray@nafc.uhi.ac.uk

www.nafc.uhi.ac.uk/ssmei.aspx