The Scottish Government laid the draft Town and Country Planning (Marine Fish Farming) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2025 on 25 April 2025. The instrument was referred to the Rural Affairs and Islands Committee for consideration.

The policy note states that the intention behind this instrument is to extend the current marine planning zones for fish and shellfish farms in Scottish waters from 3 nautical miles to 12 nautical miles, except in instances where a section of a marine planning zone meets the boundary of another marine planning zone or where a section of a marine planning zone meets the Scottish adjacent waters boundaries.

The instrument would address the discrepancy between the requirement for fish and shellfish farms to have planning permission out to 12 nautical miles and the current limit of local authority responsibilities for planning controls at 3 nautical miles, thus facilitating the process of developing offshore fish and shellfish farms “under a planning process that is already well understood by businesses, regulators and other stakeholders”.

It was previously considered unlikely that fish and shellfish farms would be sited beyond 3 nautical miles and there are currently no offshore fish and shellfish farms in Scottish waters. Due to technology innovations, however, the Scottish Government states offshore fish farms could now be located further offshore which would bring environmental benefits and improved fish welfare.

The Committee took evidence from stakeholders on 14 May 2025, ahead of its evidence session with the Minister for Public Finance on 28 May 2025.