Question reference: S6W-22225
- Asked by: Katy Clark, MSP for West Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 13 October 2023
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Current status: Answered by Mairi McAllan on 7 November 2023
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-12681 by Mairi McAllan on 13 December 2022, whether the second National Marine Plan (NMP2) will require Regional Marine Plans to be produced by a set date.
Answer
The purpose of Scotland’s National Marine Plan is to set out the strategic policies for the sustainable development of our marine resources. Regional marine plans are currently being developed for three out of the eleven defined Scottish Marine Regions (Orkney, Shetland and the Clyde). Unlike the National Marine Plan, which ‘must’ be prepared and adopted under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, regional marine plans ‘may’ be prepared and adopted, under the same legislation. It is not within the scope of any National Marine Plan to require the production of Regional Marine Plans by a set date.