Question reference: S6W-24252
- Asked by: Finlay Carson, MSP for Galloway and West Dumfries, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
- Date lodged: 22 December 2023
-
Current status: Answered by Mairi Gougeon on 15 January 2024
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether local authorities will be statutory consultees in relation to the licensing of seaweed aquaculture in their areas.
Answer
Seaweed aquaculture is subject to the requirements of Scotland’s National Marine Plan and is a licensable marine activity under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. A marine licence is therefore required for construction of a seaweed farm. The Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate determines marine licence applications on behalf of Scottish Ministers.
Statutory consultees for the marine licensing process are defined in the Marine Licensing (Consultees) (Scotland) Order 2011, and include the Northern Lighthouse Board, Maritime Coastguard Agency, NatureScot, Scottish Environment Protection Agency and, where applicable, the relevant Regional Marine Planning Partnership. A Local Authority may form the whole, or part of a Marine Planning Partnership as per section 12(2) of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. Sole delegates are possible, and Orkney Islands Council is the sole delegate for regional marine planning in the Scottish marine region for the Orkney Islands. Local authorities are not therefore statutory consultees, but it is standard process to consult the relevant local authority during the marine licence application determination process and they may be consulted in their remit as part of a marine planning partnership (where applicable).