Scotland''s Marine Bill received Royal Assent yesterday.
The Marine (Scotland) Act provides a framework which will help balance competing demands on Scotland's seas. It introduces a duty to protect and enhance the marine environment and includes measures to help boost economic investment and growth in areas such as marine renewables.
The main measures include:
- A National Marine Plan to give greater clarity to decision making in the marine environment and encourage investment
- A simpler licensing system to cut bureaucracy and introduce efficiencies to encourage economic investment and growth
- New powers to select and manage Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to enhance marine biodiversity and preserve historic assets
- Much improved protection for seals, including a comprehensive licence system and tougher penalties for those who harm seals
- The powers in the Act complement the provisions of the UK Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009, which created new responsibilities for Scottish Ministers on marine planning and conservation in offshore waters outside 12 nautical miles (nm)
