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Sustainable Seas for All: a consultation on Scotland's first marine bill

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ANNEX G: GLOSSARY AND ABBREVIATIONS

AGMACS

Advisory Group on Marine and Coastal Strategy

CAR

The Water Environment (Controlled Activities) (Scotland) Regulations 2005

CFP

Common Fisheries Policy

CPA

Coast Protection Act 1949 (Part 1- Flood defences and coastal erosion protection,

Part II - safety of navigation)

Defra

Department for Environment and Rural Affairs

EC

European Community

EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment

EPS

European Protected Species of Animal, as listed in Schedule 2 of The Conservation

(Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994

ERDC

Environment and Rural Development Committee of the Scottish Parliament

EU

European Union

FEPA

Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (Part II - deposits in the sea)

FRS

Fisheries Research Services

GES

Good Environmental Status

GIS

Geographic Information System

GW

GigaWatt

ICES

International Council for the Exploration of the Sea

ICZM

Integrated coastal zone management

IFG

Inshore Fisheries Group

JNCC

Joint Nature Conservation Committee

LA

Local Authority

MDIP

Marine Data and Information Partnership

MEDAG

Marine Environmental Data Action Group

MEDIN

Marine Environmental Data and Information

MEO

Marine Ecosystem Objective

MMO

Marine Management Organisation

MPA

Marine Protected Area

MSFD

EU Marine Strategy Framework Directive

MW

MegaWatt

nm

Nautical miles

NNR

National Nature Reserve

NSA

National Scenic Area

OSPAR

The Oslo-Paris Convention, for the Protection of the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic.

RBMP

River Basin Management Plan

SAC

Special Area of Conservation under EC Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna.

SEA

Strategic Environmental Assessment

SEPA

Scottish Environment Protection Agency

SFPA

Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency

SG

Scottish Government

SHEP

Scottish Historic Environment Policy series

SMR

Scottish Marine Region

SNH

Scottish Natural Heritage

SPA

Special Protection Areas under EC Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds.

SSMEI

Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative

SSSI

Site of Special Scientific Interest

SSTF

Sustainable Seas Task Force

UKMMAS

United Kingdom Marine Monitoring and Assessment Strategy

WCA

Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981

WFD

EU Water Framework Directive (Directive 2000/60/EC establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy, as amended) requiring all inland and coastal water bodies to reach at least 'good status' by 2015 by establishing a framework of river basins and within which ecological objectives will be set.

WSSD

World Summit on Sustainable Development

12nm limit: The seaward boundary of Scotland's territorial waters. Also called the Scottish territorial limit. See Figure 1.3.

1994 Regulations: The Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994 (as amended) ( SI 1994/2716).

200nm limit: The seaward boundary of the Scottish zone. Also called the Scottish Fisheries Limit. See Figure 1.3.

Baseline: Established under the Territorial Sea Act 1987, this is the line around the coast, or a straight line across a coastal indentation, which is used to determine the coastal boundary of the territorial waters.

Birds Directive: EC Directive 79/409/EEC on the Conservation of Wild Birds, as amended.

Ecosystem based approach: Integrating and managing the range of demands placed on the natural environment in such a way that it can indefinitely support essential services and provide benefits for all.

Environmental Impact Assessment: A procedure that ensures that the environmental implications of a proposal are examined prior to reaching a decision on its progression as required by the Environmental Impact Directive ( EC Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment), as amended.

Habitats Directive:EC Directive 92/43/EEC on the Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna, as amended.

Inshore area: Term used generally to refer to all waters within 12 nautical miles of the coast. This is not a term used under international law. It is generally used to refer to areas of sea close to the coast and commonly refers also to estuaries, bays, and channels and territorial waters. See Figure 1.3.

Integrated coastal zone management: A management process that is intended to facilitate a more integrated approach to the use, development and protection of resources across the land/sea interface and in the near shore zone.

Mean High Water Springs: The mean high water spring is the highest level to which spring tides reach on average over a period.

Mean Low Water Springs: The mean low water spring is the lowest level to which spring tides retreat on average over a period.

Natura sites:EU wide network of nature conservation sites ( SACs and SPAs) established under the EC Habitats and Birds Directives.

Nautical miles: The unit of length used in marine navigation. One nautical mile (nm) is slightly longer than a statute mile, equal to 1.15 statute miles and 1.85 kilometres.

Offshore area: Term used generally to refer to waters more than 12nm from baselines ( i.e. the area stretching from 12nm out to the limits of UK jurisdiction). See Figure 1.3.

Precautionary principle: The principle where if there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.

River Basin Management Plan: A plan setting out the environmental objectives for water bodies and providing a summary of the measures that are being used to achieve them as required by the EU Water Framework Directive.

Scottish Fisheries Limit: The seaward boundary of the Scottish zone. This zone is the area where fisheries regulation has been devolved to the Scottish Ministers and generally extends from baseline out to 200nm. See Figure 1.3.

Sites of Special Scientific Interest: Sites notified by Scottish Natural Heritage under the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 in recognition of the special interest of their natural features.

Strategic Environmental Assessment: An assessment of the environmental impacts of any plan, programme or strategy of any public body in Scotland as required by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 which transposes the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive (Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effect of certain plans and programmes on the environment).

Sustainable development: Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Territorial waters: Defined under the Territorial Sea Act 1987 as the waters stretching from baseline out to a maximum of 12nm, or the median line between adjacent countries.

The Seals Act: Conservation of Seals Act 1970

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    Page updated: Friday, July 11, 2008