Scottish Coastal Forum 'Strategy for Scotland's Coast and Inshore Waters'
On July 15 2004 Capt. Jim Simpson presented the SCF publication A Strategy for Scotland's Coast and Inshore Waters to Mr Allan Wilson, then Deputy Minister for Environment and Rural Development. The document sets out a long-term national strategy to sustainably manage Scotland's coast and inshore waters. The overriding intent of the strategy is to:
- Take stock - through review of the resources and key management issues associated with Scotland's Coast and Inshore waters at the beginning of the 21st Century
- Look beyond the short-to-medium term - through development of an influential vision for the wise use of Scotland's coast and inshore waters based on a 25-year forward view
The process of developing the strategy in an inclusive manner has been seen as valuable in itself in building coherence and synergy in coastal policy and management, taking into account the needs of all sectors and the EU's encouragement for the development of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM).
The strategy is designed to be an advisory document for Scottish Ministers, providing guidance on implementation of ICZM in Scotland. The SCF intends to continue with recommendations for an implementation plan to follow up the objectives and actions, working in partnership with the lead agencies and bodies identified.
Principal aims
- Create a national planning framework which includes a system of coastal and marine spatial planning.
- Encourage local authorities to prepare coastal policy statements covering the inshore waters within 12 miles of terrestrial boundaries, for inclusion in structure and district wide plans.
- Create a co-ordination group within government to oversee, lead on and champion the development and delivery of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) in Scotland.
- Carry out an audit to ensure that the best use is being made of existing mechanisms for collection, analysis and dissemination of data.
- Generate an understanding of the monetary and non-monetary value of the coastal zone.
- Produce a good practice report on how to get people and communities involved in decision-making related to the coast and inshore waters and review at a national level.
At the launch of this strategy, Deputy Environment Minister Allan Wilson said:
"Our coasts and seas are important in both environmental and economic terms. They support many species of birds, fish and other sealife and continue to support many coastal communities.
"This important work by the Scottish Coastal Forum will help us develop a strategy to protect Scotland's marine environment and I look forward to working together with the wide range of interests involved in the Forum."
Capt. Anthony Wilks, Chairman of SCF said:
"Scotland is justly famous for its coast - for its scenic beauty, rich wildlife and importance in our national culture and economy. However there is an increasing pressure on this valuable resource, and a growing recognition that we should manage our coastline in a more strategic and coordinated way"
The Strategy has been produced through a series of national events in partnership between the members of SCF, who have worked hard to involve key organisations and draw together the main issues and opportunities in the document.
Task Group Position Papers
The strategy was drafted by the SCF coastal strategy sub-group, who drew together the views of stakeholders present at meetings held during 2003 to draft a national vision and objectives, and incorporated the findings of the following SCF-commissioned reports:
- Assessment of the effectiveness of local coastal management partnerships as a delivery mechanism for ICZM (2002) - html, pdf
- Planning Beyond Low Water? Seminar Proceedings (Perth, June 11 2002) - pdf
- Indicators to Monitor the Progress of Integrated Coastal Zone Management: A Review of Worldwide Practice (Scottish Executive Central Research Unit, 2001) - pdf
- Lessons learned from Local Coastal Management Partnerships: SCF Report No. 3 (2001) - pdf
- A Coastal Management Trust for Scotland - A Concept Development and Feasibility Study (Scottish Executive Central Research Unit, 2001) -pdf
- Scottish socio-economic scoping study
- Review of Integration among plans for the Coast in Scotland, Analysis of the SCF Coastal Plans Inventory: SCF Report No. 2 (2001)
- The Role of Scottish Local Initiatives in Implementing the Principles of Integrated Coastal Zone Management
- An Initial Assessment of the Socio-Economic and Environmental Benefits from ICZM in Scotland
- Foreshore and seabed development consents report
- Coastal Plans Inventory: SCF Report No. 1 (2001)
Further SCF reports and proceedings are available from the SCF publications and SCF meetings pages.
Government's Implementation of the EU ICZM Recommendation 2002/413/EC
In May 2002 the European Union adopted a Recommendation on Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM), which UK Government has committed itself to implement. It calls for national coastal strategies to be developed and a progress report to be made to the European Commission in early 2006.
The first stage in preparing the strategy was analysis of the national stock-take exercise, which identified which major actors, laws and institutions influence the management of the coastal zone. This was completed early in 2004. It informed the overall UK vision for the coast and the national strategies for Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. To assist with this process in Scotland, the Government's consultants, Atkins, established a Scottish Stock-take Panel in which members of the SCF Coastal strategy sub-group were involved.
Further information about the National Stock-take exercise is available from:
- Scottish Coastal Zone Stock-take: Overview leaflet (Atkins) - pdf
- Scottish Coastal Zone Stock-take: Newsletter (Atkins, May 2003) - pdf
This information is now being used to inform the current debate on a Scottish Marine Bill in light of, amongst other developments, the: