4 January, 2007

THE SCOTTISH Government has brought together a forum of marine users to help simplify legislation affecting coastal areas and the sea.

The Sustainable Seas Task Force consists of 26 groups representing economic, environmental, social and leisure interests.

The task force, chaired by rural affairs secretary Richard Lochhead, will consider proposals for a new Scottish Marine Bill.

Speaking yesterday (Thursday), Mr Lochhead said that Scotland's coastal and marine environment provided an important resource upon which many communities depend.

"To protect this valuable natural resource, we must promote the sustainable use of our coasts and seas,” he said.

"There are currently far too many pieces of legislation regulating Scotland's waters and our new streamlined legislation will deliver better protection for the future.

"The aim, among other things, is to introduce a new system of planning for the sea, better nature conservation and improvements to licensing and regulation of the marine environment."

He added that he was also keen to have the task force look whether powers held by central government could be transferred to Edinburgh to help protect the marine environment.

"I will also look to the task force to consider what additional powers need to be devolved to Scotland.

"I believe that in the offshore zone - between 12 and 200 nautical miles from the shore - further devolution, especially for functions such as marine planning and nature conservation, is a much needed priority."

The first meeting of the task force will be on 23 January. The work of the group will be undertaken at five workshops over the following months with a final group meeting in April.

A full consultation on a Marine Bill is scheduled for shortly thereafter.

The groups participating in the task force are:

* Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF)
* Scottish Environment LINK Marine Task Force - WWF Scotland
* Scottish Environment LINK Marine Task Force - RSPB Scotland
* Chamber of Shipping
* Oil and Gas UK
* Scottish Coastal Forum
* Firth of Clyde Forum
* Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation
* Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers
* British Ports Association
* UK Major Ports Group
* Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Science Management
* Sea Mammal Research Unit
* Scottish Biodiversity Forum Marine Biodiversity Working Group
* Royal Town Planning Institute Scotland
* Scottish Renewables
* Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network
* Scottish Boating Alliance
* Maritime and Coastguard Agency
* Fisheries Research Services
* Scottish Environment Protection Agency
* Scottish Natural Heritage
* Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency
* Historic Scotland
* CoSLA
* Scottish Government

SFF chief executive Bertie Armstrong said: "The Scottish fishing industry, the third most significant in Europe, is daily at the centre of innovative forward-looking work to ensure continued sustainable harvesting of the world class resource in our waters. We look forward to participating fully in the process of shaping the future."

Calum Duncan, convenor of the Scottish Environment LINK marine task force, also welcome the creation of the group.

"The outcome must be a system that protects, restores and enhances Scotland's world-class ecosystem, which is currently under increasing pressure from climate change and other human activity,” Mr Duncan said.

“Proper protection for Scotland's marine environment must form the core of the proposed legislation."