11 September, 2008

COUNCILLORS in Shetland are asking the Scottish Government to devolve one of its functions to the isles.

The government plans to set up Marine Scotland, a new organisation with responsibilities for marine policy, planning, science and regulation, as part of the Marine Bill.

Councillors yesterday (Wednesday) agreed that the best location for such an organisation was Shetland, preferably incorporated or linked to the NAFC Marine Centre, in Scalloway.

Representations are now to be made to the relevant minister in Edinburgh.

The call came as councillors expressed their concern with the outline of the proposed marine bill, which was seen by many as yet another layer of bureaucracy.

They agreed that Shetland was “ahead of the game” in marine management and that Scotland could learn from the isles.

Councillor Gussie Angus warned that Shetland’s wide ranging powers over its inshore water, given to them in the 1974 ZCC act, could be further eroded.

He said: “My fear is that this marine bill, in parallel with the UK maritime bill will make us third in the pecking order.”

Alastair Cooper said Marine Scotland should be located in Shetland so that “we can deliver for them”, and government jobs could be created in the isles.