11 February, 2009

A NEW government body charged with managing the waters around Scotland will come into being on 1 April.

Marine Scotland will have direct responsibility for marine science, planning, policy development, management and compliance monitoring measures.

The organisation will focus on delivering economic prosperity while giving the marine environment greater protection through a simplified management and regulatory system, environment secretary Richard Lochhead said.

MS will incorporate the current functions of Fisheries Research Services (FRS), the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency (SFPA) and the Scottish Government's Marine Directorate.

A Marine Strategy Board, led by Marine Scotland and involving key partners with marine management interests.

Mr Lochhead said: "We have been clear from day one that our underlying key purpose is that of sustainable economic growth.

"The creation of Marine Scotland will help deliver this vision, managing Scotland's seas for prosperity and environmental sustainability. Marine Scotland will be the champion for our marine environment.

"We have a unique coastal and marine environment which provides an important natural resource upon which so many communities depend. Our waters are vital to the Scottish economy and support many thousands of jobs, most notably through the oil and gas industry, aquaculture and fishing.

"Coastal tourism and internationally significant species attract wildlife enthusiasts from around the world. Marine Scotland will combine and co-ordinate the efforts of existing bodies, to ensure we manage Scotland's seas sustainably and benefit from the rich assets and resources they represent.

"The Scottish Government will shortly bring forward a Marine Bill that will provide a sustainable future for our waters, and build on existing arrangements to provide the foundations for Marine Scotland's work."

The move was welcomed by the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and other environmental groups, but is being viewed with some caution by the fishing industry.