Have your say on marine plans for the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters

A consultation to guide development activity in the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters begins next week.

The Marine Spatial Plan, developed by a working group that includes Marine Scotland, Orkney Islands Council and Highland Council, has been described as “an important stepping stone” towards the introduction of regional marine plans around the entire coast of Scotland.

The Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters were chosen to pilot the development of a Marine Spatial Plan to support the sustainable management of the area’s seas.

It aims to balance the needs of local communities and marine economic activities, while protecting the environment on which they depend. These economic activities include the renewables industry, commercial fishing, tourism, recreation, aquaculture, shipping and oil and gas.

Following a consultation in 2013, the comments received were used in the preparation of the new plan. After consideration by councillors, it has been endorsed by both Orkney Islands Council and Highland Council is now ready to go out to public consultation.

The consultation runs from Monday, June 15, until September 6, and a series of public consultation events have been organised in Orkney, Caithness and Sutherland. The Orkney event takes place on July 6, at the Warehouse Buildings, Stromness, from 1pm – 8pm, with a short presentation at 6.30pm.

The consultation will go live on June 15, at https://consult.scotland.gov.uk/marine-scotland/pfowmarinespatialplan.

Copies will also be available to view at the OIC’s customer services desks and local libraries.