The Marine Bill has been backed by Parliament, 'heralding a new era' for Scotland's seas.
The main measures in the Bill, which was passed by MSPs this afternoon, include:
* A National Marine Plan to give greater clarity to decision making in the marine environment and encourage investment
* A simpler licensing system to cut bureaucracy and introduce efficiencies to encourage economic investment and growth
* New powers to select and manage Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to enhance marine biodiversity and preserve historic assets
* Much improved protection for seals, including a comprehensive licence system and tougher penalties for those who harm seals
* New responsibilities for safeguarding the health of all Scottish waters out to 200 nautical miles (nm) - in addition to responsibility for marine planning out to 200 nm
"Our seas are home to some of the world's most precious wildlife and stunning habitats, and support tens of thousands of jobs by powering our nation through wind and wave," said Environment Secretary Richard Lochhead. "This new framework will ensure that our seas continue to oil our economy and put food on our tables, however new challenges such as climate change require new approaches. We must modernise in order to meet increasing and competing demands on our seas."
|