Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan

Strategic Environmental Assessment: Environmental Report

IMAGE: Cover page titled “Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan — Strategic Environmental Assessment: Environmental Report”, with a blue map graphic of Orkney and the logos of Orkney Islands Council and the Scottish Government.

SEA Environmental Report – Cover Note

Part 1

To: SEA.gateway@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

or

SEA Gateway
Scottish Executive
Area 1 H (Bridge)
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ

Part 2

An Environmental Report is attached for:

Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan

The Responsible Authority is:

Orkney Islands Council (OIC)

Part 3

Part 4

Contents

• SEA Environmental Report – Cover Note
• Non-technical Summary
• 1. Introduction
     • 1a. Purpose of this Environmental Report and Key Facts
     • 1b. SEA activities to date
• 2. Context
     • 2a. Introduction
     • 2b. Outline and objectives of Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan
     • 2c. Relationship with other PPS and environmental protection objectives
     • 2d. Relevant aspects of the current state of the environment
     • 2e. Environmental problems
     • 2f. Likely evolution of the environment without the OIRMP
     • 2g. SEA Objectives
• 3. Assessment of environmental effects and measures envisaged for prevention, reduction and offset of any significant adverse effects
     • 3a. Alternatives to which the SEA was applied
     • 3b. Assessment methods
     • 3c. Assessment of Environmental Effects of the OIRMP
     • 3d. Measures envisaged for the prevention, reduction and offsetting of significant adverse effects
     • Table 8: Assessment of Environmental Effects of the OIRMP
• 4. Monitoring
• 5. Next steps
• Appendix A: Relationship with other Plans, Programmes and Strategies (PPS) and their environmental objectives
• Appendix B – Environmental Baseline Report
• Appendix B.1: Internationally and nationally designated sites in Orkney
• Appendix B.2: List of Priority Marine Features recorded within 12 nm of Orkney
• Appendix B.3: Water quality and overall status classification
• Appendix B.4: Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area
• Appendix B.5: Scheduled Monuments in the Orkney Islands
• Appendix B.6: Orkney Scheduled Monuments in the Care of Historic Scotland
• Appendix C.1: Assessment of the Vision for the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan
• Appendix C.2: Assessment of the Policies of the OIRMP for their Compatibility with the SEA Objectives
• Appendix C.3: Summary of assessment of the likely environmental effects of implementation of the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan Policies
• Appendix D: Map of Nature Designated Sites in Orkney
• Appendix E: SEA activities
• Appendix F: Copy of indicative timetable for preparation of the OIRMP from the Statement of Public Participation

Non-technical Summary

1. Outline of contents and main objectives

The main purpose and scope of the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan (OIRMP) is to support the delivery of a vision for Orkney’s coastal and marine environment, economy and communities. This vision will be delivered through agreed objectives, implemented through decision-making made in accordance with the OIRMP policies.

The OIRMP aligns, where appropriate, with the National Marine Plan (NMP), any neighbouring regional marine plans, the Orkney Local Development Plan and national land use policy e.g. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4).

Regional marine plans have a specific statutory purpose set out in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. In summary, this is:

• Regional marine plans need to set economic, social and marine ecosystem objectives, and objectives relating to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.
• Regional marine plans state policies for and in connection with the sustainable development of the area to which the OIRMP applies and policies on the contribution of Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas, and other relevant nature conservation sites, to the protection and enhancement of the area.
• Public authorities must take any authorisation or enforcement decision in accordance with the appropriate regional marine plan, unless relevant considerations indicate otherwise.
• Public authorities must have regard to the appropriate regional marine plan in making any decision which relates to the exercise by them of any function capable of affecting the whole or any part of the Scottish marine area, but which is not an authorisation or enforcement decision.

Thus, in order to deliver this statutory purpose, the OIRMP contains General Policies to ensure the environmental, social and economic factors upon which sustainable development depends are appropriately protected and Sector Policies to enable sustainable economic development.

2. The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the OIRMP

The current state of the environment was assessed, using the Orkney Marine Region: State of the Environment Assessment 2020 (SoEA), the SEA Scoping Report and the documents in Appendix B as baseline information.

An assessment of options demonstrated that from three alternatives, Option 3 was the most appropriate:

Option 1. Do nothing: continue under the current approach to marine planning and management including using the Pilot Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan (PFOW MSP) as non-statutory planning guidance, NMP and NPF.

Option 2. Use the policies within the PFOW MSP to form a regional marine plan without updates or additions.

Option 3. Adoption of the OIRMP after stakeholder engagement on the preparation of the policies, guided by the public consultation and further engagement with stakeholders.

3. Environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected

From the assessments outlined above, a set of SEA objectives was refined, using an iterative process. Assessments of the Vision, policies of the OIRMP for compatibility and environmental effects of implementation of the OIRMP’s policies against the SEA receptors were undertaken.

The nine SEA receptors are:

• Climate factors
• Biodiversity
• Water
• Coastal processes/benthic sediments/soils
• Geology
• Landscape
• Cultural heritage
• Population and human health
• Material assets

4. Existing environmental problems which are relevant to the OIRMP

Climate change and biodiversity loss are and will continue to be global issues with local impacts. Impacts on water, coastal processes/benthic sediments/soils, geology, landscape, cultural heritage, population and human health, and material assets vary at the regional level depending on the nature and scale of development and/or activities that impact upon them.

5. Environmental protection objectives

Appendix A outlines the key plans, policies and strategies (PPS) against which the implications for, and/or relationship with, the OIRMP have been taken into account. These are shown in relationship to the nine SEA receptors outlined above.

6. Likely significant effects

Table 8 summarises the likely environmental effects of the OIRMP in relation to the SEA receptors. Further detail is provided below.

7. The measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully as possible offset any significant adverse effects on the environment of implementing the OIRMP

The high level summary of the OIRMP-level effects on the SEA receptors are summarised in Table 8, including an assessment of cumulative, synergistic and secondary effects. This information is based on the assessments of each policy in relation to the SEA receptors as outlined in Appendix C.3, which in turn is informed by the information found in Appendices B and B.1–B.6, the Islands Communities Impact Assessment and the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment.

8. Outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives chosen

Option 3: Adoption of the OIRMP after stakeholder engagement on the preparation of the policies guided by the public consultation and further engagement with stakeholders.

Under this option an OIRMP will be prepared giving all stakeholders the opportunity to contribute towards setting objectives and policies to achieve sustainable development in the Orkney Islands marine region. This option will ensure that regional marine planning policy in Orkney contributes towards national priorities and outcomes e.g. climate change mitigation and adaption, reversing biodiversity loss and sustainable economic growth.

It would also ensure that the impacts of the OIRMP would be fully assessed via SEA, Habitats Regulations Appraisal (HRA), Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA), Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CWRIA) and Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA).

A summary of the assessment framework established during the SEA scoping process, using the framework shown in Section 3a, has been amended and augmented following stakeholder input, and is provided in Table 8. The detailed assessments, including an analysis of short, medium and long-term effects; permanent and temporary effects; positive and negative effects; and secondary, cumulative and synergistic effects, is provided in Appendices A–C. Further supporting information is provided in Appendices D–F.

The identification of potential adverse socio-economic and environmental effects through the iterative development of the OIRMP and this SEA will likely add further weight to their consideration by prospective developers, marine users and consenting authorities. An opportunity for the OIRMP to improve efficiencies, for example in streamlining of current consenting processes around which applicant-led engagement with stakeholders is considered to be key, was also identified. As a consequence, there is the potential for overall positive effects.

9. Measures envisaged concerning monitoring

The monitoring of sectoral growth and environmental and socio-economic parameters will continue to be undertaken on an ongoing basis, in accordance with the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 requirements, alongside the filling of data gaps through targeted research and studies, as capacity allows.

A Monitoring and Evaluation Framework will be prepared in due course.

1. Introduction

1a. Purpose of this Environmental Report and Key Facts

As part of the preparation of Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan, Orkney Islands Council (OIC) is carrying out a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). SEA is a systematic method for considering the likely environmental effects of certain Plans, Policies and Strategies (PPS).

SEA aims to:

• Integrate environmental factors into PPS preparation and decision-making.
• Improve PPS and enhance environmental protection.
• Increase public participation in decision making.
• Facilitate openness and transparency of decision-making.

SEA is required by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The key SEA stages are:

• Screening: determining whether the PPS is likely to have significant environmental effects and whether an SEA is required.
• Scoping: deciding on the scope and level of detail of the Environmental Report, and the consultation period for the report; this is done in consultation with Scottish Natural Heritage (now known as NatureScot), The Scottish Ministers (Historic Scotland) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency.
• Environmental Report: publishing an Environmental Report on the PPS and its environmental effects, and consulting on that report.
• Adoption: providing information on the adopted PPS; how consultation comments have been taken into account; and methods for monitoring the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the PPS.
• Monitoring: monitoring significant environmental effects in such a manner so as to also enable the Responsible Authority to identify any unforeseen adverse effects at an early stage and undertake appropriate remedial action.

The purpose of this Environmental Report is to:

• Provide information on the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan.
• Identify, describe and evaluate the likely significant effects of the PPS and its reasonable alternatives.
• Provide an early and effective opportunity for the Consultation Authorities and the public to offer views on any aspect of this Environmental Report.

The key facts relating to the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan are set out in Table 1 below.

Table 1. Key facts relating to Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan

IMAGE: Table 1 presents the responsible authority, title, legislative basis, subject, duration, update frequency, geographic coverage, purpose and contact point for the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan.

Map 1: Boundary of Orkney Islands Marine Region

IMAGE: Map of the Orkney Islands Marine Region extending from Mean High Water Springs to 12 nautical miles offshore. It marks the marine region boundary, the surrounding Scottish marine regions and key geographic statistics, including approximately 9,258 km² of marine area, 68-plus islands, a population of approximately 22,100 and a coastline of approximately 1,024 km.

1b. SEA activities to date

Table 2 below is a summary of the key SEA activities undertaken to date. Further detail can be found in Appendix E. The screening, scoping and preparation of this draft Environmental Report has been undertaken in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

Table 2. SEA activities in relation to the OIRMP

IMAGE: Table 2 lists the SEA screening, scoping, review, draft report, consultation, finalisation and post-adoption stages from 2021 to 2026.

2. Context

2a. Introduction

Schedule 3 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires that the Environmental Report includes “an outline of the contents and main objectives of the OIRMP or programme”. The purpose of this section is to explain the nature, contents, objectives, and timescale of the PPS.

The OIRMP will support the delivery of a vision for Orkney’s coastal and marine environment, economy and communities. This vision will be delivered through agreed objectives, implemented through decision-making made in accordance with the OIRMP policies.

Regional marine plans have a specific statutory purpose set out in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. In summary, this is:

• Regional marine plans need to set economic, social and marine ecosystem objectives, and objectives relating to the mitigation of, and adaptation to, climate change.
• Regional marine plans state policies for and in connection with the sustainable development of the area to which the OIRMP applies and policies on the contribution of Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas, and other relevant nature conservation sites, to the protection and enhancement of the area.
• Public authorities must take any authorisation or enforcement decision in accordance with the appropriate regional marine plan, unless relevant considerations indicate otherwise.
• Public authorities must have regard to the appropriate regional marine plan in making any decision which relates to the exercise by them of any function capable of affecting the whole or any part of the Scottish marine area, but which is not an authorisation or enforcement decision.

2b. Outline and objectives of Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan

The OIRMP has been prepared to guide decision making on sustainable development, activities, and use in the Orkney Islands marine region.

The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 requires that the purpose of a regional marine plan is to state the Scottish Ministers’ policies for and in connection with the sustainable development of the area to which the OIRMP applies. Regional marine plans should state Scottish Ministers’ policies on the contribution of Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas, and other relevant conservation sites, to the protection and enhancement of that area. The OIRMP has been prepared in accordance with this statutory purpose.

The OIRMP has been prepared by Orkney Islands Council (OIC), in accordance with the Delegation of Functions (Regional Marine Plan for the Scottish Marine Region for the Orkney Islands) Direction 2020. The Orkney Marine Planning Advisory Group (OMPAG) has provided expert input on environmental, social, economic and recreational matters to inform the preparation of the OIRMP.

The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 requires public authorities to take any authorisation or enforcement decision in accordance with the appropriate regional marine plan, unless relevant considerations indicate otherwise. The Act also requires public authorities to have regard to the appropriate regional marine plan in making any decision which relates to the exercise by them of any function capable of affecting the Scottish marine area.

The OIRMP provides a policy framework to assist public authorities, including regulators, decision-makers and planners, to make decisions on sustainable development and activities that take place within, or that affect, the Orkney Islands marine region.

The OIRMP is structured into four sections:

1. Introduction
2. General Policies
3. Sector Policies
4. Monitoring and review

These sections are supported by appendices that provide further information to assist Plan users.

The OIRMP’s policy framework consists of a suite of general policies and sector policies. These policies express intent and guide decisions to achieve the OIRMP’s aim and objectives.

The General Policies provide a framework for decision making to help deliver the Plan’s environmental, social, economic, marine ecosystem and community well-being objectives. These types of policies are often referred to as cross-cutting policies as they can be applied to many different types of decision, for example decisions on renewable energy, aquaculture or harbour developments, to address a specific policy issue e.g. nature conservation.

The Sector Policies are designed to support sustainable development and management of specific sectors e.g. aquaculture and renewable energy.

All the policies should be considered alongside the relevant legislation, policies and plans.

Table 3. Vision, Guiding Principles, Aim and Objectives for the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan

Vision – looking forward to 2045

The Orkney Islands marine region is clean, healthy, safe and productive; Orkney’s marine and coastal environment is rich in biodiversity and managed sustainably to support thriving and resilient local communities.

Guiding principles

The Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan has been developed in accordance with five guiding principles adopted to help steer the plan-making process, strategy and policies.

A. Sustainable development and use

Sustainable development and use are enabled whilst living within environmental limits; ensuring a strong, safe, healthy and just society; achieving a sustainable economy; promoting good governance; using sound science responsibly; and supporting the delivery of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

B. Ecosystem approach

An ecosystem approach is used to manage the marine environment and enable climate change mitigation, as well as adaptation to the predicted effects of climate change in response to the twin global climate and nature crises.

C. Coexistence

Coexistence between marine development, activities and use is supported to minimise potential conflict and maximise synergistic benefits.

D. Partnership working and stakeholder participation

This Plan is developed through an inclusive process of partnership working and stakeholder participation.

E. Integrated approach to marine and land-use planning

Land and marine development and/or activities are planned in a joined-up way to address development and infrastructure requirements, and associated impacts, across the interface between land and sea.

IMAGE: Table 3 sets out the OIRMP’s 2045 vision and five guiding principles: sustainable development and use, ecosystem approach, coexistence, partnership working and stakeholder participation, and integrated marine and land-use planning.

Aim

Sustainable development, activities and use of the marine and coastal environment of Orkney is supported, helping to tackle the twin climate and nature crises. Sustainable development, activities and use should maintain, and where appropriate enhance, biodiversity and ecosystem services; protect natural capital for future generations; and maximise social, economic and wellbeing benefits for local communities.

Objectives

IMAGE: Table 3 lists ten OIRMP objectives covering strategic direction, ecosystem management, low-carbon transition, climate change, socio-economic benefits, community wellbeing, information, spatial planning, legislative navigation and community engagement.

The topics, policies and supporting appendices contained in the OIRMP are outlined in Table 4 below. The indicative timescale for the production of the OIRMP and the associated documents are:

• Delegation of Functions to OIC: November 2020.
• Statement of Public Participation (SPP) to Scottish Ministers: May 2021.
• Preparation of consultation draft Plan, draft SEA and other supporting draft documents: February 2021–October 2022.
• All drafts to OIC committees for endorsement: November 2022–December 2022.
• Draft Plan reviewed by the Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate and approval of the draft Plan by Scottish Ministers for public consultation: December 2023–July 2024.
• Consultation on draft documents: 1 August 2024–25 October 2024.
• Consultation analysis and plan modifications: Winter 2024/Summer 2025.
• Approvals stage: Autumn–Winter 2025.
• Adoption of Plan, independent investigation as required: Winter 2025/Spring 2026.
• Post publication: Plan kept under review, with a report detailing this review being published a minimum of every five years from the date of the Plan’s adoption, as per Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Further detail is provided in Appendix F.

Table 4. Topics included in the OIRMP

Assessment

This SEA assesses the Vision and Policies of the OIRMP and provides a summary assessment of the likely environmental effects of implementation of the OIRMP’s policies. These assessments are in Appendices C.1–C.3.

2c. Relationship with other PPS and environmental protection objectives

It is important to ensure that regional marine plans are appropriately aligned with wider relevant plans, programmes, and strategies (PPS). One of the early stages of the SEA process was to consider the relationship of the OIRMP to other relevant PPS and their environmental objectives. This allowed key environmental objectives to be identified for consideration during the OIRMP preparation process. It was also important to identify both the PPS that will influence the OIRMP and those that will be influenced by the OIRMP itself.

An understanding of the context and the hierarchy that the OIRMP sits within is also useful for giving insight to mitigation measures and where they may be best implemented. Appendix A outlines the PPS taken into consideration during the SEA process.

Where specific marine management issues are currently being addressed by other bodies through existing plans, strategies, and programmes, it may not be appropriate for the OIRMP to take forward detailed policy on these matters. There will however be a requirement for appropriate integration and alignment, along with signposting where appropriate.

The OIRMP will have a significant influence on, and will draw from, other plans produced by OIC. It aligns with the Orkney Local Development Plan (2017) and the Indicative Orkney Regional Spatial Strategy, as well as NPF4 which forms part of the Development Plan. The NMP is also a key consideration to ensure effective integration with national policy.

Appendix A to this report contains a detailed review of the list of key plans, programmes, and strategies, as well as current legislation considered to be most directly relevant to the Gateway Programme, and includes details of how their environmental objectives have been considered as part of the SEA process.

The key environmental messages and initial objectives identified from this review are to:

1. Promote responsible stewardship of the coastal and marine environment, with particular focus on the twin threats of the climate emergency and biodiversity decline.
2. Encourage a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) and be positioned to respond to the predicted effects of climate change (adaptation).
3. Help halt the loss of biodiversity and seek to reverse previous losses through targeted protection for species, habitats, and ecosystems.
4. Enhance habitats and ecosystems, where this is appropriate and feasible.
5. Protect and enhance the water environment, ensuring that the status of all waters is protected from deterioration.
6. Protect against developments which have potential to cause or exacerbate coastal erosion and flooding.
7. Protect and, where appropriate, enhance landscape and seascape character, local distinctiveness, and scenic value.
8. Protect and, where appropriate, enhance the historic environment.
9. Ensure that development which would have a significant adverse impact on the Outstanding Universal Value of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, or its setting, does not occur.
10. Increase awareness, understanding and enjoyment of the natural and historic environment.
11. Protect opportunities for access to, and enjoyment of, coastal and marine environments.
12. Prepare a regional marine plan which meet the needs and ambitions of local people, and which gives weight to the voices and views of local communities.
13. Maximise the use/reuse of existing infrastructure assets to meet future needs.
14. Contribute towards a reduction in marine litter.
15. Promote the sustainable development of marine renewable energy.
16. Promote sustainable development.
17. Support planning outcomes that focus on the priorities identified in NPF4: net-zero emissions, a well-being economy, resilient economy, and better, greener places.
18. Revitalise our communities, particularly considering the COVID-19 pandemic which has changed the way we all live, work and learn.

The findings above are used, along with the baseline data in Appendix B, to further refine a set of SEA objectives.

2d. Relevant aspects of the current state of the environment

Schedule 3 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires that the Environmental Report includes a description of “the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the OIRMP or programme”, and “the environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected”. This section aims to describe the environmental context within which the PPS operates and the constraints and targets that this context imposes on the PPS.

The ‘State of the Environment Assessment (SoEA): A baseline assessment of the Orkney Islands Marine Region’ provides the relevant aspects of the current marine environment in Orkney’s marine waters. To avoid excessive replication, the extensive detail will not be replicated here, but in summary, it provides a snap-shot of the following environments and associated environmental pressures:

• Physical
• Historic Coastal and Marine
• Climate Change
• Biodiversity
• Productive Coasts and Sea
• Social and Community Value

In addition, an outline of the data gaps is provided. For each topic and sub-topic assessed, there are also data on the trend and data confidence, where known, along with an extensive reference list of data sources.

These baseline data were assessed using the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC’s) Marine Activities and Pressures Evidence tool, which contains a Pressures-Activities Database (PAD). This is a compilation of evidence base for relationships between 112 marine-based human activities and their associated pressures.

The PAD incorporates information on activities in Scotland based on Marine Directorate’s Feature Activity Sensitivity Tool (FeAST) and a range of new activities that may occur in UK waters. In addition, information provided by expert organisations and stakeholders, such as Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), NatureScot, the International Centre of Island Technology (ICIT), the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) and the Orkney Regional Inshore Fisheries Group (RIFG), has informed the assessment for the Orkney marine region and has informed the identification of additional pressures.

These identified pressures, and the supporting baseline information, are therefore helpful in informing this SEA process by providing:

• An identification of environmental problems and any data gaps.
• Support for the process of assessing the environmental effects.
• A baseline against which future monitoring data can be compared.

Table 5. SoEA Summary

IMAGE: The SoEA summary table categorises environmental topics including physical conditions, historic coastal and marine environment, climate change and biodiversity. It records pressures, assessment levels, trends and data confidence using colour-coded cells. The table identifies concerns such as erosion, coastal change, pollution, marine litter, underwater noise, climate change and biodiversity pressures.

Table 6. Summary of the OIRMP area

Map 2: Map of designated sites in Orkney Islands Marine Region

IMAGE: Map showing designated nature conservation sites throughout the Orkney Islands Marine Region. A larger-scale version is provided in Appendix D.

2e. Environmental problems

Schedule 3 paragraph 4 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires that the Environmental Report includes a description of existing environmental problems, in particular those relating to any areas of particular environmental importance.

Climate

It is widely accepted that the increasing atmospheric levels of certain gases are causing significant changes to global climates by reducing the rate of radiative heat loss and allowing temperatures around the world to rise. This is described as the enhanced greenhouse effect. Key considerations are sea level rise, ocean acidification and temperature changes, coastal processes and change, ecological impacts to food webs etc.

Cultural heritage and historic environment assets are vulnerable to climate change via erosion, inundation and weathering.

The policies and proposals of the OIRMP should seek to help ensure appropriate mitigation and adaptation measures are considered.

Biodiversity

Appendix B.1 provides a detailed summary of the site condition of all the internationally and nationally designated sites relevant to the OIRMP area. In summary, the key qualifying features that are in an unfavourable declining condition are:

• Some species of seabirds and seabird assemblages
• Harbour seals
• Some loch SSSIs and SACs

Appendix B.2 provides a list of the Priority Marine Features in Orkney.

The policies and proposals of the OIRMP should seek to protect and where practicable, enhance, biodiversity in Orkney’s coastal and marine waters.

Water

As a planning authority, OIC has a duty to protect and improve Scotland’s water environment under the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003.

Water quality in Orkney is generally good but locally there are waters which are polluted by wastewater, effluents and discharges from agriculture, mineral working, and other industries. The EC Water Framework Directive seeks to achieve the continuous improvement of all water bodies through the implementation of River Basin Management Frameworks.

The policies and proposals of the OIRMP should seek to protect and improve the quality and overall status of the water environment in and around Orkney. Sustainable solutions to wastewater treatment, including ballast water, should be promoted.

Coastal processes/Benthic sediments/Soils

Marine and coastal development can result in changes to coastal process which, in turn, can affect rates of erosion, accretion and deposition. Coastal sand dunes are particularly vulnerable to disturbance which can cause blow-outs and loss of integrity.

Coastal erosion, predicted sea level rise and changes to coastal processes linked to climate change are also a key issue.

Sandy and muddy sedimentary habitats support large populations of invertebrates which in turn support species at higher trophic levels. Many of these benthic habitats also store immense quantities of carbon, known as Blue Carbon.

The policies and proposals of the OIRMP should seek to protect and improve the quality and overall status of the coastal processes and benthic sediments in and around Orkney.

Geology

Geological and geomorphological sites may be vulnerable to the effects of new developments and/or activities. Examples of development and/or activities which cross the interface between land and sea include new and replacement pipelines as well as energy and telecommunications cables.

The predicted effects of climate change are likely to subject coastal sites to enhanced rates of erosion, inundation, and weathering.

The policies and proposals of the OIRMP should provide effective protection to sites which are designated for their geological or geomorphological interest, and which illustrate Orkney’s geological history.

Landscape

Orkney’s relatively low-lying and undulating topography and open coastal seas provide long unobstructed views, with new features being highly visible in the landscape/seascape.

The policies and proposals of the OIRMP should provide effective protection to sites which are designated for their landscape/seascape quality and ensure the site condition of the National Scenic Area is not eroded.

Cultural heritage

Cultural heritage sites and their settings may be vulnerable to the effects of new developments and/or activities. The policies and proposals of the OIRMP should provide effective protection to sites and their setting.

Population and human health

Population increase due to new major development may lead to increased pressure on existing infrastructure, for example housing, roads and sewage treatment plant. In this respect, any crossover with the Local Development Plan will be highlighted in the Environmental Report.

Material assets

Litter is already a problem in the Orkney marine and coastal environment. Plastics are especially long-lasting and pose a significant hazard to wildlife, e.g. in terms of accidental ingestion or entanglement. Coastal and marine litter impacts amenity in coastal areas. Fishing and fish farm waste is also an issue and includes redundant equipment which has been washed up on the coast and abandoned.

An increasing level of marine development is likely to put additional pressure on port and harbour infrastructure.

Cumulative impacts

It is important to consider the cumulative impacts of developments on the marine environment, economic receptors and infrastructure, due to Orkney’s rich but sensitive marine environment and high level of existing activity. While individual projects may appear sustainable in isolation, their combined effects can lead to significant impacts on the environment, habitats and coastal communities.

By assessing cumulative impacts, decision makers and developers can make more informed decisions that protect Orkney’s natural assets, support long-term ecosystem health, and ensure that economic benefits are balanced with the need for environmental and social sustainability.

2f. Likely evolution of the environment without the OIRMP

Without the OIRMP, it is considered that the likely future changes to the area will be a less coordinated and sustainable approach to marine development and activities.

This would lead to increased adverse environmental effects, particularly due to cumulative pressures from development and activities being planned in isolation and assessed/mitigated to varying standards.

As the Pilot Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan is non-statutory, marine planning decisions are not required to be made in accordance with it, as prescribed in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010; rather it is a key guidance document and does not carry the same weight as a statutory regional marine plan.

2g. SEA Objectives

The SEA objectives are outlined in Table 7 below. SEA objectives are measures by which the environmental impacts of the PPS may be assessed. These have been refined using an iterative process during the scoping and development of the draft SEA phases, including the baseline report.

Table 7. SEA Objectives

Climate factors

• Contribute to national net zero targets to address the cause of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Support the transformational change to a low carbon economy, consistent with national objectives and targets.
• Address Orkney’s vulnerability and resilience to the likely effects of climate change.

Biodiversity

• Conserve, and where appropriate enhance, protected sites and species.
• Safeguard valuable habitat from significant loss or damage as a result of development, activities and use.
• Protect and enhance coastal and marine biodiversity and the health of the natural environment.
• Maintain healthy ecosystems and work with the natural processes which provide important services to communities, including maintaining, and where appropriate enhancing, natural capital and ecosystem services.
• Minimise the risk posed by non-native and invasive non-native species and associated effects on the marine environment and economy.

Water

• Promote the protection and improvement of the water environment, including burns, lochs, estuaries, wetlands, coastal waters and groundwater.

Coastal processes/Benthic sediments

• Adapt to the effects of coastal erosion, flooding, and wider coastal change.
• Manage development that may significantly affect coastal process, thereby reducing effects on coastal and marine habitats, species and geomorphological features.
• Reduce the threat of contamination and seek to protect the benthic environment from damage such as erosion or scouring.

Geology

• Protect designated and undesignated sites which are recognised and valued for their geological or geomorphological importance.

Landscape

• Protect and enhance the distinctiveness and qualities of landscape and seascape character, and appropriately mitigate impacts that cannot be avoided.

Cultural heritage

• Promote the care and protection of the designated and non-designated historic environment.
• Enable positive change in the historic environment which is informed by a clear understanding of the importance of Orkney’s heritage assets and ensures their future use.
• Safeguard cultural heritage features and their settings through responsible design and siting of development.

Population and human health

• Improve community environments and quality of life.
• Protect and enhance human health and promote access to health, social and recreational facilities.

Material assets

• Promote sustainable and efficient use of natural resources.

3. Assessment of environmental effects and measures envisaged for prevention, reduction and offset of any significant adverse effects

3a. Alternatives to which the SEA was applied

The SEA objectives identified above have been used as assessment criteria. Each alternative will be assessed in turn, and this assessment will identify options which would have environmental effects, and therefore require further assessment. Assessment will inform the nature of the preferred options that will be taken forward for development, refinement, and further assessment.

From the scoping report, the initial alternatives were:

• Alternative 1: Do nothing.
• Alternative 2: Update the existing Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan (PFOW MSP).
• Alternative 3: Develop an Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan.

Following an iterative process to SEA, the alternatives, now called options, were refined as follows:

• Option 1. Do nothing: continue under the current approach to marine planning and management including using the Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine and Spatial Plan (PFOW MSP) as non-statutory planning guidance, NMP and NPF.
• Option 2. Use the policies within the PFOW MSP to form a regional marine plan without updates or additions.
• Option 3. Adoption of the OIRMP after stakeholder engagement on the preparation of the policies guided by the public consultation and further engagement with stakeholders.

Option 1: Do nothing

Under this option a regional marine plan would not be developed/adopted and there would be no change to current arrangements. As the PFOW MSP is non-statutory it does not carry the same weight in decision making as a statutory regional marine plan and would therefore provide greater certainty in decision making.

The PFOW MSP has been adopted by the Scottish Government, Highland Council and OIC as non-statutory planning guidance. The OIRMP has not been adopted by other decision makers. This option therefore potentially creates inconsistency and uncertainty in decision making.

Option 1 does not bring marine planning in line with the provision for Regional Marine Planning set out in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Option 1 is not perceived as a viable option.

Option 2: Use the policies within the PFOW MSP to form a regional marine plan without updates or additions

Under this option the PFOW MSP would be put forward unamended, to be adopted as a regional marine plan. This option would place the existing local marine planning framework on a statutory footing. However, this would not allow a review and refinement of the objectives, policies and supporting data in light of changing legislation, priorities, opportunities, challenges and new data. This option would not meet current national policy or deliver current local community objectives and priorities.

As noted above, the existing NMP is somewhat dated therefore the existing statutory guidance is not as robust as it could be.

Option 2 does not bring marine planning in line with the provision for Regional Marine Planning set out in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010.

Option 2 is not perceived as a viable option.

Option 3: Adoption of the OIRMP after stakeholder engagement

Under this option an OIRMP will be prepared giving all stakeholders the opportunity to contribute towards setting objectives and policies to achieve sustainable development in the Orkney Islands marine region. This option will ensure that regional marine planning policy in Orkney contributes towards national priorities and outcomes e.g. climate change mitigation and adaption, reversing biodiversity loss and sustainable economic growth.

It would also ensure that the impacts of the OIRMP would be fully assessed via SEA, HRA, ICIA, BRIA, CRWIA and EQIA.

Option 3 is a viable option.

In summary, as the OIRMP is being developed, Option 1 and 2 have been scoped out to leave Option 3: Adoption of the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan, in accordance with the Direction made. Unlike the PFOW MSP, it will be a statutory plan, with more up to date information.

3b. Assessment methods

The reasonable alternatives described above have been assessed against the range of environmental issues set out in Schedule 3 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

Comments from the Consultation Authorities: SNH (now NatureScot), SEPA and Historic Environment Scotland have been taken into account regarding the methods, scope and level of detail in this Environmental Report. The detailed assessments are in Appendix A–C. It will be further revised in light of any comments received during the public consultation phase.

3c. Assessment of environmental effects of the OIRMP

A summary of the assessment framework established during the scoping process, using the framework shown in Section 3a, has been amended and augmented following stakeholder input, and is provided in Table 8 below.

The detailed assessments, including an analysis of short, medium and long-term effects; permanent and temporary effects; positive and negative effects; and secondary, cumulative and synergistic effects, is provided in Appendices A–C. Further supporting information is provided in Appendices D–F.

The identification of potential adverse socio-economic and environmental effects through the iterative development of the OIRMP and this SEA will likely add further weight to their consideration by prospective developers, marine users and consenting authorities. An opportunity for the OIRMP to improve efficiencies, for example in streamlining of current consenting processes around which applicant-led engagement with stakeholders is considered to be key, was also identified. As a consequence, there is the potential for overall positive effects.

3d. Measures envisaged for the prevention, reduction and offsetting of significant adverse effects

Schedule 3 paragraph 7 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 requires an explanation of “the measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully as possible offset any significant adverse effects on the environment of implementing the OIRMP or programme.” These aspects are outlined in Table 8 and Appendix C.2.

Table 8. Assessment of Environmental Effects of the OIRMP

The high level summary of the OIRMP-level effects on the SEA receptors are summarised here, including an assessment of cumulative, synergistic and secondary effects. This information is based on the assessments of each policy in relation to the SEA receptors as outlined in Appendix C.3, which in turn is informed by the information found in Appendices B and B.1–B.6, the Islands Communities Impact Assessment and the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment.

The Plan General and Sector Policies identify how significant impacts can be addressed through the application of the mitigation hierarchy. These will be implemented through decision making including the identification of mitigation measures as part of consent application processes.

Legend

Climatic factors (+)

The effects of climate change are many and far-reaching, including changing weather patterns, sea level rise causing increased flooding and coastal erosion, and changes to the sea’s temperature and acidification levels.

Climate change is a global issue and national targets are in place to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.

The OIRMP’s policies will contribute toward national targets, such as achieving net zero by 2045, by ensuring that the requirement to reduce carbon emissions is factored into new development and/or activity proposals in a sustainable manner.

The OIRMP’s policies will contribute toward addressing the climate crisis by the introduction of provision for giving significant weight in decision making to this issue.

The policy provisions encourage, promote and facilitate development, activities, and use that minimise greenhouse gas emissions, and that are adapted to the current and future impacts of climate change.

Moderate benefit is likely in terms of climatic factors, biodiversity, flora and fauna, water, landscape and population/human health. The Plan will moderately enhance flood risk management, benefit biodiversity, and improve access to coastal open space.

Measures to enable adaptation to the effects of climate change will be integrated into the OIRMP and this will include planning to take account of flood risk and coastal erosion.

Addressing climatic factors indirectly reduces impacts on other SEA receptors.

Climate change will remain a global issue.

Biodiversity (+)

The continuing decline of biodiversity is another issue of global concern. Sites of international, national and local importance are designated throughout Orkney, on account of the habitats and species they support. The wider terrestrial and marine environments are also rich in biodiversity including significant records of Priority Marine Features.

The spread of non-native and potentially invasive species is also a potential issue both around Orkney and the world.

Impacts of INNS include, but are not limited to, competition with native species over resources, changes to habitat and/or water quality, and transmission of disease. All these factors can be exacerbated by climate change.

The OIRMP’s policies will contribute toward addressing the nature crisis by the introduction of provision for giving significant weight in decision making to this issue. It will protect designated sites, species and habitats in accordance with international/national requirements.

The Plan policies include provisions to encourage development and/or proposals for activities to contribute to the enhancement and/or restoration of the coastal and/or marine environment utilising best practice assessment and implementation methods.

For INNS, good biosecurity practice should consider the risk of planned development and activities to establish new pathways for the spread of INNS, and mitigate the risks accordingly.

Moderate benefit is likely in terms of biodiversity. The OIRMP makes provision for new development to provide benefits for biodiversity. The plan assists in reducing the spread of INNS through policy and directing to relevant guidance. It ensures the continued availability of opportunities for enjoying and learning about Orkney’s natural environment.

The balance of policies applied will help ensure biodiversity loss is minimised. Biodiversity loss will remain a global issue.

Positive effects for biodiversity, often referred to as Net Gain or Biodiversity Enhancement, is a relatively novel process for the Scottish marine environment. The OIRMP will support the development of this process and enhancement of the marine environment, where appropriate, and in line with the latest national guidance and legislation.

Water (+)

Under the River Basin Management Plans (RBPM), Orkney’s coastal waters are classified as good or high for water quality. However, on a finer scale there are waters which are polluted by wastewater, effluents and discharges from agriculture, mineral working, and other industries.

The OIRMP’s policies will contribute toward ensuring continued water quality in accordance with international/national requirements. The policies aim to protect the water environment and improve the ecological status of coastal waterbodies.

Town and country planning has a significant role to play in ensuring an appropriate distribution of land uses and protecting the environment from pollution. The marine plan will assist with this integration of land/coastal/marine water protection.

Overall positive benefit for the water environment, which is vital for healthy and diverse ecosystems, a successful economy and human population.

Coastal processes/benthic sediments/soils (?)

The combined forces of wave action and tidal currents are responsible for the constant reworking of seabed sediments which surround the coasts of Orkney. The growing demand for marine development and/or activities continues to add pressure to the seabed and coast.

Significant positive benefit for the protection of biodiversity, coastal processes, geology and materials as development and/or activities will have to be in accordance with multiple protection plans and frameworks and negative impacts on coastal processes and coastal protection should be minimised. All other SEA receptors are also given positive policy support.

Integrated application of land use and marine policies should help ensure impacts are minimised.

The Plan General and Sector Policies identify how any significant impacts can be addressed through the application of the mitigation hierarchy.

The impact is mixed due to general policies providing protection against significant impacts and sectoral policies acknowledging some negative impacts.

Geology (+)

Orkney’s geological history is most clearly visible and interpreted along its coastlines where the rock has been subject to sea level change, deformation, erosion and localised deposition; and also, in quarries where rock extraction has exposed a sequence of rock strata.

The OIRMP’s policies will contribute toward ensuring SSSIs and GCR sites are not significantly impacted by development and/or activities.

The policies and proposals of the OIRMP should provide effective protection to sites which are designated for their geological or geomorphological interest, and which illustrate Orkney’s geological history.

Neutral or minor positive impacts are expected from most general policies and sectoral policies.

Landscape (0)

Orkney has one National Scenic Area: the Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area. The great ice-rounded eminences of the hills of North Hoy dominate the Orkney scene with a power that is scarcely in tune with their modest height of 479 metres. Their bold shape, fine grouping, soaring cliffs and headlands, including the famous stack of the Old Man of Hoy, are almost as important to the Caithness scene as they are in that of Orkney.

The OIRMP’s policies will contribute toward ensuring continued landscape/seascape quality in accordance with national requirements.

Overall moderate benefit is expected for the setting of cultural heritage and public enjoyment of the landscape, and major benefit in terms of protection of seascape/landscape.

There is potential for the policy to promote greater consistency in the consideration of visual impacts in the development process, and in the early stages of consenting processes. As a consequence, the potential for significant benefits for the many recognised landscape/seascape areas in the OIRMP area were identified in the SEA.

Cultural heritage (+)

Orkney is internationally renowned for the preservation and richness of 6,000 years of its archaeology upon which its successful tourism economy is based.

Erosion and sea level rise due to climate change, along with deterioration and/or removal of artefacts are key considerations for cultural heritage.

The policies and proposals of the OIRMP should provide effective protection to sites which are designated for their cultural heritage interest.

Moderate benefit is likely in terms of cultural heritage. The OIRMP general policies make provision for the protection/enhancement of cultural heritage assets and ensure the continued availability of opportunities for enjoying and learning about Orkney’s cultural environment.

Cumulative, synergistic and secondary effects will be considered on a case-by-case basis, based on the nature and scale of a development or activity proposal.

Population and human health (+)

On 30 June 2020, the population of Orkney Islands was 22,400. This is an increase of 0.6% from 22,270 in 2019.

The OIRMP’s objectives and policies, such as GP4 Supporting sustainable social and economic benefits, will contribute toward ensuring continued viability and safety of the island communities.

The potential for enhanced involvement of communities in the future growth of the use of the OIRMP area was seen as a key positive effect, particularly in relation to the consideration of potential social and economic impacts and opportunities for fostering further community involvement in the decision-making process.

Potential benefits for population and human health were identified with the promotion of the long-term sustainability objectives of the group of policies, and through supporting social and economic benefits and promotion of economic and wellbeing considerations.

Material assets (+)

The seabed, intertidal zone, water environment and the species and habitats they contain are vital components of natural resources, that perform a variety of ecosystem services.

The OIRMP’s policies will contribute toward ensuring material assets are used in a sustainable way, including provision to safeguard and enhance natural capital and ecosystem services.

Overall largely positive effects on material assets are expected. Potential benefits for material assets were identified with the promotion of the long-term sustainability objectives of the policies.

4. Monitoring

The monitoring of sectoral growth and environmental and socio-economic parameters will continue to be undertaken on an ongoing basis, in accordance with the requirements of the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010, alongside the filling of data gaps through targeted research and studies, as capacity allows.

Together, the information obtained from this wide range of sources, complemented by targeted monitoring and research on specific sectoral and environmental effects, would likely help to further inform the development of the OIRMP.

A Monitoring and Evaluation Framework will be prepared in due course, subject to funding/capacity. The public consultation may provide additional information regarding data sources that may be helpful in the monitoring process and the SEA will be updated accordingly, linked to the objectives outlined for the SEA in Section 2g: Table 7 above and the effectiveness of measures proposed for prevention, reduction and offsetting of significant adverse effects, where any remain.

5. Next steps

The next key planning and SEA outputs, including indicative timescales, are:

• Update draft documents following public consultation: Summer 2025.
• OIC committee process: Autumn 2025.
• Submission to Scottish Ministers for approval: Autumn/Winter 2025.
• Publish Plan: Winter 2025/Spring 2026 or independent investigation post Winter 2025/26.
• Post adoption statement for SEA: Winter/Spring 2025/26.
• Ongoing monitoring of Plan post adoption.

Should Scottish Ministers require an independent investigation of the OIRMP, this would likely add another year to the publication process.

Appendices

Appendix A. Relationship with other Plans, Programmes and Strategies (PPS) and their environmental objectives

This appendix provides the relationship between the OIRMP and other plans, programmes, strategies, conventions, treaties, directives and legislation, together with their environmental objectives and implications for the OIRMP.

Appendix B. Environmental Baseline Report

The Environmental Baseline Report examines:

1. Climatic factors
2. Biodiversity, flora and fauna
3. Water
4. Coastal processes/benthic sediments/soils
5. Geology
6. Landscape
7. Cultural heritage
8. Population and human health
9. Material assets

Baseline Overview of Orkney

Appendix B.1. Internationally and nationally designated sites in Orkney

This appendix lists SSSIs, SPAs, SACs, Ramsar sites and Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas, together with their qualifying features and site condition.

Appendix B.2. List of Priority Marine Features recorded within 12 nm of Orkney

The listed Priority Marine Features include:

• Blue mussel beds
• Flame shell beds
• Horse mussel beds
• Intertidal mudflats
• Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment
• Kelp beds
• Low or variable salinity habitats
• Maerl beds
• Native oysters
• Seagrass beds
• Tide-swept algal communities
• Tide-swept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves
• Northern feather star
• Fan mussel
• Ocean quahog
• European spiny lobster
• European eel
• Atlantic salmon
• Sea lamprey
• Sea trout
• Sparling
• Angler fish
• Atlantic halibut
• Atlantic herring
• Atlantic mackerel
• Cod
• Greenland halibut
• Horse mackerel
• Ling
• Norway pout
• Round-nose grenadier
• Saithe
• Sandeels
• Sand goby
• Whiting
• Basking shark
• Common skate
• Porbeagle shark
• Spiny dogfish
• Atlantic white-sided dolphin
• Bottlenose dolphin
• Fin whale
• Harbour porpoise
• Killer whale
• Long-finned pilot whale
• Minke whale
• Northern bottlenose whale
• Risso’s dolphin
• Short-beaked common dolphin
• Sowerby’s beaked whale
• Sperm whale
• White-beaked dolphin
• Harbour seal
• Grey seal
• Otter

Appendix B.3. Water quality and overall status classification

Appendix B.4. Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area

IMAGE: Map showing the Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area, covering Hoy, Hoy Sound, the west Mainland and parts of Scapa Flow, with an inset locating the area within Scotland.

The special qualities of the Hoy and West Mainland National Scenic Area are:

• A palimpsest of geology, topography, archaeology and land use
• An archaeological landscape of World Heritage Status
• The spectacular coastal scenery
• Sandstone and flagstone as an essence of Orkney
• A long-settled and productive land and sea
• The contrast between the fertile farmland and the unimproved moorland
• A landscape of contrasting curves and lines
• Land and water in constantly changing combinations under the open sky
• The high hills of Hoy
• The townscape of Stromness, its setting and its link with the sea
• The traditional buildings and crofting patterns of Rackwick

Appendix B.5. Scheduled Monuments in the Orkney Islands

This appendix lists the scheduled monuments in the Orkney Islands, including their monument references and descriptions, such as:

• SM90211 Hackness, Battery and Martello Tower.
• SM8663 Whaness Burn, enclosure 1680m NNE of Dwarfie Stane, Hoy.
• SM4346 Pickaquoy, burnt mound and settlement.
• SM90144 Eynhallow Church and settlement.
• SM1321 Mill Hill, chambered cairn, Millbounds.
• SM90276 Skara Brae, settlement, mounds and other remains.
• SM90042 Ring of Brodgar, stone circle, henge and nearby remains.
• SM90079 Cobbie Roo’s Castle.
• SM9308 Scapa Flow, wrecks of 4 cruisers of German High Seas Fleet.
• SM9298 Scapa Flow, wrecks of 3 battleships of German High Seas Fleet.
• SM90157 Aiker Ness, Broch of Gurness, broch and settlement.
• SM90195 Knap of Howar, houses.
• SM90209 Maes Howe, chambered cairn.
• SM90218 Midhowe Broch, broch and settlement, Rousay.
• SM90231 Noltland Castle.
• SM90317 St Mary’s Chapel, Wyre.

Appendix B.6. Orkney Scheduled Monuments in the Care of Historic Scotland

Appendix C.1. Assessment of the Vision for the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan

Appendix C.2. Assessment of the Policies of the OIRMP for their Compatibility with the SEA Objectives

Key:

• ++ Fully compatible with the SEA Objectives which are relevant to the policy
• + Broadly compatible with SEA Objectives which are relevant to the policy
• - Incompatible with the SEA Objectives relevant to the policy
• 0 No link
• ? Compatibility with SEA Objectives is uncertain

The assessment covers the following OIRMP policies:

• GP1 Sustainable Development, Activities and Use
• GP2 Safety
• GP3 Climate Change
• GP4 Supporting Sustainable Social and Economic Benefits
• GP5 Safeguarding Natural Capital and Ecosystem Services
• GP6 Water Environment
• GP7 Coastal Development and Coastal Change
• GP8 Historic Environment
• GP9 Nature
• GP10 Seascape and Landscape
• GP11 Surface and Underwater Noise and Vibration
• GP12 Marine Litter and Waste
• GP13 Invasive Non-Native Species and Non-Native Species
• GP14 Amenity, Well-being and Quality of Life of Coastal Communities
• SP1 Commercial Fishing
• SP2 Aquaculture
• SP3 Shipping, Ports, Harbours and Ferries
• SP4 Pipelines, Electricity and Telecommunications Infrastructure
• SP5 Offshore Wind, Wave, and Tidal Renewable Energy Generation
• SP6 Zero Carbon Fuels, Oil and Gas Transition
• SP7 Tourism, Recreation, Sport and Leisure

Appendix C.3. Summary of assessment of the likely environmental effects of implementation of the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan Policies

Key:

• ++ Major benefit
• + Minor–moderate benefit
• -- Major adverse effects
• - Minor–moderate adverse effects
• 0 Neutral effects
• ? Effects uncertain

Appendix D. Map of Nature Designated Sites in Orkney

IMAGE: Map of nature-designated sites in Orkney showing SACs, SSSIs, GCR sites, Ramsar sites, SPAs, Nature Conservation MPAs and the 12-nautical-mile boundary.

Appendix E. SEA activities

Appendix F. Copy of indicative timetable for preparation of the OIRMP from the Statement of Public Participation

This indicative timetable for the preparation of the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan is from the Statement of Public Participation (2024). It may be updated in accordance with any Marine Directorate requirements on behalf of Scottish Ministers.

IMAGE: Indicative timetable showing the preparation, consultation, approval, publication and possible independent investigation stages for the OIRMP from 2021 through 2026, with colour-coded phases for preparation, endorsement/approval, consultation and publication.

This publication is available at www.orkney.gov.uk

Published by Orkney Islands Council 2026.