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Orkney Marine Planning Advisory Group: 2nd meeting: minutes

9 June 2021

10.00

Virtual Meeting on Microsoft Teams

IMAGE: The Orkney Islands Council crest and logo, with the text “ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL”.

Attendees

Facilitator: Shona Turnbull (OIC)

Note taker: Danny Morris (OIC)

  • Cllr G Sinclair (Chair) (GS)
  • Mr R MacKay (OIC - Vice Chair) (RM)
  • Dr S Turnbull (OIC) (ST)
  • Mr D Morris (OIC) (DM)
  • Mr J Green (OIC) (JG)
  • Ms K McEwen (SNH) (KM)
  • Dr J Porter (ICIT) (JP)
  • Ms K Rydzkowski (OSF) (KR)
  • Ms V Clements (HES) (VC)
  • Ms C Chapman (Visit Scotland) (CC)
  • Mr M Steward (SSPO) (MS)
  • Ms J Wells (RSPBS) (JW)
  • Captain D Thomson (Orkney Marine Services Assoc) (DT)
  • Mr G Davies (OREF) (GD)
  • Ms A Duncan (Marine Scotland) (Observer) (AS)
  • Ms F Munro (Marine Scotland) (Observer) (FM)

Apologies:

  • Mr C Smith (Repsol Sinopec)
  • Ms P Martin (Sub Aqua Club) (PM)
  • Mr T Mallows (CES) (TM)
  • Mr B Kynoch (Orkney Marinas) (BK)
  • Mr D Sawkins (OIC Harbours) (DS)

Item 1: Welcome, housekeeping & Introductions

GS welcomed OMPAG advisory Group members to the meeting. The minutes from the OPMAG meeting on the 18 March 2021 were agreed by attendees as an accurate record.

Item 2: Update on the Statement of Public Participation

ST explained that the Statement of Public Participation (SPP) had been updated in response to comments received from OMPAG members and had been submitted to Marine Scotland for approval by Scottish Ministers. Marine Scotland has provided comment on the SPP and the document is being amended accordingly before publication.

Item 3: Vision, guiding principles, aims, objectives discussion

ST introduced Item 3 on the vision, guiding principles, aims and objectives for the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan. The draft vision, guiding principles, aims and objectives have been informed by those in the Pilot Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters Marine Spatial Plan. These have been adapted to take account of changes in policy, legislation and priorities at the national, regional and local level. The draft vision, guiding principles, aims and objectives have been prepared to inform discussion and to seek input from the OMPAG. These will be circulated to the OMPAG membership for written comment.

CC queried how tourism would fit with the OIRMP, and particularly if cruise would be within the scope of the Plan. ST confirmed that tourism and cruise would be addressed under the Plan’s policy for marine tourism and recreation.

JP welcomed the Biodiversity Action Plan being included in the Purpose and Scope document, and that the Marine Theme Working Group responsible for the biodiversity action plan would welcome further discussion on how best to integrate their work with the OIRMP. ST agreed that a further discussion with the group could be useful.

JW proposed that the guiding principles should include the need to use sound science and data to support decision making. JG agreed that an additional guiding principle should be included within the Orkney Islands Regional Marine Plan (OIRMP) stating the importance of using sound science responsibly in decision making.

MS proposed that the guiding principle on sustainable development should be extended to include sustainable development and use. JG agreed that this would align with the policy terminology definitions set out in the ‘OIRMP - Purpose and Scope’ document circulated to inform the vision/objectives document.

JP highlighted the importance of including education/ocean literacy into the plans. ST agreed it is a good idea but we would need to decide where best to place this.

KM suggested that raising awareness of coastal and marine management issues should be incorporated within the guiding principles. ST suggested that consideration should be given to how this principle might be incorporated.

KM explain that the draft Clyde Regional Marine Plan had identified policy measures that are a policy requirement and measures which could be implemented on a voluntary basis, for example voluntary guidance on the delivery of environmental net gain. ST explained that a statutory plan needs to set out clear and unambiguous requirements to guide decision making on development and activities. Measures that are voluntary, or are not necessarily delivered through a consenting process, might be better delivered via a marine strategy and/or projects. JG stated that due to the crisis with the loss of biodiversity, it is important to maximise opportunities for environmental net gain, biodiversity net gain or positive effects for biodiversity.

Further consideration will need to be given to how the OIRMP will address these issues, in light of national policies including National Planning Framework 4, and in collaboration with NatureScot and the Scottish Government.

KM suggested that Aim B should be presented before Aim A. JG agreed that this would be a more logical order.

MS raised that the OIRMP will need to build in flexibility to be able to respond to innovation within the economic sectors and to able adapt to new technologies.

KM raised that objective 5, ‘Provide reliable information on existing and proposed marine development, activities and assets’, would need to be implemented by enabling the use of the most up to date information. It should be acknowledged that information and data change over time and policies need to be informed by the latest data. ST explained that National Marine Plan Interactive (NMPi) will be a useful tool that will enable relevant data to be updated as it becomes available.

Item 4: AOCB

RM acknowledge there were some IT issues during the time the meeting invite went out which may have affected today’s participation. Some members were unable to use the link provided.

ST asked if members would provide written confirmation if they were happy to share email addressed across the group when providing written responses to the vision/objectives document.

Meeting closed at 11.25