Shetland Marine Spatial Plan: An ecosystem-based approach in formulating marine policy and management options

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Marine environmental policy is an important aspect of the current European, UK and Scottish environmental agenda. The development of the Shetland Marine Spatial Plan (SMSP) was initiated by the Scottish Government, and it has been implemented on a voluntary basis since 2008. It has been utilised successfully as a tool to guide developers and others in putting their proposals for changes to existing uses (such as aquaculture and fishing) and introduction of new uses (such as expansion of ports, renewable energy and oil and gas infrastructure). More recently, it has been used by managers to voluntarily close areas containing sensitive habitats to scallop dredge fishing and develop oil spill contingency planning to protect important habitats. Through policy, it provides suggestions, proposes directions and highlights opportunity for development. This paper will demonstrate the benefits of spatial management with a focus on using GIS to map cumulative pressure areas around the Shetland Islands based on an ecosystem-based risk assessment and how this will assist in implementation of marine policy. Simultaneously, by ensuring the provision of clean, healthy, diverse and productive seas through sustainable marine policy, other environmental targets such as achieving ‘Good Environmental Status’ under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive are also implemented.