Scottish Marine planning zone consultation.
Plans to extend marine planning zones in Scotland have been put out to public consultation.
Fish and shellfish farms require planning permission out to twelve nautical miles, however local authority responsibilities for planning controls currently only extend to three nautical miles. Under new proposals, the marine planning zones will be extended.
Clarifying responsibilities and stretching the current limit creates the potential for new sites to bring in more investment and jobs, particularly for island and coastal communities.
Innovations in technology mean that aquaculture sites can now be located further from the shore. These developments have the potential to reduce the environmental impact of marine farming by lessening interactions with wild salmonids and supporting farmed fish health and welfare.
The 12 week consultation runs until 11 December. View the marine planning zone consultation.