Crown

The Sectoral Marine Plan aims to identify the most sustainable plan options for the future development of commercial-scale offshore wind energy in Scotland, including deep water wind technologies and covers both Scottish inshore and offshore waters (extending out to the Exclusive Economic Zone limit).

The Sectoral Marine seeks to contribute to the achievement of Scottish and UK energy and climate change policy objectives and targets, through the provision of a spatial strategy to inform the seabed leasing process for commercial offshore wind energy in Scottish waters, which:

• Minimises the potential adverse effects on other marine users, economic sectors and the environment resulting from further commercial-scale offshore wind development; and
• Maximises opportunities for economic development, investment and employment in Scotland, by identifying new opportunities for commercial scale offshore wind development, including deeper water wind technologies.

The Plan Options provide the spatial footprint for this Sectoral Marine Plan.

Every year, Marine Scotland survey scallop stocks around Scotland and collect biological information on relevant fish and shellfish species. Scallop dredge hauls (30 min duration) are carried out at fixed stations, and the catch rate per hour is calculated.

The laying of a permanent mooring or other equipment to hold a vessel requires consent from the relevant landowner. For the seabed, this consent will nearly always come from Crown Estate Scotland, who issue three types of mooring licence.

• Individual: This is suitable for private individuals
• Commercial: A licence for businesses such as ferry operators, boatyards, charter boats and diving vessels
• Associations:  Once established, associations are given a seabed agreement enabling them to manage their members’ moorings within a specific area. Associations are suitable for groups of ten or more moorings and provide a degree of security as pressure on areas traditionally occupied by moorings increases.

This layer shows the population density (persons per hectare) estimate by locality. The estimate is derived from the report "Mid-2016 Population Estimates for Settlements and Localities in Scotland" by National Records of Scotland (NRS). Localities correspond to the more recognisable towns and cities of Scotland which can be found within settlements. They also have a minimum rounded population of 500 people or more. The locality data sets are updated every 2 years.