Draft marine and coastal restoration plan: strategic environmental assessment environmental report

1 Introduction

1.1 Background

1.1.1 The SBS delivery plan 2024 to 2030^[15] sets out an action to “Publish a plan for marine and coastal ecosystem restoration, including identifying actions to help prioritise habitats and locations suitable for restoration”. This will contribute to the achievement of Objective 1 (accelerate ecosystem restoration and regeneration) of the SBS Strategy. The Scottish Government’s Marine Directorate is developing this Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan (hereafter referred to as “the Plan”) and has worked with a Stakeholder Advisory Group to develop a draft plan for consultation. The Plan will provide an opportunity to identify and better understand restoration potential in Scottish waters, both in terms of environmental and socio-economic benefits.

1.1.2 The spatial extent of the Plan covers both the Scottish inshore region (0 - 12 NM) and the Scottish offshore region (12 – 200 NM), with additional terrestrial and intertidal considerations. The Plan has not yet been implemented, and this SEA assesses at a high level the five themes within the Plan, and their associated objectives and actions as a whole.

1.1.3 The themes are:

• Restoration opportunities and priorities;
• Regulatory environment;
• Funding and finance;
• Supply chain and communities; and
• Evidence and monitoring.

1.1.4 The Plan aims to:

• Achieve a better understanding of where active restoration can best take place, and how we can prioritise species and habitats;
• Maximise ecological benefits and social and economic opportunities from active restoration; and
• Support community-led restoration and enable investment in restoration efforts.

1.1.5 The Plan sets out actions to support the aims outlined above.

1.2 Strategic Environmental Assessment

1.2.1 Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) identifies the likely significant environmental impacts of plans and policies and proposed reasonable alternatives to them. SEA also identifies mitigation measures that are required to avoid or minimise any significant negative effects and highlights opportunities for enhancements of positive effects. Taking place at an early stage in the plan or policy preparation process, it ensures that decision-making is informed by relevant environmental information. SEA provides opportunities for the public to consider this information and use it to inform their views on the draft plan or policy.

1.2.2 As the scope of the Plan applies to both Scottish inshore and offshore waters, Scottish Ministers are applying the SEA process as part of the development of the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan^[16], in line with the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 (“the 2004 Regulations”)^[17] and The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005^[18] (“the 2005 Act”). The SEA has also followed Scottish guidance on SEA^[19].

1.2.3 The 2004 Regulations require that certain public plans, programmes and strategies be assessed for their potential effects on the environment. This applies to both significant positive or negative environmental effects. The Plan falls under Section 5 of the 2004 Regulations and is therefore subject to SEA. The 2004 Regulations also set out the information that is required to be provided in this Environmental Report.

1.2.4 The SEA considers how identified effects might be mitigated, with the environmental assessment report being presented for stakeholder engagement through public consultation. The final version of the Plan will be informed by feedback received during the consultation process, which will be reflected in the SEA Post-Adoption Statement.

1.2.5 A screening and scoping exercise was undertaken by Scottish Government in line with the 2004 Regulations. A combined Screening and Scoping Report was published in January 2025, setting out the proposed approach to the SEA, including the proposed scope and level of detail. Comments were invited from the Scottish Consultation Authorities^[20] and relevant UK Consultation Authorities^[21]. This was due to the policy implications for the offshore region and the potential for transboundary environmental effects that may arise from policies introduced within the marine environment. A summary of the comments that were received and how they have been addressed is included in Section 7.

1.2.6 The outcome from the Screening and Scoping Report and the consultation responses confirmed the need for an SEA as there is potential for significant environmental effects to occur as a direct result of the proposals. Scottish Government commissioned ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd. (ABPmer) to undertake the assessment stage of the SEA and prepare this Environmental Report.

1.3 Purpose and Structure of this Report

1.3.1 The purpose of this Environmental Report is to document the findings of the SEA on the implementation of the Plan.

1.3.2 The views of the public and the Consultation Authorities on Plan and the findings of this Environmental Report are now being sought.

1.3.3 The remainder of this Environmental Report is structured as follows:

• Section 2 provides background information on Plan and its policy context;
• Section 3 presents the approach to the SEA and the methods used;
• Section 4 sets out the results of the assessment;
• Section 5 considers the duties on Scottish Ministers to have due regard to the guiding principles on the environment; and
• Section 6 considers the next steps in the development of the Plan and the SEA process.
• Section 7 (Appendix A) details the screening and scoping Consultation Authority comments;
• Section 8 (Appendix B) sets out the broader policy context of the Plan;
• Section 9 (Appendix C) describes the relevant components of the environment that could be affected by the Plan; and
• Section 10 (Appendix D) lists the abbreviations within this report.

1.3.4 The Non-Technical Summary precedes Section 1.