Marine and coastal restoration plan: island communities impact assessment

3. Consultation

Is there any information already gathered through previous engagement. Who are your key stakeholders?

Policy development for the plan has been informed by discussions with a cross-sectoral stakeholder advisory group who brought a wide range of perspectives to the table. A series of workshops held with this advisory group in November 2024, and February/March 2025 allowed us to explore complex issues, test assumptions, consider diverse standpoints, and inform our current understanding of the issues, challenges and opportunities relating to marine and coastal restoration with the full breadth of interests in mind.

Stakeholders representing island communities that took part in the advisory group are listed below:

• Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
• Highlands and Islands Enterprise
• Orkney Islands Council
• Orkney Regional Inshore Fisheries Group
• Scottish Island Federation
• Shetland Islands Council
• University of Highlands and Islands Shetland

In addition, the following stakeholders also took part in the advisory group:

• Angus Council
• Association of Scottish Shellfish Growers
• City of Edinburgh Council
• Coastal Communities Network
• Communities Inshore Fisheries Alliance
• Community Association of Lochs and Sounds
• Crown Estate Scotland
• Dumfries and Galloway Council
• East Grampian Coastal Partnership
• Fauna & Flora
• Fife Council
• Fisheries Management Scotland
• Forth Estuary Forum
• Highlands Council
• Joint Nature Conservation Committee
• Marine Conservation Society
• Marine Alliance for Science and
• Technology for Scotland
• Mossy Earth
• North and East Coast Regional Inshore Fisheries Group
• Salmon Scotland
• Scottish Association for Marine Science
• Scottish Environment LINK
• Scottish Environment Protection Agency
• Scottish Fishermen's Federation
• Scottish Seaweed Industry Association
• Scottish Whitefish Producers Association
• Seawilding
• Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund
• Solway Firth Partnership
• Southwest Regional Inshore Fisheries Group
• William Grant Foundation
• Worldwide Fund for Nature
• Young Sea Changers

In a separate piece of work, in 2024 Scottish Government ran a consultation on ‘Facilitating Marine Nature Restoration through Legislation’, which explored legislative proposals to introduce a registration process for marine restoration projects. The consultation also considered changes to enable Marine Conservation Orders (MCOs) to be used to protect habitats and species undergoing restoration. This proposal was not taken forwards at the time so that it could be considered within the context of the marine and coastal restoration plan. Respondents were asked to consider if the proposals had an impact that is significantly different for island communities than for mainland communities. Several respondents highlighted that the effect on island communities from these proposals would be reflected in rural coastal communities on the mainland. However, several respondents also expressed that the marine economy makes a significant contribution to island communities, where there are fewer alternative industries, therefore magnifying any impacts.

How will you carry out your consultation and in what timescales?

A public consultation was launched on 29^th July 2025 via Citizen Space, the Scottish Government consultation hub. This was a 12-week consultation ending on 19^th October 2025. The consultation was supported by 14 in-person events across Scotland. This included island events in Stromness, Lerwick, and Stornoway. The consultation responses have been analysed by an external contractor; this includes the question relating to island communities.

What questions will you ask when considering how to address island realities?

The consultation asked the question: “Do you think that objectives and actions proposed in this draft plan will have an impact that is significantly different (positive or negative) for some or all island communities than for other communities (including other island communities)?”. An open text space was provided for respondents to provide detail on the differences of impacts on island communities.

Questions relating to the themes and actions outlined in the plan did not specifically ask for information relating to island realities. However, each question asked respondents to prioritise actions and provides an open text space for further detail. It was anticipated that respondents living on islands would answer the question from their perspective and with their understanding of island realities.

Is your consultation robust and meaningful and sufficient to comply with the Section 7 duty?

Yes. Island communities have been considered throughout the development and consultation process. Discussions with stakeholders through the advisory group, and in the consultation engagement process have informed the drafting of this ICIA document. The inclusion, in the formal consultation, of a question relating to island communities contributes to the authority’s determination on whether preparation of an ICIA is required.