Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan: strategic environmental assessment post-adoption statement

7 Monitoring

7.1.1 Section 17 of the 2004 Regulations^[19] and Section 19 of the 2005 Act^[20] require the Responsible Authority to monitor significant environmental impacts arising as a result of the implementation of the plan, programme or strategy. The purpose of the monitoring is to identify any unforeseen adverse effects at an early stage and to enable appropriate remedial action to be taken.

7.1.2 The Environmental Report^[21] did not identify any additional factors beyond those addressed in policy-making that would need to be monitored.

7.1.3 It should be noted that the Scottish Government is committed to continued data collection and monitoring for the Plan. The first restoration plan will be implemented over a five-year period. It is acknowledged that active restoration is a relatively new and rapidly developing area, so the Scottish Government recognises the need to adapt the Plan, and actions, to meet changing circumstances.

7.1.4 Monitoring and evaluation of the Plan will ascertain whether the associated actions have been completed as well as building a picture of how effective the actions and plan have been in supporting and accelerating restoration. As part of the implementation and review cycle of the Plan, the Scottish Government will develop a monitoring framework for the Plan, while ensuring that the focus in terms of resources stays firmly on delivering real world action and support for restoration across Scotland.

7.1.5 The Scottish Government will keep under review the actions flowing from the Plan, and whether any actions individually qualify as plans, programmes or strategies requiring SEA under the 2005 Act or 2004 Regulations.