Scottish Marine Recovery Fund: interim guidance
Interim guidance for offshore wind developers seeking information on the Scottish Marine Recovery Fund (MRF) prior to it becoming operational. The MRF will help to deliver a more streamlined process for securing compensation for adverse environmental effects of relevant offshore wind activities.
Who can apply
The MRF that an offshore wind developer applies to would depend on where their project is determined and where the adverse impacts on protected sites are expected to occur. Projects determined in Scotland with adverse impacts on protected sites only within the Scottish inshore or offshore regions (Scottish waters) would be able to apply to the Scottish MRF for the required compensation.
If the project is expected to have adverse impacts on protected sites beyond Scottish waters, for example English waters, offshore wind developers may be able to choose whether their application to the Scottish MRF also addresses the impacts to these sites. Offshore wind developers may also be able to apply to the UK Government MRF for compensation measures to address adverse impacts on protected sites beyond Scottish waters. Projects determined within English, Welsh or Northern Irish waters may also be able to apply to the Scottish MRF, primarily in the case of said projects having adverse impacts on Scottish protected sites.
The relevant determining authority, which for projects in Scottish waters is the Scottish Ministers, would remain responsible for deciding whether the compensation measures secured through an MRF are sufficient to meet the compensation requirement for a specific project. This applies regardless of the jurisdiction of the MRF that developers apply to.
Contact
Email: MarineRecoveryFund@gov.scot