All aquaculture and works licence applications are assessed alongside National and Local policy by the Marine Planning Team.
National Policy
National policy for Scotland’s Marine environment is set out in the National Marine Plan (2015). It is supported by the National Marine Plan Interactive (NMPi). The NMPi is an interactive map which allows you to view different types of information relating to the marine environment and activities.
National planning policy for aquaculture and coastal development is set out in National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4). The Scottish Government have also published Planning Circular 1/2015 on the relationship between the land use planning system and marine planning and licensing.
Local Policy
Locally we have plans and policy which apply to all development in the Shetland marine region.
- The Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan (2025) is Scotland’s first Regional Marine Plan and provides a policy and data framework to guide and support decision-making for development and use of the Shetland marine region. *
- Supplementary Guidance on Aquaculture (2017) covers finfish and shellfish developments.
- Works Licence Policy 2017 – covers our policies for developments such as dredging, piers, cables, pipelines, renewable energy, marinas and breakwaters, which are controlled under the Zetland County Council Act (1974).
- Shetland Local Development Plan (2014) – contains a range of polies which apply to land-based and marine applications. Policy CST1 Coastal Development of the Local Development Plan applies to all marine developments.
* The Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan (SIRMP) was developed by the Shetland Marine Planning Partnership (a partnership of Shetland Islands Council and Shetland UHI) and was adopted by Scottish Ministers on 04 December 2025 under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. The SIRMP states: “The Shetland Islands’ Marine Spatial Plan (SIMSP) was previously adopted alongside the Local Development Plan as Supplementary Guidance under the Planning etc. (Scotland) Act 2006. The SIRMP will supersede the SIMSP in this context and will form a stand-alone plan for Shetland’s marine environment. It will be a material consideration in the determination of planning applications and works licences.” In this regard, to the extent of any conflict between the SIMSP (adopted alongside the current Shetland Local Development Plan adopted in 2014) and the SIRMP, the SIRMP shall prevail.
Useful Links
Organisations who can provide advice on your proposals are provided below: