Marine Planning Service

Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan Consultation

Public Consultation – 9th September to 30th December 2019

The public consultation for the Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan will begin on 9th September 2019 and run for a period of 16 weeks until 30th December. 

It has been drafted by the Shetland Islands Marine Planning Partnership, which is a partnership of Shetland Islands Council and the NAFC Marine Centre UHI.

The consultation will be run by the NAFC Marine Centre UHI on behalf of Shetland Islands Council.  We have prepared a Privacy Statement to describe how your responses will be processed and how we use the information.
Privacy Statement (PDF)

View the Regional Marine Plan and Supporting Assessments

The Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan, Strategic Environmental Assessment and supporting documents can be viewed on the NAFC’s website:

How to Respond to the Consultation

You can respond in a number of ways:

• Online Consultation Form – this is the quickest and easiest way to respond. Your response will automatically be sent to the Council and NAFC.
• Electronic Version of Form – email to:
  marine.planning@shetland.gov.uk and marineplan@uhi.ac.uk

• If you require a paper copy of the form please get in touch with the NAFC Marine Centre UHI.  They can be contacted on: 01595 772000

Public Drop-in Events – September and October 2019

5 public drop-in events have been arranged.  Representative from the Shetland Islands Marine Planning Partnership will be on hand to answer any questions:

• Scalloway (NAFC) – Tuesday 10th September 2.30pm - 7.30pm
• Aith (Public Hall) – Tuesday 24th September, 2.30pm – 7.30pm
• Mid Yell (Leisure Centre) – Friday 27th September, 2pm – 6.30pm
• Brae (Leisure Centre) – Monday 30th September 2.30pm - 7.30pm
• Lerwick (Town Hall) – Monday 7th October, 2.30pm – 7.30pm

Next Steps

• At the end of the consultation period the Marine Planning Partnership will examine the consultation comments received and amend the Plan, where necessary.

• The amended Plan will then be subject to approval by Shetland Islands Council. 

• Following this it will be sent to Marine Scotland for adoption by Scottish Ministers.  This is anticipated to happen in spring 2020.  

• Where outstanding objections/representations remain, Scottish Ministers may appoint an independent reporter to examine the SIRMP and make recommendations before it can be adopted. 

Once adopted the Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan will replace the current Shetland Islands Marine Spatial Plan (2015).

Contact Us

If you have any queries about the consultation, including how to respond, please contact:

Marine Planning
Tel: 01595 744 293

NAFC Marine Centre UHI
Tel: 01595 772 000