Draft Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan
Overview
This consultation is on the draft Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan, the first plan of its kind in Scotland with a dedicated focus on the marine and coastal environment. The plan will work to address the growing pressures on our marine environment and set out how we intend to accelerate marine restoration in Scotland, including identifying actions to help prioritise habitats and locations suitable for restoration.
Accelerating active restoration in Scotland’s marine and coastal areas has the potential to enhance the resilience of our environment and support livelihoods of people in rural and coastal communities. 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.
Read the consultation paper. The consultation paper provides further information on the proposed actions and outcomes for the plan. An Environmental Report and Partial Business and Regulatory impact Report have also been prepared as part of this consultation.
Consultation questions preview
The consultation questions listed here for your reference. Please click 'Begin consultation' at the bottom of this page to proceed.
Themes 1 - 5:
On a scale from 1 to 5, how would you prioritise each of the objectives in this theme?
Please choose for each action in this theme whether it should be: included in this plan, reserved for the future, or not included.
Is there any further information you would like to share with us on the objectives or actions in this theme?
Overall approach and plan content:
Overall, do you think this plan will support acceleration of restoration in Scottish coasts and waters?
Do you agree with the content of the plan?
Are there any actions or objectives that you feel are missing and should be included and prioritised for the first Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan?
Noting that we will develop a monitoring and evaluation approach for implementation and review of the plan, do you have any comments you wish us to consider at this stage?
Impact assessments:
Do you think that the SEA Environmental Report is an accurate representation of the potential impacts (positive or negative) on the environment resulting from the objectives and actions proposed in this plan?
Do you agree that the partial BRIA is an accurate representation of the potential costs, benefits and risks on the public, private or third sector, and regulators, associated with the objectives and actions proposed in this draft plan?
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)?
Do you think that the objectives and actions proposed in this draft plan will have an impact (positive or negative) on protected characteristics, with particular regard to eliminating unlawful discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity and promoting good relations?
Do you think that the objective and actions proposed in this draft plan will have an impact (positive or negative) on children’s rights and wellbeing?
Useful information about responding to this consultation
As you complete your response, each page will provide the option to 'Save and come back later' at the bottom. This means you can save your progress and return to the consultation at any time before it closes. If you don't use this feature and leave the consultation midway through, your response will be lost.
Once you have submitted your response, you can enter your email address to get a pdf copy of your answers sent to you.
On the 'About You' page at the end of this consultation, organisations will have the opportunity to tell us more about their work and/or how their response was informed.
After the consultation has closed it may take a few months before any responses are published. This is because we must check any responses to be published abide by our Terms of Use.
An analysis report will usually be published some months after the consultation has closed. This report will summarise the findings based on all responses submitted. It will be published on the Scottish Government website and you may be notified about it if you choose to share your email address with us. You can also join our consulation mailing list where we regularly list newly published analysis reports (as well as new consultations).
Why your views matter
Scotland’s marine environment belongs to us all, and we are keen to hear feedback on the plan from a wide range of marine users. We will use the responses provided in this consultation to refine the final package of actions that will be in the plan.
We will also hold a series of information events in-person across Scotland, where you can come along to find out more about the plan, what restoration is and how it can benefit our environment and communities, and ask any questions. The schedule is detailed under the events tab below, so you can find out when there will be an event near you. There will be no need to register for these events beforehand.
Give us your views
Events
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Edinburgh - Information event
From 25 Aug 2025 at 14:00 to 25 Aug 2025 at 19:00Leith Community Centre
12A Newkirkgate, Leith, Edinburgh EH6 6AD
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Dundee - Information event
From 27 Aug 2025 at 14:00 to 27 Aug 2025 at 19:00Discovery Point
Discovery Quay, Dundee, DD1 4XA
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Eyemouth - Information event
From 29 Aug 2025 at 14:00 to 29 Aug 2025 at 19:00Gunsgreen House
Gunsgreen Quay, Eyemouth, TD14 5SD
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Aberdeen - Information event
From 2 Sep 2025 at 14:00 to 2 Sep 2025 at 19:00Mercure Aberdeen Caledonian Hotel
10-14 Union Terrace, Aberdeen, AB10 1WE
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Dornoch - Information event
From 9 Sep 2025 at 14:00 to 9 Sep 2025 at 19:00Dornoch Station
Grange Road, Dornoch, IV25 3LF
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Orkney - Information event
From 11 Sep 2025 at 14:00 to 11 Sep 2025 at 19:00Stromness Community Centre
Church Rd, Stromness, KW16 3BA
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Kirkcudbright - Information event
From 17 Sep 2025 at 14:00 to 17 Sep 2025 at 19:00Kirkcudbright Community Centre
St Mary's Wynd, Kirkcudbright, DG6 4JU
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Ayr - Information event
From 18 Sep 2025 at 14:00 to 18 Sep 2025 at 19:00Ayr Town Hall
21-29 New Bridge St, Ayr, KA7 1JX
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Lerwick - Information event
From 23 Sep 2025 at 14:00 to 23 Sep 2025 at 19:00Lerwick Town Hall
Hillhead, Lerwick, Shetland ZE1 0HB
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Campbeltown - Information event
From 30 Sep 2025 at 14:00 to 30 Sep 2025 at 19:00Kintyre Community Education Centre
Stewart Rd, Campbeltown PA28 6AT
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Oban - Information event
From 1 Oct 2025 at 14:00 to 1 Oct 2025 at 19:00The Rockfield Centre
Rockfield Rd, Oban, PA34 5DQ
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Mallaig - Information event
From 2 Oct 2025 at 14:00 to 2 Oct 2025 at 19:00Mallaig And Morar Community Centre
Mallaig, PH41 4PX
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Ullapool - Information event
From 4 Oct 2025 at 14:00 to 4 Oct 2025 at 19:00Ullapool Village Hall
4 Market St, Ullapool IV26 2XE
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event. -
Stornoway - Information event
From 6 Oct 2025 at 14:00 to 6 Oct 2025 at 19:00Town Hall
20 South Beach, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, HS1 2BJ
An in-person event, where members of the public are invited to drop-in to learn about the Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan and ask questions related to the consultation between 14:00-19:00.
Dates and venues are to be confirmed so please check back here prior to attending an event.
Interests
- Environment and Climate Change
- Main hub
- Marine and Fisheries
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