Draft Marine and Coastal Restoration Plan

A SEA is used to assess, consult on and monitor the likely impacts of plans, programmes and strategies on the environment. We undertook a screening and scoping exercise, which concluded that a SEA was needed in relation to the marine and coastal restoration plan, given that the plan is intended to support acceleration of active restoration in Scotland. An Environmental Report has therefore been prepared in relation to the plan.

The main conclusions from the report were that any scaling up of active restoration activity resulting from the plan:

• is likely to have beneficial effects on the environment overall
• has the potential for some negative effects due to displacement of other activities, invasive non-native species (INNS) and impacts on existing infrastructure (material assets)
• will overall have a greater positive than negative impact on the environment, as the environmental benefits of active restoration alongside any wellbeing benefits are anticipated to be greater than the potential negative effects.

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?

BRIA is used to help assess the costs, benefits and risks of policies on the public, private or third sector, or regulators. We have developed a partial BRIA for this consultation to support gathering feedback from stakeholders who may be affected by proposed actions within the plan. 

The main conclusions from this impact assessment are as follows:

• Due to data constraints, it is challenging to monetise the expected change in costs and benefits. However, it is expected there will be negligible costs implications on business from the outcomes set-out within the plan.
• It’s estimated that public sector costs will be incurred for some outcomes within the plan. In particular, the opportunity maps, the database of restoration projects, the dedicated support post and continuing funding for the Scottish Marine Environmental Enhancement Fund (SMEEF). These costs have been set-out under Section 3 of the BRIA.
• There are likely to be several benefits to business from the plan, such as reducing staff time on identification of suitable restoration locations due to the opportunity maps or navigating the regulatory environment due to the dedicated support post, to name a few. The benefits have been set-out under Section 3 of the BRIA.
• It is estimated that the plan will generate benefits to society through additional restoration activity, for example oyster reefs are associated with improvements in water quality and saltmarsh and seagrass’ ability to absorb and store carbon. 

Pre-consultation workshops were held in February and March 2025 with a stakeholder advisory group representing a range of sectors.  It is estimated that the plan will generate benefits to society through additional restoration activity, for example oyster reefs are associated with improvements in water quality and saltmarsh and seagrass’ ability to absorb carbon. 

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?

Scotland’s islands face particular challenges around distance, geography, connectivity and demography. It is therefore important that this is considered when developing policy. Section 7 of the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018 states that a relevant authority – which includes Scottish Ministers – must have regard to island communities when carrying out its functions.

Through the consultation, we would like to gather views and experiences relating to whether, and if so how, the plan is likely to have an effect on an island community which is significantly different from its effect on other communities (including other island communities).

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)? 

An Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) is a tool to help anticipate the needs of diverse groups when making decisions about projects, policy or service delivery, and helps us to meet our duties under the Equality Act 2010. The EQIA requires that we assess the impacts of the actions in this consultation on protected characteristics, with particular regard to eliminating unlawful discrimination, advancing equality of opportunity, and promoting good relations.

We believe that the plan will positively impact promoting good relations due to the intended increase in opportunities in the restoration sector, both through employment and volunteering.

We wish to gather views on the potential impacts of the actions set out in this consultation in relation to the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010.

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?

A Child Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment (CRWIA) is used to identify, research, analyse and record the anticipated impact of strategic decisions on children’s rights and wellbeing. We believe that the actions set out in this plan will have a positive impact on the following articles of the UN Children’s Rights Charter:

Article 24 Health and health services - States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health.

Article 29 Goals of education - States Parties agree that the education of the child shall be directed to: the development of respect for the natural environment.

The UN Committee on Rights of the Child General Comment No.26 (2023) states that “A clean, healthy and sustainable environment is both a human right itself, and necessary for children to enjoy their rights”. In addition, and with specific reference to Article 24 and Article 29:

Article 24 Children’s physical and mental health should not be affected by climate change, pollution, unhealthy ecosystems, and loss of biodiversity.

Article 29 Environmental education should support children to connect with, and respect, the environment.

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?

The Fairer Duty Scotland, set out in Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010, requires that we pay due regard to how we can reduce inequalities of outcome caused by socio-economic disadvantage when making strategic decisions.

We have concluded that an assessment is not needed in relation to this marine and coastal restoration plan, as the plan sits under the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy, for which a Fairer Duty Scotland assessment has already been completed.