Develop and adopt a National Marine Plan 2 (NMP2) that supports action on the twin crises, setting out planning policies on climate mitigation and adaptation, nature protection and enhancement, and sustainable use to guide decisions and activities in line with our ambitions for Scotland’s Seas.
Objective 2: Protect nature on land and at sea, across and beyond Protected Areas
Priority Action 12. Champion new planning and development measures for protecting and enhancing biodiversity
Scotland’s National Marine Plan (NMP) is the current statutory framework guiding marine planning across inshore and offshore waters. It provides the overarching policy context for how marine activities are assessed and managed, including economic development, environmental protection and use of marine space.
The National Marine Plan was adopted in 2015 and remains the active plan in force while a successor (often referred to as NMP2) is under development. It sets out high-level objectives and sectoral policies to guide decision-making and ensure marine activities are sustainable and coordinated across different uses of Scotland’s seas.
The Plan applies across both inshore and offshore waters and requires decision-makers to consider environmental, social and economic impacts in a joined-up way, supporting sustainable use of marine resources and protection of marine ecosystems. It also underpins the wider marine planning system, including regional marine plans and sectoral planning frameworks.
Scottish Government policy confirms that work is underway to develop an updated approach to national marine planning to respond to emerging pressures including climate change and biodiversity loss, but no adopted replacement plan has yet been published.
Scotland’s National Marine Plan provides the statutory framework for integrating biodiversity protection, climate considerations and sustainable use into decision-making across inshore and offshore waters, supporting ecosystem-based management. NatureScot guidance confirms that marine planning is central to safeguarding habitats and species by ensuring activities are assessed against environmental objectives, contributing to ecosystem resilience and recovery. While the current plan (2015) remains in force, Scottish Government engagement on NMP2 indicates an updated framework is being developed to better address climate change and biodiversity loss, reflecting the need to strengthen outcomes. Overall, marine planning is a key mechanism for balancing use and protection of marine ecosystems, but stronger updated policy will be required to fully meet climate and nature recovery objectives.
Scottish Government – National Marine Planning policy
Scottish Government – Scotland’s National Marine Plan (2015)
NatureScot – Marine planning in Scotland
Scottish Government – National Marine Plan 2: stakeholder engagement strategy and statement of public participation
Scottish Government – National Marine Plan 2 – planning position statement: consultation analysis
Develop and publish a biodiversity metric for Scotland’s planning system, to support delivery of NPF4 Policy 3b.
Raise awareness and promote the Developing with Nature guidance to support delivery of NPF4 policy 3c and develop user-friendly version of the guidance.
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