The Joint Marine Programme (JMP) welcomed the Environment and Rural Development Minister Ross Finnie's January announcement of a Marine Strategy for Scotland's coasts and seas. The announcement follows the completion (in July 2004) of a consultation process by the Scottish Executive that looked at a strategic framework for sustainable management of Scotland's coast and offshore environments. And as Scottish waters generate £14 billion or 21% of Scottish GDP the economy each year, sustainability of this environment is of vital importance.

The Joint Marine Programme (JMP) in Scotland is a partnership between WWF Scotland and the Scottish Wildlife Trust (SWT) aimed at ensuring the conservation of marine wildlife and a healthy marine and coastal environment.

Laura Bateson, JMP officer, said:

"The Joint Marine Programme believes that this commitment from the Minister to a Marine Strategy is a vital step towards ensuring that all activities affecting the marine environment are taken into account in the decision-making process. It is essential that environmental factors be balanced with social and economic needs to ensure that a sustainable approach is taken to the development of Scotland's valuable and fragile coastal and marine resource. We look forward to the Ministers commitment being transferred swiftly into concrete action"

JMP believes that key elements of the Marine Strategy must include:

1. a Marine Act that will pull together the 82 pieces of legislation which govern the Scottish marine environment (as outlined in the JMP's Tangle of the Clyde report available on WWF Scotland or SWT)
2. be based on the ecosystem approach to management, so that all factors affecting the marine environment are considered in the decision-making process
3. provide a system of marine spatial planning to steer development to the most suitable locations
4. establish a marine policy body to ensure effective management and use of scientific knowledge, aiming to prevent over exploitation of Scotland's resources
5. develop the concept of Marine National Parks, to provide protection to sensitive or valuable habitats and species, as areas to pilot best practice.

 For more information:

• WWF Scotland
• SWT