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Scotland gets to rule its waves

30 November 2008

The amount of control Scotland has over its seas has spread after an announcement made yesterday by the UK government.

It will now be responsible for planning and nature conservation in sea waters up to 200 miles from the coast.

Scottish government will be in charge of making decisions on offshore wind farms, conservation areas and new fish farms.

Environmental secretary Richard Lochhead said: "Our seas offer us vast amounts of wave, tidal and offshore wind power potential and many communities on the coast depend on fishing and fish farming, which together account for 60 per cent of all our food exports, valuing of £422 million.

"We will now have the ability to manage these activities as a whole in all the waters around Scotland, not just the in-shore."

The UK government will continue to make decisions on other issues affecting the Scottish seas and retain its powers to grant licences to the oil and gas industries.