Marine Directorate

The Marine Directorate was established on 1 April 2009,{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/new-body-to-manage-scotland-s-waters-1-828580 |title=New body to manage Scotland's waters |first=Jenny |last=Haworth |work=The Scotsman |date=10 February 2009 |access-date=22 February 2017}} merging two executive agencies (Fisheries Research Services and the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency) and the Scottish Government marine and fishery policy divisions.

The Marine Directorate has around 700 staff, covering a range of professions including scientists, sea fishery officers, sailors, policy, administrative and professional/ technical staff.{{cite web |url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/About/MSReview2016 |title=Marine Scotland Review |date=22 March 2016 |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date= 22 February 2017}}

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File:Ensign of the Scottish Fisheries Protection Agency.svg

File:FPVJura.jpg

File:Minna (ship, 2003) in Greenock 2016-10-02 bow.jpg

Staff are located across Scotland{{cite web|url=http://marine.gov.scot/maps/414 |title=Marine Scotland Offices and Locations|publisher=Scottish Government |access-date= 12 April 2021}} including :

• Major Scottish Government offices, for example Victoria Quay and Atlantic Quay.{{cite web |title=Marine Scotland contact information|url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/marine-scotland-contact-information/ |publisher=The Scottish Government |access-date=12 April 2021}}
• The marine laboratory in Aberdeen.
• Freshwater laboratories at Faskally and Montrose.
• Fishery offices at Eyemouth, Anstruther, Peterhead, Fraserburgh, Buckie, Kirkwall, Lerwick, Scrabster, Kinlochbervie, Lochinver, Ullapool, Stornoway, Portree, Mallaig, Oban, Campbeltown, and Ayr.{{cite web|title=Fishery Offices|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Compliance/fishoffices|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=28 April 2018}}

The Marine Directorate operates two main research vessels which are fitted with a wide range of deployment and recovery facilities for fishing gear and equipment, scientific and environmental sensors, and data gathering systems:{{cite web|title=Research vessels & technology|url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/marine-science-research-vessels-and-technology/|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=12 April 2021}}

• MRV Scotia (launched: 1998, length: 68.6 meters, service speed: 13 knots)
• {{ship|MRV|Alba-Na-Mara}} (launched: 2008, length: 27 meters, cruise speed: 8 knots)

Additionally, MRV Temora (launched: 1992, length: 10 meters, max speed: 10 knots) is used for sampling as part of the Long Term Climate Change Monitoring Programme.{{cite web|title=MRV Temora|url=https://www.gov.scot/binaries/content/documents/govscot/publications/factsheet/2019/11/marin-scotland-topic-sheets-general/documents/mv-temora-updated-october-2016/mv-temora-updated-october-2016/govscot%3Adocument/mrv-temora.pdf|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=12 April 2021}}

The Marine Directorate operates three Marine Protection Vessels (MPVs):{{cite web|title=Marine and fisheries compliance: fleet and aircraft|url=https://www.gov.scot/publications/marine-and-fisheries-compliance-fleet-and-aircraft/|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=12 April 2021}}

• MPV Minna (launched: 2003, length: 42 meters, top speed: 14 knots, tonnage: 718 g.r.t.)
• MPV Jura (launched: 2005, length: 84 meters, top speed: 18 knots, tonnage: 2,181 g.r.t.)
• MPV Hirta (launched: 2008, length: 84 meters, top speed: 18 knots, tonnage: 2,181 g.r.t.)

The Marine Directorate owns two Reims Cessna F-406 Caravan II aircraft for aerial surveillance, operated by Airtask.{{cite web|title=Directflight commences trading under the Airtask Group Brand|url=https://www.airtask.com/Directflight-Airtask-Group|publisher=Airtask|access-date=12 Jan 2019}}

The Marine Directorate operates the UK Fisheries Monitoring Centre (UKFMC), on behalf of the four UK fisheries administrations. The UKFMC acts as the UK single-point-of-contact for manual reporting of ERS, VMS and other EU/national fisheries schemes.{{cite web|title=5 Yearly Report on the application of the Control Regulation|url=https://www.asktheeu.org/en/request/3715/response/12543/attach/11/Copy%20of%20UK%20Control%20Regulation%205%20Year%20Report%20Annex%2037%20UK%20submission.pdf|access-date=28 April 2018}}

Iain Wallace is Director of the Marine Directorate. The Director's Office provides corporate services such as business management, communications, information quality, data management, statistics, socio-economic and geographic analysis.

The Compliance division monitors and enforces marine and sea fishing laws in Scottish waters. It reports as appropriate to the Scottish prosecuting authorities and provides intelligence on fishing activity in the seas around Scotland.{{cite web|title=Marine and Fisheries - Compliance|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Compliance|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=7 September 2013}}

The Marine Directorate's Science division undertakes research and provides scientific and technical advice to the Scottish Government (and the UK and European Union authorities) on a number of marine and fisheries issues including aquaculture and fish health, freshwater fisheries, sea fisheries and the marine ecosystem in Scotland's seas.{{cite web|title=Science & Data|url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/science|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=7 September 2013}}

The Marine Directorate's Planning & Policy division covers three main policy areas and the Licensing Operations Team (LOT).

The Marine Directorate is involved in marine spatial planning at both at a national and regional level.{{cite web|title=Marine Scotland - Marine Planning|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=3 October 2016}} Scotland's [http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/science/atlas Marine Atlas] was published in 2011 {{cite web|title=Scotland's Marine Atlas|url=http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2011/03/16182005/0|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=3 October 2016}} as a baseline assessment, with Scotland's first [http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement/national National Marine Plan] published in 2015.{{cite web|title=Scotland's National Marine Plan|url=http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/03/6517|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=3 October 2016}} The information from the Atlas and National Marine Plan is available through [http://maps.marine.gov.scot maps.marine.gov.scot(NMPi)] and [http://www.marine.gov.scot marine.gov.scot] portals. These portals form part of the Marine Scotland Open Data Network which contributes towards Marine Scotland's INSPIRE and open data obligations{{cite web|title=National Marine Plan Interactive|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement/nmpihome|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=3 October 2016}}

The Scottish Government is developing plans for offshore wind, wave and tidal energy in Scottish waters. The Marine Directorate will explore how offshore wind, wave and tidal energy can contribute to meeting Scotland's target of generating the equivalent of 100% of electricity demand from renewable sources and also seek to maximise the contribution of these technologies to achieving a low-carbon economy.{{cite web|title=Offshore Marine Renewables|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/marineenergy|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=3 October 2016}}

The Marine Directorate follows a strategy for Marine Nature Conservation in Scotland's Seas{{cite web|title=Marine Scotland Marine Nature Conservation Strategy|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/marine-environment/Conservationstrategy/marineconstrategy|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=3 October 2016}} based on the three pillars of species conservation, site protection, and wider seas policies and measures. Work continues on a Marine Protected Area network with 30 nature conservation MPAs designated in 2014.{{cite web|title=Marine Scotland - Marine Protected Areas|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/marine-environment/mpanetwork|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=3 October 2016}}

The Marine Directorate Licensing Operations team is a central point-of-contact for activities such as depositing or removing objects or substances from the seabed; construction or alteration works, dredging; depositing or using explosives.{{cite web|title=Marine Scotland - Licensing Operations Team|url=http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Licensing|publisher=The Scottish Government|access-date=3 October 2016}}

The ARF division handles policy areas covering Aquaculture, Salmon & Recreational Fisheries, Fishery Grants, Post-EU Referendum (Brexit) and the Crown Estate in Scotland.{{citation needed|date=January 2021}}

The Sea Fisheries division handles policy areas covering Access to Sea Fisheries, EU Quota Negotiations and Discards, Inshore Fisheries and Coastal Communities, and International Fisheries and Environmental Interactions.

• Fishing in Scotland
• Marine (Scotland) Act 2010
• Marine Management Organisation (of the UK Government)
• Border Force
• Scottish Association for Marine Science

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Compliance/resources/Vessels The fleet of Marine Protection Vessels of Marine Scotland]
• [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine Marine and Fisheries in Scotland]
• [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/seamanagement/marineact Marine (Scotland) Act 2010]
• [http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/04/01085908/0 Marine Scotland Vision]

{{Directorates of the Scottish Government}}

{{Non-police law enforcement agencies of the United Kingdom}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Directorates of the Scottish Government

Category:2009 establishments in Scotland

Category:Scottish coast

Category:Conservation in Scotland

Category:Environment of Scotland

Category:Fishing in Scotland

Category:Government research

Category:Law enforcement agencies of Scotland