Scotland takes control of coastal waters

In a month which saw the prime minister, Gordon Brown attempt to drag strategic planning control on land back to Westminster, it is planned that Holyrood will be granted control over Scotland's seas.

The joint ministerial committee—a liaison between the two parliaments—has outlined plans for two marine bills to extend Scotland’s nautical control from the current 12 nautical miles to 200 nautical miles – the limit of the international border.

Holyrood will gain full responsibility over planning and conservation of in her seas, including the right to designate marine conservation sites and several oilfields, but will continue to form a coherent national policy with Westminster.

The change has been praised across party lines with Richard Lochead, the SNP Enviroment Secretary highlighting the sustainable energy potential of our seas: "This is excellent news for Scotland and for Scotland's economy.

"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, valued at £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."

He added: "The Scottish Government will bring forward a marine bill in the spring that will provide a sustainable future for our waters, that will also represent the various sectors that depend on them."

Welcoming the announcement, Scottish Fishermen's Federation chief executive, Bertie Armstrong, said: "For Scotland, this aligns the responsibility for specific practical matters of marine nature conservation with that for fisheries management - which was always out to 200 miles."

Liberal Democrat fisheries spokesperson Liam McArthur said: "This is a sensible arrangement that paves the way for marine nature conservation and fisheries management to be properly aligned."

In November, the UK government raised the prospect of reclaiming planning authority over decisions regarding nuclear power development in Scotland, prompting a furious response in nationalist circles.