Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative - Summary

The SSMEI project has emerged as the Scottish Government has recognised the importance of the marine environment to the economy of Scotland and to European marine biodiversity and ecosystems. The project aims to gain an understanding of the nature, value, and management needs of Scotland's marine environment and to identify different approaches, with a view to ensuring new management initiatives and possible future legislation results in a truly sustainable framework.

The SSMEI was instigated in November 2002, with pilot project officers in place through 2006. The principle aim of the SSMEI is to develop new ways to manage and sustainably develop Scotland's marine environment. These options should use an ecosystem-based approach to protection measures, and will be tested through a number of pilot schemes. The aims of the SSMEI project are:

Process

Promote more holistic/ integrated approaches that embrace the key principles of marine management
Existing managers and management instruments well linked and better integrated
Effective mechanisms to increase awareness and appropriate communication between resource users and other stakeholders
Enable the development and evaluation of innovative management approaches, including promotion of techniques to assist users to manage their resources better
Consistent with International, UK and Scottish commitments and obligations.

Outcomes

To establish a suite of pilot schemes, developing transferable and applicable innovative approaches to delivering sustainable marine management for Scotland
Ensure economically and sociably sustainable future for Scotland's coastal communities and marine industries
Environmental benefits whilst supporting sustainable use of natural resources