Marine Spatial Planning Publications

Peer-reviewed Publications

• Hague, E., Walters, A., Moscrop, A., Steel, E., Dyke, K., Davis, C., Siddle, B., Cole, D., MacDonald-Taylor, S., Gulliver, P., Olaleye, R., Lehmann, J., Olias, S., Hilgenfeld, C., Tozer, J., Kilroe, W., Purcell-Milton, Á., Allan, K., Stenton, T., & McWhinnie, L. (2025). Marine monitors: Land-based citizen science observations show AIS data underrepresents coastal vessel traffic co-occurring with marine mammals. Biological Conservation, 309, p.111284.
• Hague, E., Walters, A., Moscrop, A., Steel, E., Dyke, K., Hartny-Mills, L., Lomax, A., Dudley, R., Garrard, P., Hampson, J., Gorvett, S., Allan, K., … & McWhinnie, L. (2025). AIS data underrepresents vessel traffic around coastal Scotland. Marine Policy, 178, p.106719.
• Fairbrass, A. J., Fradera, K., Shucksmith, R., Greenhill, L., Acott, T., & Ekins, P. (2025). Revealing gaps in marine evidence with a natural capital lens. Philosophical Transactions B, 380(1917), 20230214.
• McKinley, E., Hughes, E., Georgia, S., Bowyer, C., Fradera, K., Fairbrass, A., & Potts, J. (2024). Bringing the ocean to the stage: performing coastal values and marine management. Ocean and Society, 1.
• Riley, T. G., Mouat, B. & Shucksmith, R. (2024). Real world data for real world problems: Importance of data resolution appropriate modelling to inform decision makers in marine management. Ecological Modelling, 498, 110864 [Special Issue].
• Withouck, I., Tett, P., Doran, J., Mouat, B., & Shucksmith, R. (2023). Diving into a just transition: How are fisheries considered during the emergence of renewable energy production in Scottish waters? Energy Research & Social Science, 101, 103135.
• Clavel-Henry, M., Dabrowski, T., Giesler, R. J., Crowe, T. P., & Yearsley, J. M. (2023). Predicting the export of retention-oriented larvae from their natal population using coastal features: a modelling study on the Pacific oyster. Marine Ecology Progress Series, 724, 81-95.
• Hague, E. L., McCaffrey, N., Shucksmith, R., & McWhinnie, L. (2022). Predation in the anthropocene: harbour seal (Phoca vitulina) utilising aquaculture infrastructure as refuge to evade foraging killer whales (Orcinus orca). Aquatic Mammals, 48(4), 380-393.
• Collin S., & Shucksmith R. J. (2022) Developing biosecurity plans for non-native species in marine dependent areas: the influence of legislation, risk management and perception. Management of Biological Invasions. 13(1).
• Stelzenmüller V., Cormier, R., Gee, K., Shucksmith R., Gubbins M., Yates, K.L. Morf, A., Nic Aonghusa C., Mikkelsen, E., Pecceu., Kannen, A., Clarke, S.A. (2021) Evaluation of marine spatial planning requires fit for purpose monitoring strategies.Journal of Environmental Management 278 doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111545
• Gee K., Kannen A., Adlam R., Brooks C., Chapman M., Cormier R., Fischer C., Fletcher S., Gubbins M., Shucksmith R., and Shellock R. (2017); Identifying culturally significant areas for marine spatial planning. Ocean & Coastal Management 136: 139-147.
• Shelmerdine R. L., Mouat, B., and Shucksmith R. J. (2017); The most northerly record of feral Pacific oyster Crassostrea gigas (Thunberg, 1793) in the British Isles. BioInvasions Records 6(1): 57-60.
• Collin S. B., Tweddle J. F., and Shucksmith R. (2015); Rapid assessment of marine non-native species in the Shetland Islands, Scotland. Bioinvasions Records 4(3): 147-155.
• Shelmerdine R. L. (2015); Teasing out the detail: how our understanding of marine AIS data can better inform industries, developments, and planning. Marine Policy 54: 17-25.
• Shucksmith, R. J. (2015). Mass occurrence of Salpa fusiformis and records of the rare salps Cyclosalpa bakerii and Thetys vagina from northern Scotland. Marine Biodiversity Records, 8, e133.
• Shelmerdine R. L. and Leslie B. (2015); A multidisciplinary approach to the collection and use of VMS data from an inshore scallop fishery. Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science 6(13):1-27.
• Shucksmith R. and Shelmerdine R. L. (2015); A risk based approach to non-native species management and biosecurity planning. Marine Policy 59: 32-43.
• Kelly C., Gray L., Shucksmith R., and Tweddle J. F. (2014); Investigating options on how to address cumulative impacts in marine spatial planning. Oceans & Coastal Management 102: 139-148.
• Kelly C., Gray L., Shucksmith R., and Tweddle J. F. (2014); Review and evaluation of marine spatial planning in the Shetland Islands. Marine Policy 46: 152-160.
• Shelmerdine R. L., Stone D., Leslie B., and Robinson M. (2014); Implications of defining fisheries closed areas based on predicted habitats in Shetland: a proactive and precautionary approach. Marine Policy 43:184-199.
• Shucksmith R. and Kelly C. (2014); Data collection and mapping- principles, processes and application in marine spatial planning. Marine Policy 50: 27-33.
• Shucksmith R., Gray L., Kelly C., and Tweddle J. F. (2014); Regional Marine Spatial Planning- the data collection and mapping process. Marine Policy 50: 1-9.
• Tweddle J. F., Gray L., Kelly C., and Shucksmith R. (2014); Developing Regional Locational Guidance for wave and tidal energy in the Shetland Islands. Marine Policy 50: 53-66.

SIRMP Publications

Previous Editions

• Shetland Islands' Marine Spatial Plan SIMSP (Fourth Edition) 2015 (pdf)
• A Marine Spatial Plan for the Shetland Islands 2010 3rd edition (pdf)
• A Marine Spatial Plan for the Shetland Islands 2009 2nd edition (pdf)
• A Marine Spatial Plan for the Shetland Islands 2008 1st edition (pdf)

Supporting Documents

• State of the Environment Assessment for the Shetland Islands 2017 (pdf)
• Environmental Action Plan for the Shetland Islands Marine Region 2018 (pdf)
• Biosecurity Plan for the Shetland Islands (pdf)
• Shetland Coastal Character Assessment 2nd Edition 2021 (pdf)
• A Community shaped by the Sea 2021- Understanding community value and use of the Shetland coastline (pdf)

Shetland Marine Planning Partnership Newsletters

Reports

• Fradera, K., Greenhill, L. & Shucksmith, R. (2025). How to understand diverse values in marine decision making and enhance their inclusion for more equitable outcomes. Report of the Diverse Marine Values Project. p7.
• Riley, T. G., & Shucksmith, R.  (2025). Exploring sublittoral blue carbon habitat suitability. Shetland UHI Report. p64. 
• Giesler, R.J., Allan, K., Shucksmith, R., (2025). Searching for Shetland’s lost seagrass: establishing the baseline distribution and abundance of seagrass in the Shetland Islands. Shetland UHI report. p54.
• Riley, T. G. & Shucksmith, R (2025). Benthic habitat distribution within the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area. Fair Isle Demonstration and research MPA commissioned report. Shetland UHI. p37.
• Riley, T. G., Giesler, R.J., Allan, K. & Shucksmith, R. (2025). Guiding Marine Restoration and Enhancement in the Shetland Islands. Shetland UHI report. p36.
• Riley, T. G., Giesler, R. J., Allan, K. & Shucksmith, R. (2025). Guiding Principles for Marine Restoration and Enhancement in the Shetland Islands: Insights from Community Feedback. Shetland UHI report. p28.
• Riley, T. G., & Shucksmith, R. (2025). Shetland Islands Dominant Marine Biotope Map (2024 update). Shetland UHI report. p12.
• Riley, T. G., Giesler, R. J., Allan, K. & Shucksmith, R. (2024). Gathering Community Voices: Initial Findings on Marine Restoration Challenges and Opportunities in Shetland. Shetland UHI report. p14.
• Fradera, K., Shucksmith, R. & Greenhill, L. (2024). Analysis of entry points for social values within marine decisions in the UK. Shetland UHI report. p73.
• Riley, T. G. (2024). Fair Isle Benthic Survey 2024 – Cruise Report. Shetland UHI report. P10.
• Riley, T. G (2024). Comparison of the bycatch composition of the Shetland king scallop (Pecten maximus) fishery (2012-2018). Shetland UHI report. p22.
• Riley, T. G., Shelmerdine, R. L., Shucksmith, R. & Mouat, B (2024). Quantifying and assessing the habitat-fishery encounters within the Shetland scallop dredge fishery. Shetland UHI report. p53.
• Riley, T. G., Shucksmith, R., & Mouat, B. (2024). Distribution modelling of the benthic habitats within the Fair Isle Demonstration and Research Marine Protected Area. Shetland UHI report. p36.
• Riley, T. G., Shucksmith, R., & Mouat, B. (2024). Distribution modelling of the Shetland Islands benthic habitats. Shetland UHI report. p91.
• Slater, C., & Shucksmith, R. (2021). A Community Shaped by the Sea-Understanding community values and use of the Shetland coastline: A report prepared for the Shetland Marine Planning Partnership. UHI Shetland report. p30.
• Shucksmith, R., Shelmerdine, R. L., & Shucksmith, R. (2021). Biological analyses of seabed imagery from within and around Marine Protected Areas in Orkney, Shetland, Inner Sound, and Islay and Jura in 2019. (2ed.) Scottish Marine and Freshwater Science. 532 p.
• Shelmerdine, R. L., & Shucksmith, R. (2021). Shetland 2021 drop-down video (DDV) survey exploring the occurrence of flapper skate eggs and horse mussels (Modiolus modiolus): preliminary results. NAFC Marine Centre report. 41 pp.
• Slater, C., & Shucksmith, R. (2021). Shetland Coastal Character Assessment. 303pp.
• Shelmerdine R. L. and Mouat B. (2021); Mapping fisheries and habitats in the North and East Coast RIFG area. NAFC Marine Centre report, 69 pp.
• Shucksmith R., Stojanovic T., Slater AM., Withouck I., Allan K. (2020) Using marine planning to balance competing demands on the marine environment: International comparisons. MAST-S report to ECCLR committee, Scottish Parliament, 60pp.
• Fraser, S., Shelmerdine, R. L., and Mouat, B. (2018); Razor clam biology, ecology, stock assessment, and exploitation: a review of Ensis spp. in Wales. NAFC Marine Centre report for the Welsh Government. Contract number C243/2012/2013, 62 pp.
• Shelmerdine R. L. and Mouat B. (2018); Mapping features to the southeast of the Papa Stour SAC. NAFC Marine Centre report, 45 pp.
• Batts L., Shucksmith R. J., Shelmerdine R. L., Macdonald P., and Mouat B. (2017); Scotland's fishing industry - guidance for decision makers and developers. Report for Fisheries Innovation Scotland, project FIS014. 21 pp.
• Batts L., Shucksmith R. J., Shelmerdine R. L., Macdonald P., and Mouat B. (2017); Understanding and influencing the marine management and development processes - best practice guidance for fishers. Report for Fisheries Innovation Scotland, project FIS014. 11 pp.
• Shelmerdine R. L., Cowing A. L.., and Shucksmith R. J. (2017); Head of Lera Voe. LNCS extended site statement. NAFC Marine Centre report for Shetland Islands Council, 8 pp.
• Shelmerdine R. L., Shucksmith R. J., and Mouat, B. (2017); Fisheries management in the context of shared seas. Report for Fisheries Innovation Scotland, project FIS014. Pp. 55.
• Shelmerdine R. L. and Shucksmith R. (2015); Understanding the effect of scale and resolution on predictive habitat maps. ICES Annual Science Conference ICES CM 2015/N:10.
• Shucksmith, R. (2015). A Biosecurity Plan for the Shetland Islands. NAFC Marine Centre report, 6 pp.
• Shelmerdine R. L., Robinson M., Johnson A., Leslie B., Stone D., and Tait L. (2013); Assessment of the appropriateness of areas closed to protect priority marine features from scallop dredging around Shetland. NAFC Marine Centre Report, 166 pp.
• Shelmerdine R. L. and Leslie B. (2009); Restocking of the native oyster, Ostrea edulis, in Shetland: habitat identification study. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report No. 396.

Policy Briefs

UHI Shetland's policy brief series present key results of marine science research being carried out at within the Marine Spatial Planning team at UHI Shetland.

Access all of UHI Shetland's Policy Briefs

Book Chapters

• Shucksmith, R., & Withouck, I. (2024). Barriers and opportunities for improved governance of fisheries within the context of marine spatial planning. In Governing Oceans (pp. 18-33). Edward Elgar Publishing.
• Withouck, I., Tett, P., Doran, J., Mouat, B., & Shucksmith, R. (2024). A value tree approach to integrate policy and legislation into spatial decision support tools for siting offshore renewables. In Governing Oceans (pp. 78-99). Edward Elgar Publishing.

Shetland Marine Planning Partnership Newsletters

Keep up-to-date on news from the Shetland Marine Planning Partnership and wider work of the Marine Spatial Planning team at UHI Shetland in the SMPP Newsletters.