Policy Briefs
UHI Shetland's policy brief series present key results of marine science research being carried out at UHI Shetland. The following policy briefs relate to research being undertaken in the Marine Spatial Planning Section.
Just transition to net zero: creating a transition process that fully accounts for social justice
Just transition to net zero: creating a transition process that fully accounts for social justice
Policy Brief 1 Social Justice (pdf)
The briefing presents opportunities for justice to be achieved across the 3 justice principles (distributional, procedural and recognitional justice) and highlights the need for an improved transition process from fossil fuels to marine renewable energy.
Improvements in just transition processes will support fairer and less contested outcomes. This is relevant to wider management challenges, marine and land processes, and areas of policy development.
It it based on the following research undertaken at UHI Shetland.
- Withouck, I. (2022). The siting of renewable energy developments in a crowded marine space. UHI, PhD Thesis.
- Withouck, I., Tett, P., Doran, J., Mouat, B and Shucksmith, R. (2023) Diving into just transition: How fisheries considered during the emergence of renewable energy production in Scottish waters. Energy Research and Social Science, 101, 103135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103135
Towards Net Zero: The role of marine habitats
Towards Net Zero: The role of marine habitats
Mapping Blue Carbon Policy Brief (PDF)
The briefing presents the role of blue carbon and marine habitats in contributing to net zero objectives. It emphasises the importance of comprehensive mapping and modelling techniques to ensure the effective protection, potential restoration, and accurate quantification of carbon sequestration within these habitats.
It is based on the following research undertaken at UHI Shetland.
- Riley, T.G., R..J. Shucksmith, and B. Mouat, Distribution modelling of the Shetland Islands benthic habitats. 2024, Shetland UHI report. p. 99.
- Shelmerdine, R. L., Robinson, M., Johnson, A., Leslie, B., Stone, D., & Tait, L. (2013). Assessment of the appropriateness of areas closed to protect priority marine features from scallop dredging around Shetland. 2013. 25.
Pathways for carbon capture and storage by Shetland’s blue carbon habitats
A Shetland seagrass meadow
Creating marine restoration and enhancement guidance: key considerations from a Shetland Islands case study
Creating marine restoration and enhancement guidance: key considerations from a Shetland Islands case study
Creating marine restoration and enhancement guidance (pdf)
The policy brief provides insights that can help inform the development of effective marine restoration and enhancement guidance across Scotland. The brief draws on the Shetland Islands as a case study, where Scotland’s first marine restoration and enhancement guidance was launched earlier this year.
Planning policy in Scotland is evolving to better protect natural capital and promote nature-positive outcomes. Developers are including measures to enhance biodiversity, including through the restoration of degraded habitats.
However, the absence of regionally appropriate guidance risks undermining these efforts. The new policy brief highlights key considerations for the development of effective marine restoration and enhancement guidance.
More information on the project highlighted as a case study can be found on our research pages:
People & Place - Guiding Marine Restoration and Enhancement in the Shetland Islands
or in the following reports:
- 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., 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.
(c) Tanya Riley