Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan
Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan (SIRMP) 2025
The Shetland Islands Regional Marine Plan (SIRMP) is Scotland's first statutory Regional Marine Plan in Scotland developed under the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. Sitting beneath Scotland's National Marine Plan, the SIRMP supports sustainable management and decision-making by providing a locally relevant policy framework and robust evidence base.
The aim of the SIRMP is to manage the marine environment in Shetland in a sustainable way to have clean, healthy, safe, productive and diverse seas, managed to meet the long-term needs of nature and the people. The plan's policy and data framework which provides clear guidance and evidence to support a wide range of marine decisions throughout Shetland.
The SIRMP was created by the Shetland Marine Planning Partnership (Shetland UHI and Shetland Islands Council) with support and guidance from an Advisory Group. The Marine Spatial Planning Team have led the development of marine spatial planning in Shetland using scientific data to underpin its policies, recognising the equal value of economic, environmental, and social factors in maintaining a healthy marine environment.
The Plan was also supported by funding from the Marine Directorate of the Scottish Government and the Shetland Islands Council.
SIRMP Supporting Guidance
Guidance has been published to provide support to applicants in conforming to the following SIRMP policies.
- MP WST1: Waste Minimisation
SIRMP Supporting Guidance on Waste Minimisation and Management Plans
- MP DEV2: Guidance on the Decommissioning of Assets
SIRMP Supporting Guidance on Decommissioning of Assets
- MP CLIM1: Climate Change Mitigation and MP CLIM2: Climate Change Adaptation
SIRMP Supporting Guidance on Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation
- MP INNS1: Reducing the Spread of Invasive Non-native Species and MP SWD1: Seaweed Cultivation
In Press
Find out more about regional marine planning in the context of:
To stay up-to-date with the work of the Shetland Marine Planning Partnership, download our Newsletters.
Shetland Marine Planning Partnership and Advisory Group
Shetland Marine Planning Partnership and Advisory Group
The partnership consists of Shetland UHI and Shetland Islands Council. The development of the SIRMP is guided by an Advisory Group. The Terms of reference and Advisory Group Membership, minutes and agendas can be downloaded below:
Advisory group meeting agendas
- SIRMP Advisory Group Meeting Agenda 15-03-2018 (pdf)
- SIRMP Advisory Group Meeting Agenda 25-07-2018 (pdf)
- SIRMP Advisory Group Meeting Agenda 01-10-2018 (pdf)
- SIRMP Advisory Group Meeting Agenda 09-07-2020 (pdf)
Advisory group meeting minutes
- SIRMP Advisory Group Meeting Minutes 3-7-2017 (pdf)
- SIRMP Advisory Group Meeting Minutes 15-03-18 (pdf)
- SIRMP Advisory Group Meeting Minutes 25-07-18 (pdf)
- SIRMP Advisory Group Meeting Minutes 09-07-20 (pdf)
The Shetland Ministerial Direction and our Statement of Public Participation is available here:
How Marine Planning Benefits Shetland
How Marine Planning Benefits Shetland
Marine planning aims to protect species and habitats whilst creating opportunities for economic growth and safeguarding community interests. Some Shetland examples can be found below:
SIRMP Supporting Assessments
SIRMP Supporting Assessments
As part of the consultation process for the SIRMP, we also consulted on a number of supporting assessments. This can be downloaded from the list below:
- SIRMP SA Environmental Report May 2019 pdf
- SIRMP SA Non-technical summary pdf
- SIRMP Habitats Regulations Apraisal 2021 (pdf)
- SIRMP Partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment 2019 pdf
- SIRMP Full Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment 2020 pdf
- SIRMP Equality Impact Assessment pdf
- SIRMP Childrens Rights and Wellbeing Impact Assessment Jan 2019 pdf
Transcripts of interviews conducted as part of the Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment can be downloaded below:
History of Marine Spatial Planning in Shetland
History of Marine Spatial Planning in Shetland
Marine plans were first developed in Shetland nearly 20 years ago. Find out more about the history and development of Shetland's marine planning on our History webpages.
Shetland UHI would like to acknowledge the financial support of Marine Scotland and the Shetland Islands Council in developing regional marine planning in the Shetland Islands.