Guidance & Support

Alongside the support that each regulator offers to applicants, additional guidance has been developed to support both the aquaculture industry and decision makers.

Guidance

Scottish Government Circulars and Planning Advice: the main circulars for aquaculture are 1/2007: Planning Controls for Marine Fish Farming and 1/2015: The Relationship Between the Statutory Land Use Planning System and Marine Planning and Licensing
Working Arrangements: a consultation protocol for marine aquaculture planning applications and the requirements of Statutory Consultees to the planning system
Guidance on The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Amendment Order 2018: Guidance on use of permitted development rights for finfish and shellfish developments.
Marine Scotland Science Requirements: for planning applications and Environmental Impact Assessments
Marine Scotland Locational Guidelines: for the Authorisation of Marine Fish Farms in Scottish waters
SSPO Protocol for preparing planning applications for aquaculture
SARF templates and guidance for EIA
SNH guidance on landscape and aquaculture
Food Standards Scotland Guidance for Shellfish Industry

Related Information

Policy Documents

Scotland’s National Marine Plan covers the management of both Scottish inshore waters (out to 12 nautical miles) and offshore waters (12 to 200 nautical miles)
Scotland’s planning strategy and policy is set out in the National Planning Framework and Scottish Planning Policy

Useful Contacts

The list below includes consenting bodies, regulators, statutory consultees, representative bodies and other interested parties:

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Guidance & Support