Background to Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative (SSMEI)

The Scottish Government launched the Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative (SSMEI) in November 2002.

The initiative comprises 4 marine management projects: the Clyde, the Berwickshire Coast, Shetland and the Sound of Mull.

The initiative aims to develop and test the effectiveness of alternative management approaches to deliver sustainable development in Scotland’s marine and coastal environment.

The four projects will develop, trial and evaluate different approaches to the sustainable management of marine resources in Scotland. The aim is to produce and implement marine management plans for each of the areas, with spatial planning an integral part of the Clyde, Sound of Mull and Shetland pilots. Each project differs in terms of area size and approach. Once the pilots are completed the Scottish Executive intends to evaluate each pilot and to produce recommendations that will help shape future national policy on marine and coastal management and spatial planning.

Further information on the background of the SSMEI project and each of the individual pilots is available from the websites listed below.

See also: SSMEI Berwickshire.
SSMEI Shetland.
SSMEI Clyde.
Scottish Sustainable Marine Environment Initiative (SSMEI).