Running for five weeks, this is the first stage in the Sustainability Appraisal (SA) process, where the South marine plans are independently assessed to understand how they will help deliver sustainable development. The scoping report looks at sustainability issues such as communities, health and wellbeing, marine ecology and cultural heritage. MMO’s Sustainability Manager, Chris Maxwell, said: “This is a really important first step in understanding how marine planning in the South will help deliver sustainable development. I hope a wide range of marine users will get involved in helping us set out how our sustainable goals can be measured and achieved. “The MMO’s SA advisory group, made up of statutory nature conservation bodies, industry representatives, environmental non-governmental organisations such as the RSPB and Wildlife Trusts, and Defra, have also contributed to this draft report.

The consultation is now live, and closes on Friday 2nd January 2015.