Part 3Marine planning

Monitoring and reporting

I116Monitoring of and periodical reporting on implementation of marine plans

1

For so long as a national marine plan or (as the case may be) a regional marine plan is in effect, the Scottish Ministers must keep under review in relation to each such plan the matters in subsection (2).

2

The matters are—

a

the effects of the policies in the plan,

b

the effectiveness of the policies in securing that the objectives for which the plan was prepared and adopted are met,

c

the progress being made towards securing the objectives,

d

the progress being made towards securing that the objectives in the regional marine plan secure the objectives in the national marine plan.

3

The Scottish Ministers must from time to time prepare and publish a report on the matters kept under review in pursuance of subsection (1).

4

After publishing a report under subsection (3), the Scottish Ministers must decide whether or not to amend or replace the national marine plan or (as the case may be) the regional marine plan.

5

The first report must be published before the expiry of 5 years beginning with the date on which the marine plan concerned was adopted.

6

After the publication of the first report, successive reports must be published at intervals of no more than 5 years following the date of publication of the previous report.

7

Any reference in this section to the replacement of a national marine plan or (as the case may be) a regional marine plan is a reference to—

a

preparing and adopting, in accordance with the provisions of this Part, a fresh national marine plan or (as the case may be) a regional marine plan (and as respects a regional marine plan whether or not it is for the identical Scottish marine region),

b

if the Scottish Ministers have not already done so, withdrawing the marine plan that is to be replaced.