A consultation focusing on the future of the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters has been launched.

In 2010, Orkney Island Council has joined with colleagues at Highland Council, Marine Scotland and Heriot Watt University to begin developing a pilot Marine Spatial Plan for the area.

As part of the latest stage plans, the consortium are now seeking the public's views.

Once agreed, the pilot Marine Spatial Plan will be used to guide future decisions made by public authorities on marine development and management in the Pentland Firth and Orkney waters.

It aims to balance the needs of all existing and future users of the area and protect the natural environment on which these users depend.

The Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 brought into force a new statutory marine planning system to manage the increasing, and sometimes conflicting, demands on Scottish seas. For the first time, a National Marine Plan will give greater clarity to decision making within the marine environment, reduce uncertainty for marine developers and encourage economic investment.

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The 'Pentland Firth and Orkney Waters' was chosen as a pilot area for the development of a Marine Spatial Plan due to its importance in the renewables industry.

The development of the plan will inform the future development of the National Marine Plan and other regional plans.

Chair of the Council's Development and Infrastructure Committee, James Stockan, said: "The Pentland Firth has long been synonymous with life and work in Orkney and is even more so now with the emergence of marine renewables as a key industry in our islands.

"The firth has a diverse range of users and it is important that something is set in place now that will guide the development of the area in the future. A lot of work has been going on behind the scenes to pull the plan together and it is now at a point where it would be appropriate to seek public views again. I hope that people will take the opportunity to become involved in the latest stage of the creation of this key document."

The consultation period runs from June 17 until July 26, with a series of consultation events planned. They include:

• A workshop at King St Halls, 1st July from 10am to 4pm
• A drop-in session at Kings St Halls, 1st July from 5.30pm to 9pm
• One-to-one meetings at OIC Customer Services, School Place, Kirkwall, 2nd July from 10am to 4pm.

(JP/MH)