Scottish Ministers to notify decision to prepare any marine plan
264.Paragraph 1 places a duty on the Scottish Ministers to notify related planning authorities of their intention to prepare a national marine plan or a regional marine plan. Related planning authorities are those whose district adjoins the marine planning area in question. Where the national marine plan or regional marine plans adjoins the area of sea adjacent to England or to Northern Ireland, Scottish Ministers must notify the Secretary of State and/or the Department of the Environment in Northern Ireland of their intention to prepare a marine plan.