The Water Environment (Shellfish Water Protected Areas: Environmental Objectives etc.) (Scotland) Regulations 2013

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations make further provision in relation to shellfish water protected areas within the Scotland River Basin District in order to support shellfish life and growth and to contribute to the high quality of shellfish products suitable for human consumption.

Section 5A of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (“the Act”) provides for the designation of any area of coastal water or transitional water as a shellfish water protected area where this is considered necessary or desirable for the protection or development of significant shellfish production. Section 9 of the Act requires the Scottish Environment Protection Agency to set environmental objectives for each shellfish water protected area, and to prepare a programme of measures to be applied to achieve those environmental objectives.

These Regulations make further provision in relation to, in particular, the setting of those environmental objectives and the programme of measures to be applied, together with further provision as regards monitoring requirements and the associated river basin management plan.

These provisions have effect only in relation to shellfish water protected areas within a river basin district designated under section 4 of the Act. The Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 (Designation of Scotland River Basin District) Order 2003 (S.S.I. 2003/610) designates a single area (covering most of Scotland) known as the “Scotland River Basin District”.