To ask the Scottish Government what advice the Minister for Environment and Climate Change has received from (a) the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and (b) Scottish Natural Heritage regarding Orkney Islands Council’s recently adopted changes to the management of ballast water in Scapa Flow.
Answered by Paul Wheelhouse (16/07/2014): The Scottish Government maintains contact with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) on Orkney Islands Council’s revised Ballast Water Management Policy.SEPA has a duty under the Water Framework Directive to protect the quality of water bodies and avoid any deterioration in status including that which may arise through the introduction of invasive non-native species. The Scottish Government is aware that SEPA continues to have concerns with respect to the Council’s Ballast WaterManagement Policy and that SEPA has advised Orkney Islands Council through the Strategic Environmental Assessment consultation process that, in SEPA’s judgement, the proposed policy change does not offer acceptable protection to Scapa Flow.
SNH have informed the Scottish Government that they continue to have concerns about the potential for impacts on the Loch of Stenness Special Area of Conservation arising from approval of the revised Ballast WaterManagement Policy. SNH have expressed the view that, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, at this time it cannot be ascertained beyond reasonable scientific doubt that the Ballast Water Management Policy for Scapa Flow will not potentially affect the integrity of this Special Area of Conservation. SNH have determined that the appropriate assessment undertaken by OIC has utilised an acceptable methodology and procedure.
