Rally for control of the seabed

A delegation of councillors from throughout the Highlands and Islands this week met with Scottish environment minister Michael Russell, to voice their frustration with the current system of seabed ownership, Shetland Marine News reports. The CEC currently claim right of ownership of the marine environment out to the 12 mile limit, charging rent for offshore activities such as fish farms. According to Shetland Marine News, the meeting with Mr Russell was to brief him prior to a meeting Crown Estate chairman Ian Grant. In 2006 all Scottish councils signed up to a report calling for more local control of the seabed. Shetland councillor Alistair Cooper told the news source that the delegation had pushed for a transfer of seabed ownership to Scotland.

Cooper added that Shetland Islands Council alone pays £40,000 a year to the Crown Estate, who also receives high rental payments for the islands’ marinas and fish farms. He would like to see local authorities being able to buy their seabed so they could control its use, renting it out for development.