This Action Plan identifies the potential impacts of the changing climate on the Marine and Fisheries sector and sets out the action being taken in Scotland to adapt to those impacts. It also considers, in some way, what this sector can do to help other sectors and wider society adapt. The changing climate will have both positive and negative impacts and this Action Plan has been developed to minimise the negative consequences and take advantage of opportunities.

Climate change is not an issue that governments can address in isolation. Ensuring long-term sustainability against a background of a changing climate will depend on organisations, businesses and communities across Scotland accepting responsibility and preparing for the changing climate. There will also need to be co-operation with other countries on co-ordinated action. This is why the actions in this Plan are not just for the Scottish Government, but also extend to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA), other public bodies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and industry. This Plan covers inshore and offshore waters to the extent that Scottish Government has responsibility for activities in these areas. This Action Plan covers the following areas:

• Aquaculture
• Fisheries – commercial and recreational
• Marine nature conservation
• Marine planning