Oil and gas

Scotland is the EU's largest petroleum producer. The discovery of North Sea oil in 1966 transformed the Scottish economy and the industry currently supports an estimated 150,000 jobs with exports of goods and services in 2006 of over £4.7 billion (Scotland's largest export sector).

Most oil and gas development in Scottish waters takes place in the 'offshore' area (beyond 12 nm from the coastline) and the responsibility for the provision of nature conservation advice on activities this far from the coast rests with the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)  .

However, the industry has maintained an interest in a small number of locations within 'inshore' waters (e.g. within the Moray Firth), and wherever derived, the oil and gas products are likely to be piped or shipped to onshore processing facilities on the Scottish coastline (e.g. the Sullom Voe oil terminal in Shetland or the St. Fergus gas terminal in Aberdeenshire).

Our role

Oil and gas activities within the UK are regulated by the Department for Energy and Climate Change (DECC)  . Scottish Natural Heritage marine staff provide advice to the Environmental Management Team (EMT) within DECC enabling them to consider nature conservation requirements when deciding whether to consent activities. SNHs advice covers the range of exploration, production & decommissioning stages with a view to minimising negative effects on key environmental receptors (e.g. marine mammals, birds, fish and habitats on the seabed itself).

Offshore industries generate noise levels capable of causing injury and disturbance to marine mammals (e.g. seismic surveys   undertaken in the search for oil and gas reserves or the use of explosives   in decommissioning) and the JNCC has written a series of best practice guidance documents available for download from their website.

Oil spills - SNH emergency contact details

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA)   is the competent UK authority that responds to pollution from shipping and offshore installations. The respective roles of the MCA, Marine Scotland, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) are set out in the National Contingency Plan for Marine Pollution from Shipping and Offshore Installations   (currently under review).

SNH is a statutory consultee in the event of an oil pollution incident occurring within territorial waters (i.e. within 12 nm or designated enclosed waters, e.g. the Minch) and has a duty to provide information and advice on the possible impacts of the incident and any proposed clean-up operations on the natural heritage interests of the area.

SNHs National Oil Spill Officer is Dr John Baxter who can be contacted on the following numbers in the event of an oil spill or other major pollution incident -

• Tel. - 0131 3162610 (office)
• Fax. - 0131 316 2690 (office)
• Mobile tel. - 07774 161273
• Pager no. - 07699 761509