This interactive tool enables access to spatial information relating to the marine environment and activities, and has been designed to assist in the development of national and regional marine planning. National Marine Plan interactive (NMPi) allows you to view different types of information and, where appropriate, links have been provided to the related parts of Scotland's Marine Atlas and to the National Marine Plan.
Questions this practice may help answer
- What spatial data is available to support planning in Scotland?
- How has a central online tool been developed to support planning in Scotland?
Implementation Context
Scotland’s National Marine Plan (NMP) was developed over 5 years, from 2011 – 2016, to address the requirements for marine planning set out in the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010. This national document will provide the basis for marine planning which will be undertaken by Regional Marine Planning Partnerships (RMPPS), across the 11 Scottish Marine Regions of Scotland. To present the data used in the development of the NMP, and to support the work of the RMPPs, Marine Scotland have developed and manage an online tool and data portal, National Marine Plan Interactive (NMPi).
Aspects / Objectives
- Provide an interactive tool has been designed to assist in the development of national and regional marine planning.
- Update and include new data as feasible and relevant
- Provide central support for the development of marine planning
Method
National Marine Plan interactive (NMPi) presents an online mapping tool which enables users to view different types of information and, where appropriate, links have been provided to the related parts of Scotland's Marine Atlas and will also be provided to the National Marine Plan.
NMPi is not a static system and data sets, new statistics and other details are added to the interactive map when available. Registration is free and by doing so, users will gain access to additional functionality – ability to add own data as a ‘My Information’ layer and creating (pdf) maps for printing. The NMPi projection (co-ordinate system) is Spherical Web Mercator (EPSG:3857 or EPSG:900913).
Updates to NMPi are published on the website.

Main Outputs / Results
Online tool available at: https://marinescotland.atkinsgeospatial.com/nmpi/
Transferability
The tool focusses on Scottish waters.
Responsible Entity
Marine Scotland.
Costs / Funding Source
Scottish Government.
Contact Person
Marine Scotland
marinescotlandscotland.gsi.gov.uk