Waterborne recreation – which covers a range of activities from power boating to canoeing – is hugely popular in Scotland, with over 230,000 people participating each year, and the associated marine industry is thriving, with 300 boatyards and specialist marine companies employing several thousand people.

Expansion of an industry that already contributes almost £300m to the Scottish economy, is constrained by planning difficulties, a lack of marketing support at national level, and non-availibility of courses to train staff. SBA is lobbying government to ensure that these issues do not slip 'below the radar'!

Over the next few months SBA is represented on the Sustainable Seas Task Force, the Scottish Government's consultative committee on marine matters, and is in a position to influence the impending Scottish Marine Bill.

Looking ahead, SBA will seek to identify further areas where more information supplied to planners and legislators will help create a friendly environment for marine business development. More information from Mike Balmforth, SBA secretary: mike@clydemarinepress.co.uk