Galloway fishermen are warning their livelihoods could end if the Solway is designated a highly protected marine area (HPMA).
The Scottish Government is consulting on controversial proposals to ban fishing completely in 10 per cent of the country’s seas.
Although the process is at an early stage, many communities fear an entire way of life is under threat.
The government insists a targeted ban on all fishing – trawling, dredging, creeling and recreational – is needed to regenerate fish stocks.
Now the Galloway Static Gear Inshore Fishermen’s Association has waded in with a “hands off the Solway” message to MSPs.
Chairman Frazer Scott, who represents 32 members from Ballantrae to Dumfries, said: “We are all of the same opinion – we are raging.
“I pay my taxes in Scotland, contribute to the community, buy all my oil and petrol locally, get maintenance done locally.
“Lobster, crab and prawn creeling are the sustainable types of fishing they are going to penalise.
“The way I fish has helped commercial fishing in the Solway over the past 30 years. Now some idiot in an office says there will be no fishing.”
Mr Scott, 53, added: “This is all about being seen to be doing things to pacify the Greens.
“We are the most sustainable commercial fishery there is. We select what we want to keep and all the rest is returned alive to the sea.
“That doesn’t happen with trawlers or dredgers. They are going to crucify us in the inshore fishery. We say hands off the Solway.”
Mr Scott also criticised Emma Harper for backing the HPMAs move at Holyrood.
He said on her Facebook page: “I cannot believe our SNP MSP Emma Harper voted for HPMAs without ever engaging with the local fishing industry – despite the Galloway Static Gear Fishermen’s Association contacting her office and asking her opinion on this matter.
“At no time did she ask how HPMAs would impact our livelihoods and families.”
Mr Scott, from Garlieston, is vowing to challenge any Solway HPMA move.
He said: “We would fight it legally. Our fear is that after all the hoo-haa on the islands they will try to impose an HPMA here or the Firth of Clyde.
“HPMAs don’t just stop commercial fishing – they stop recreational fishing too, everything. If it went through I would be out of a job.”
Mr Harper insisted she “listened” to fishermen and accepted the proposals had caused “unnecessary stress” – but still backed the move.
She said: “I truly believe the commitment from the Scottish Government that it will listen to the voices of Scotland’s fishers and fishing communities, to get these proposals right.
“I look forward to hearing back from the cabinet secretary with a date for when she will come and meet with Galloway fishers.”
“I am sure the coastal communities across the whole of Scotland will remember this gross betrayal at a later date.”
