THE Scottish Government has dropped its plans to restrict fishing in 10% of Scotland’s waters following an uproar from coastal communities.
Net-Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan announced the plan to introduce highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) by 2026 will no longer go ahead. It is understood that the decision was made involving both SNP and Green ministers.
HPMAs aimed to see an end to the vast majority of human activities that may cause negative impacts on the environment in specific areas around Scotland's coasts.
It would have meant no fishing, no aquaculture, no oil and gas exploration, no commercial seaweed harvesting, and no offshore wind infrastructure in those places.
Campaigners had said the HPMAs were necessary because Scotland's seas are in "historically bad condition".
Meanwhile, groups representing fishing industries were strongly opposed to the HPMA proposals and some SNP politicians joined in the criticism.
Speaking on Thursday, McAllan stressed the need to prevent damage to marine ecosystems.
She said the Government will develop a “new pathway and timetable”, in line with plans to make Scotland “nature-positive” by 2030.
Elspeth Macdonald, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, welcomed the move to scrap the “flawed” HPMAs.
She said: “Ministers will now need to re-assure people that they are not simply intent on introducing the same policy by the back door."
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