The Scottish Government has dumped controversial plans to ban fishing in 10 per cent of Scotland’s territorial waters following uproar from rural communities.
Mairi McAllan announced the pledge to introduce highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) by 2026 will no longer go ahead.
The Net Zero Secretary said a new way forward will be developed with a view to making Scotland “nature-positive” by 2030.
The policy was fiercely opposed by the fishing industry as well as some SNP MSPs.
Kate Forbes had spoken out against HPMAs during the leadership campaign to replace Nicola Sturgeon.
And former SNP MSP Angus MacDonald quit the party in protest at the proposals.
But McAllan stressed the need to prevent damage to marine ecosystems and vowed alternative plans would be brought forward.
The SNP minister told MSPs: “I have listened intently and am in no doubt of the strong views both for and against. But if there has been one consistent point of consensus, it is that doing nothing is not an option.
"In fact, we know from a recent Government-funded survey that 85 per cent of Scottish respondents consider protecting the marine environment as important to them.
“I can confirm today that the proposal as consulted on will not be progressed.
“This means we will no longer seek to implement HPMAs across 10 per cent of Scotland’s seas by 2026.”
She said the Government will develop a “new pathway and timetable”, in line with plans to make Scotland “nature-positive” by 2030.
Opposition MSPs warned the SNP minister was "kicking the can down the road".
Scottish Lib Dem rural affairs spokeswoman Beatrice Wishart said: "This is testament to the power and voice of rural and remote communities who were united in their opposition.
"They were incensed by the way the SNP and Greens were determined to impose rigid and damaging policies and failed to listen from the outset.
"It was clear from the start that this was pursued to appease the Bute House agreement and little do with the sustainability of either the seas or the communities who live and work in them."
Rachael Hamilton, Scottish Conservative spokeswoman on rural affairs, said: “The SNP might have rebranded their reckless plans on Highly Protected Marine Areas, but in reality this amounts to little more than kicking the can down the road.
"Never have I experienced a policy that has received such overwhelming opposition from coastal communities, and Scotland’s fishermen must now be at the heart of any proposals brought forward.
"As much as the SNP try to spin, ministers still remain wedded to enhancing marine protection in a further ten per cent of our seas, just a few years later than their initial plans outlined."
Rural council leaders were among those calling for the plan to be scrapped.
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar previously warned that any introduction of HPMAs in the Outer Hebrides would be "devastating" to the local economy.
Councillor Norman MacDonald said: "These HPMA proposals, if they proceed, will be devastating to the economy of the Outer Hebrides.
"HPMA's will decimate the fisheries sector, will devastate some of our most peripheral communities and will lead to further depopulation from our islands."
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