Scottish authorities scraps plan for extremely protected marine areas

The Scottish authorities has scrapped its controversial plan to limit fishing in 10% of Scotland’s waters following an uproar from coastal communities.

Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan confirmed the plan to introduce extremely protected marine areas (HPMAs) by 2026 will not go forward on Thursday.

Instead, she mentioned a brand new manner ahead shall be developed with a view to creating Scotland “nature-positive” by 2030.

Groups representing fishing industries had been strongly against the HPMA proposals and a few SNP MSPs joined within the criticism.

Ms McAllan instructed MSPs on Thursday: “I’ve listened intently and am in little question of the robust views each for and in opposition to.

“But if there has been one consistent point of consensus, it is that doing nothing is not an option.

“In reality, we all know from a latest government-funded survey that 85% of Scottish respondents think about defending the marine setting as necessary to them.

“I can confirm today that the proposal as consulted on will not be progressed.

“This means we are going to not search to implement HPMAs throughout 10% of Scotland’s seas by 2026.”

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Elspeth Macdonald, chief government of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, welcomed the transfer to scrap the “flawed” HPMAs.

She mentioned: “Ministers will now need to reassure people that they are not simply intent on introducing the same policy by the back door.

“The seafood sector has set out a transparent pathway on how we will work with authorities to strike the proper steadiness between nature conservation and sustainable use, and the check for presidency now’s to ship upon that.”

A spokesman for the charity Open Seas mentioned: “Although Open Seas support the stated aims of HPMAs, we have maintained serious concerns about the approach taken so far to implement them.

“The Scottish authorities are actually studying a tough lesson that deep neighborhood engagement and participation is prime to taking motion for the setting.

“The HPMA debate has diverted some attention from the routine environmental damage to Scotland’s coastal seabed caused by scallop dredging and bottom-trawling.”