Minister hits back at ‘astonishing’ claims on protected marine areas

A minister has hit back at claims coastal communities have been inadequately consulted on plans to restrict fishing, branding opposition arguments “astonishing”.

Mairi McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, said she would work “hand in hand” with coastal communities in selecting sites for highly protected marine areas (HPMAs).

A consultation on HPMAs closed earlier this month, with the proposals potentially limiting fishing in more than 10% of Scotland’s waters.

Many in the fishing industry have strongly objected to the scheme.

As the issue was raised at the Scottish Parliament on Thursday, the Tories’ Jamie Halcro Johnston asked Ms McAllan if the policy was “blind to the damage it could do to our rural economy”, saying concerns from the industry had been dismissed.

She replied: “It’s astonishing that I can read out the level of consultation that has been undertaken so far and point to a fulsome consultation right at the beginning of the process and yet still be accused of what the member (Mr Halcro Johnston) was narrating there.

“The truth of the matter is, despite progress in improving the state of our marine environment, evidence tells us that we need to do more.”

She added: “We recognise the strength of feeling on this and we are committed to working hand in hand with communities to make this policy work right around the country.”

Earlier, the SNP’s Karen Adam, MSP for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, wrote to Ms McAllan to say there is “widespread concern for the industry as a whole”.

She said she supported efforts to protect marine life but that people in her area felt they were not being listened to.

Ms Adam said: “If we are to be successful, however, we need to take the key stakeholders of the blue economy with us, and this requires a just transition.

“It is clear from recent interactions with my constituents that they feel this is not currently the case.”

Meanwhile, a Tory MP says it is “critical” that coastal communities are given more information on the Scottish Government’s proposals.

David Duguid, MP for Banff & Buchan, has written to the First Minister with a series of questions on the plans.

He says they would affect an area of the sea 20 times larger than the UK Government’s equivalent plans for water around England.

Last week, Humza Yousaf vowed to work with local communities on the proposals, saying they would not be “steamrolled” through and sites have not been chosen yet.

He told MSPs: “What we want, of course, is our fishing industry and our seas to be sustainable for the future – we want that industry to continue.

“Of course, our fishing communities, our island communities, our coastal communities have often been at the forefront of that effort around sustainability.

“So we want to work with them, we want to engage with them.”

Ms McAllan is expected to visit coastal communities over the summer as the Government’s discussions on the HPMAs continue.