Calls increase to scrap Highly Protected Marine Areas
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The Scottish Government has seen more than 4400 responses to its plans for Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).
New figures show almost £100,000 has been spent on the proposals, including £35,000 for a company to “analyse” the consultation responses.
Conservative Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid, who has written to Humza Yousaf calling for the proposals to be reconsidered, said he expects a large proportion of the responses to represent the “overwhelming fear and anger” within fishing communities.
The freedom of information response from the Scottish Government shows 2569 substantive responses and 1846 campaign responses were received which are due to be collated by July 5.
In addition to the £35,000, a further £54,367 has been spent on a sustainability appraisal while almost £7000 was put towards the cost of producing the consultation documents.
Mr Duguid has been campaigning against the Scottish Government’s HPMA proposals for the last year, asking why the amount of HPMA coverage in Scottish waters (10 per cent) needs to be almost twenty times as much as the UK Government plans for English waters (0.53 per cent).
Conservative Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid said: “The high number of responses show there is a huge interest in this and a need to get these plans right.
“I believe most of the substantive responses will emphasise the fear and anger among fishing communities who believe these proposals will decimate the industry and their livelihoods.
“Across Banff and Buchan, I have heard from several businesses and fishermen who have responded to the consultation and outlined the devastating consequences these unworkable HPMA plans would have on our coastal communities.
“Throughout the consultation period, there has been a total disconnect between policy makers in Edinburgh and the fishing sector who have been treated like the industry doesn’t exist.
“If the SNP-Green government properly engaged with the fishing industry in the first place, then some of this £100,000 spending bill could have been saved.
“I hope Humza Yousaf will finally realise that he needs to sink these plans, even if it upsets his green coalition partners and environmental NGOs who have precious little regard for the fishing industry and coastal communities.”
