Column: Fishing industry is under threat from botched SNP/Green marine proposal
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The Scottish Parliament has a distinctive design for a reason.
Enric Miralles' design reminisces of upturned boats on Scottish seashores. These are not unlaunched ferries, grounded vessels nor luxury yachts of tax-haven seekers; these boats are the livelihoods of one of the traditional roles that made Scotland – fishing.
Now small fishing communities are under threat. Worst still they under threat from political leaders who failed to float the ferries and who now need to make measured decisions about local economies alongside environmental concerns.
The Green/SNP concepts for Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) emerged from the Bute House Agreement giving the Greens a foothold in power. Aspects of their overall ambition are laudable, however others appear ill-thought out both in concept and delivery. HPMA’s seems one of those at present.
The agreement between the Greens and SNP to “highly protect 10%” is notable for its firm figure, albeit this maybe links to 2030 international aspirations for 30% of seas protected. We need to consider if localised figures are plucked out of thin air or based on detailed diagnosis?
There is no supporting evidence for why 10% has been identified, or needed; nor detailed indication of actual impacts this will have (both positive and negative).
The 10% may not seem like a lot of sea, however when we look at Marine Scotland maps of Scotland’s seas and coastline, HMPAs could decimate small boats (under 10 metres) and creeling in coastal communities.
The 10% figure has the feeling for some as being “back of fag packet” stuff. I have seen enough of policy formed ‘on the hoof’ before and agreements reached with shallowness of thought or details.
Like too many policies, the assertions are not berthed in convincing evidence, thus they may become rhetoric-rich but delivery poor. We only need to look at the Green/SNP Deposit Return Scheme as exemplification of astounding uncertainty in policy delivery and subsequent shelving. This may not be the first Green/SNP policy to hit the rocks.
Now Government Ministers must commit to decommissioning current HPMA plans – however not a temporary pause, but an agreement to not bring HPMAs back until everything is properly conceived, and risks fully mitigated against.
Some wishing to contribute to the Government consultation are noting issues with completing the web form. For those who did respond, it would not be the first time that government policy steamed ahead despite consultation responses. Too many ‘consultation’ responses are blithely ignored. Skipinnish captured concerns about the ‘sweep of a (bureaucrats) pen’ aptly.
Thankfully more question the hitherto unquestionable these days. The consultation documents appear evidence weak in the first instance and so thus the policy is now openly debatable.
Fergus Ewing MSP ripped up the consultation in parliament, Kate Forbes MSP raised questions and Alex Salmond has spoken of the harm HPMAs will do to local, small businesses. Businesses will fold – off and onshore. The bigger boats and bigger businesses may weather the storm, a perverse incentive of apparently “socially just” Green/SNP policies.
One of the challenges now will be who will continue to stand against extant HPMAs plans? Who will be Scottish fisherfolk’s Saint Andrew? Tribalism and blind-loyalty stifles politics and leaves communities cast adrift.
There is a need for more Independent elected members in local and national government. Fishing communities have long memories and will recall when parties have ‘sold them up the river’ before.
It is time for all politicians to think independently and stand alongside localities whilst ensuring those communities are both sustainable and flourishing. It is time for properly-conceived policies not party politics.
It is time to protect what made Scotland – the land and the sea – and make sure we both benefit from it, but also protect it so future generations continue to thrive from it.
Cutting out fishing communities at this time would not do that. It is time to work with fishing communities, casting a net around their knowledge of sustaining the seas over many generations historically and their vested interest in ensuring they are sustainable in future.
If politicians cannot achieve the above, it may be high tide for a policy document, but it will be a very low tide for the ‘socially just’, sustainable communities and sustainable environment everyone wants and needs to achieve.
Experienced, balanced skippers are needed to put their hand on the political tiller and steer through this storm – it is in everyone’s best interests that the boat stays afloat.
Neil McLennan is an independent councillor for Buckie and Findochty. His views are his own, and do not represent any organisations he is involved with, but are gathered from listening to worried fishing folk (and the current political debate). He hopes more will listen to fishing communities direct in the coming weeks to end extant HPMA proposals. He also declares an interest in family connections to the fishing industry over many generations.
