Ross MSP welcomes Marine Protected Areas delay
A ROSS-SHIRE MSP has welcomed the delay of marine protection legislation to allow evidence to be heard from concerned fishermen.
Dave Thompson and his colleagues on the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) committee wrote to the government asking for legislation for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to be put on hold until after talks with fishermen.
Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Richard Lochhead has now agreed to that request.
Mr Thompson said: "I welcome confirmation from the Scottish Government that the RACCE committee’s recent request for a delay in the Marine Protected Area Orders coming into being has been accepted.
"I remain supportive of the principle of MPAs, but as I have stated before, I want a bit more ground allocated for prawn trawlers.
"After the hearing of evidence at the RACCE committee on September 23, I hope the Cabinet Secretary will balance the requirement for Environmental protection with the needs of fishermen by ameliorating the current proposals."
The Scottish Government is proposing introducing a network of 30 MPAs to safeguard fragile marine habitats around the Scottish coast.
Fishing restrictions will be imposed within the MPAs to prevent damage to the marine environment by dredgers and trawlers.
Some fishermen’s organisations say the restrictions will push them out of their traditional fishing grounds and threaten livelihoods.
However, many creel fisherman are supportive of the move and say the limits are long overdue in order to secure the fishing grounds for future generations.
