Petition prepared over HPMA plan

A petition is being put forward by Scotland’s seafood sector against the highly controversial fishing ban proposal for Scotland's coastal waters.

 

Enforced in what would be known as Highly Protected Marine Areas, or HPMAs, the Scottish Government proposals involve banning fishing and harvesting in at least 10 per cent of the country’s waters, while representatives from across the industry have published a petition calling on ministers to drop the policy.

 

Speaking at an industry gathering outside the Scottish Parliament last Friday, Elspeth Macdonald, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, which represents around 400 vessels, said: “No evidence has been produced by ministers to show why HPMAs are necessary or that they will achieve their very vague aims.

 

“They are being introduced to appease the Greens in the coalition government and will push the seafood sector into the red. It’s important that we push this message home.”

 

She added: “Nobody cares more about our marine environment than those who are dependent upon it for their livelihoods.

 

“Coastal communities the length and breadth of Scotland are united in their opposition to this ill-founded policy.

 

“We call on the Scottish Government to scrap their plans, scrap the ban and acknowledge that it is time to think again.”

 

Known as HPMAs - Scrap the Ban, the petition was not yet live at the time of going to print, but will be emailed to those interested, who provide an email address at docs.google.com/forms/d/1lGWwIKWoN_fhmji7HBWRtraIrNhSd2Oa0Uotu1PBaPY/viewform?edit_requested=true