Moray MP Douglas Ross has welcomed the u-turn by the Scottish Government over Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) and called out local SNP MSP Richard Lochhead for backing the “reckless” proposals for so long.
Douglas – who says that the SNP-Green government’s decision to drop their current plans to effectively ban fishing in a further ten per cent of Scottish waters – is a “step in the right direction” added that the SNP MSP should have stood up for coastal communities far sooner.
However, he highlighted that the SNP-Green ministers remain committed to the ten per cent target by 2030, with Douglas saying that any future plans must be shaped by coastal communities such as those in Moray, rather than the extremist Green coalition partners.
He accused Richard Lochhead of a total “dereliction of duty” when it comes to standing up for fishermen in Moray and urged him to confirm that he will now listen to their concerns going forward.
Douglas described the initial plans as “totally misguided” and says that they showed how “out-of-touch” the SNP-Green government are with the needs of rural and remote communities.
Moray MP Douglas Ross said: “while it is welcome that the SNP/Green government has finally been forced to u-turn and delay their plans for HPMAs, Richard Lochhead has questions to answer over his silence regarding highly protected marine areas. He was all too happy to back the SNP-Green government’s initial proposals which were completely reckless and totally misguided.
“They would have destroyed our coastal communities and put livelihoods of fishermen at risk. The statement this week at least gives them some breathing space and is a step in the right direction.
“However, Moray’s SNP MSP has been conspicuous by his absence and wholeheartedly backed the current plans, after initially missing the vote, when the Scottish Conservatives forced a vote on them in Parliament last month
“He showed no sign of standing up for our coastal communities so he must now urgently clarify his position in light of this latest announcement.
“With the SNP-Green plan still committing to protecting a further ten per cent of our seas by 2030, this cannot simply be a rebranding exercise.
“Richard Lochhead must now say whether he will put the interests of Moray fishermen first, rather than bowing to the tune of Green MSPs propping up his SNP government as a result of the Bute House agreement.”