Scotland’s highly protected marine area plan in doubt, but not dead

A government plan to designate at least 10 percent of Scotland’s seas as highly protected marine areas (HPMAs) by 2026 will not be implemented – for now.

On 29 June, Scotland Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Net Zero, and Just Transition Màiri McAllan announced that as part of a power-sharing deal with the Scottish National Party (SNP), McAllan’s Scottish Green Party would drop its push to make 10 percent of Scotland’s exclusive economic zone into HPMAs, which would severely limit fishing activity. McAllan cited opposition from coastal communities as a factor in the decision.

“I have been clear from the beginning that this government believes, and is utterly convinced, that we must take forward enhanced marine protection in Scotland’s waters,” McAllan said in a statement. “Equally, however, we are committed to doing so by a process in which communities can have faith and that represents fairness and justice, and that is exactly what we will continue to take forward.”

Seafood industry groups, including Salmon Scotland Chief Executive Tavish Scott and Scottish Fishermen’s Federation Chief Executive Elspeth Macdonald, lauded the announcement but warned the Green Party against “attempting to disguise its fundamental flaws by renaming it.”

“Ministers will now need to reassure people that they are not simply intent on introducing the same policy by the back door,” Macdonald said. “The seafood sector has set out a clear pathway on how we can work with government to strike the right balance between nature conservation and sustainable use, and the test for government now is to deliver upon that."

McAllan responded to a question about whether the proposal had really been abandoned …

Photo courtesy of the Scottish government