Proposals for a series of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) have been scrapped, the Scottish Government has confirmed. Proposals had previously been put forward to create HPMAs in at least 10% of Scotland’s waters – which would have restricted fishing and other activities. Plans to deliver increased protection for Scotland’s marine environment will be revised, […]
A decision taken by Marine Scotland last year to vary sea fishing licences for vessels using methods believed to be harmful to marine life has been branded unlawful by a judge. The Court of Session in Scotland has ruled that the Scottish Government’s current approach to licencing of scallop dredging, and bottom-trawling is “unlawful”. Lord […]
A man sailing a yacht in the North Sea near Scotland’s Shetland Islands said that an orca repeatedly rammed into his boat, exhibiting behaviour that’s been recently seen in killer whales farther south. This is the same behaviour that has been seen in the Iberian orca population, but it is the first time it has been known […]
SEPA has raised the risk of water scarcity around the Loch Maree area in the Highlands to Significant, the highest level available. Two areas are also now at moderate scarcity – the Ness area in the Highlands and the Esk area of Dumfriesshire. The risk of water scarcity in the Loch Maree area of the […]
From NatureScot: A trailblazing marine environment fund – designed to help ensure Scotland’s coasts and seas are healthy, productive and nature-rich – is already having a great impact, after its first two years saw over £3.2m in funding distributed to 45 projects. Examples of the projects funded around Scotland include improving the ability to rescue […]
A campaign group’s legal challenge to the Scottish Government over fishing techniques which it says are destroying the seabed has got under way at Scotland’s highest civil court, STV reported. Open Seas, which works to protect and improve the marine environment, claims the Government’s licensing of scallop-dredging in Scottish waters is causing significant damage to […]
A motion from the Scottish Conservatives calling on the Scottish Government to “reconsider” its Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) proposals has failed to garner majority support. Three members of the governing SNP party rebelled in a debate over the Scottish Government’s controversial proposals for HPMAs, held on 3rd May. The commitment to introducing HPMAs, in which […]
Humza Yousaf, Scotland’s First Minister, was answering questions during the First Minister’s Question Time in the Holyrood Parliament when a question was raised on Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) by Conservative & Unionist MSP for the Highlands and Islands, Donald Cameron. Mr Cameron asked the First Minister if he would recommit to not forcing HPMAs […]