HPMAs Scotland: Don't hold your breath - fishing sector wary over Scottish Government announcement

The Scottish Government announced it will scrap current plans on no-fishing zones.

The Scottish Government has scrapped its current HPMA plans (pic: Jeff J Mitchell)

Members of Scotland’s fishing sector have cautiously welcomed the Scottish Government’s announcement that it will bin its current plans on highly protected marine areas (HPMAs).

And there’s little wonder given the initial announcement in December last year sent shockwaves through coastal communities. To this day, many living off the sea said there was zero stakeholder engagement from the outset when ministers decided they were going to ban fishing in ten per cent of Scotland’s waters.

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Some people in rural communities have gone as far as to compare the current plans to the Highland Clearances.

It is clear, from Thursday’s announcement, that the timeline for implementing new marine protection zones has definitely been pushed back, from 2026 to 2030. Despite not knowing what those new plans will be, this will at least give coastal communities some breathing space.

Sources have said that there has also been some recognition among ministers that the proposals were poorly communicated when first announced. While this is good to know, would it not be better if this recognition was made in a public apology to the communities who have been under unduly stress for the last six months?

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While the detail of what those plans will be come 2030 remain unknown, many in the seafood sector, including the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation, have said they have a clear pathway on how the industry can work with ministers to reach a balance between nature conservation and sustainable fishing practices. They just need the Scottish Government to listen to them.

It seems ministers have listened to a degree, given todays’ shelving of the current HPMA plans, but members of the fishing community are still wary of what’s to come.

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They said they need more reassurance that the Scottish Government will not simply introduce the same policy "by the back door.”

There is a serious lack of trust in the government from the fishing community, if any, that ministers will have to work hard to rebuild.

They will need to do this if they want to stick to their word of bringing those whose livelihoods depend on the sea with them as they draft these fresh proposals.

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It is understood the Scottish Government will use the summer months to develop the new plans.

A spokesman for First Minister Humza Yousaf said they are “still committed to enhanced marine protection and we will come forward with other proposals about how that looks...and it will be very different”, adding: “We're still at the drawing board stage here.”

It’s a no brainer the Scottish Government will need to work hard and fast towards reaching its multiple environment-related targets be it for marine protection, biodiversity or climate change.

But, given they are back to the drawing board stage on HPMAs, let’s hope the ministers steering these proposals have learnt from their drastic error in sailing ahead without the fishing community and realise that reaching those targets means putting those whose livelihoods depend on the sea at the heart of those plans.