Scottish Government deluged with more than 4,400 responses to 'catastrophic' £100,000 HPMA proposals

The controversial Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) will no longer be implemented by the Scottish Government in 10 per cent of the country’s waters by 2026.

Mairi McAllan made the announcement on Thursday after it was revealed that the Scottish Government has been deluged with more than 4,400 responses to its “devastating” and “unworkable” plans.

Speaking in Parliament Ms McAllan, Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Just Transition, said delaying the date was due to concerns raised over the short timeframe ministers had to work with coastal communities to deliver the plans.

She said that the had ‘listened intently’ to concerns from various groups, stressing she had ‘no doubt of the strong views both for and against’ the plans.

​The Scottish Government has been deluged with more than 4,400 responses to its  plans for HPMAs.

"While we remain firmly committed to the outcome of enhanced marine protection, the proposal as consulted on will not be progressed," she said. "This means we will no longer seek to implement HMPAs across 10% of Scotland’s seas by 2026.”

Commenting on the news, Banff and Buchan MP David Duguid said: “The SNP-Green government’s announcement on merely delaying their plans doesn’t address the fishing sector’s fundamental concerns on the implementation of HPMAs.

“I congratulate the SFF and other industry stakeholders who have shown, through their own concerns, expertise and approach to sustainability and conservation, that they will not let the Scottish Government pull the wool over their eyes.

“Mairi McAllan has dressed this up as a rethink but she appears to be just kicking the can down the road to 2030 and wants to tie our fishing industry back to the EU by assigning HPMAs in 10 per cent of Scottish waters.

“This has been yet another hastily implemented scheme by the SNP and has been poorly consulted with the industry and communities affected.

“Fishermen are not against conservation and the Scottish Government should take this delay to engage properly on why and how these measures should be introduced in an environment the industry knows best.”