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| Why are Highly Protected Marine Areas so controversial? | Why are Highly Protected Marine Areas so controversial? |
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| The government has been warned the scheme could have a "devastating" impact on fishing communities | The government has been warned the scheme could have a "devastating" impact on fishing communities |
| The Scottish government is facing calls to scrap its controversial plans for Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). | The Scottish government is facing calls to scrap its controversial plans for Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). |
| The proposals to restrict fishing and other human activities in some coastal areas are designed to protect wildlife and the environment. | The proposals to restrict fishing and other human activities in some coastal areas are designed to protect wildlife and the environment. |
| But members of the fishing industry, Highland and island communities and even some SNP MSPs have raised concerns about the scheme. | But members of the fishing industry, Highland and island communities and even some SNP MSPs have raised concerns about the scheme. |
| A Scottish Tory motion considered by MSPs on Wednesday called for the scheme to be "fundamentally reconsidered". | A Scottish Tory motion considered by MSPs on Wednesday called for the scheme to be "fundamentally reconsidered". |
| A government amendment, which stated HPMAs will not be imposed on communities which are "vehemently" opposed to them, passed with 61 votes to 55 and had three abstentions. | A government amendment, which stated HPMAs will not be imposed on communities which are "vehemently" opposed to them, passed with 61 votes to 55 and had three abstentions. |
| What are the proposals? | What are the proposals? |
| As part of the Bute House Agreement - which brought the Scottish Greens into government in a historic power-sharing deal with the SNP - Holyrood ministers committed to designate at least 10% of Scotland's seas as HPMAs by 2026. | As part of the Bute House Agreement - which brought the Scottish Greens into government in a historic power-sharing deal with the SNP - Holyrood ministers committed to designate at least 10% of Scotland's seas as HPMAs by 2026. |
| It means that all forms of fishing including recreational catch and release angling would be prohibited in selected sites. | It means that all forms of fishing including recreational catch and release angling would be prohibited in selected sites. |
| Seaweed harvesting would also be banned, no new marine renewable energy schemes would be allowed and the laying of subsea cables would be restricted. | Seaweed harvesting would also be banned, no new marine renewable energy schemes would be allowed and the laying of subsea cables would be restricted. |
| Managed levels of swimming, snorkelling and windsurfing would be allowed. | Managed levels of swimming, snorkelling and windsurfing would be allowed. |
| A consultation on the scheme closed last month, with a further consultation on proposed sites likely to take place in 2025. | A consultation on the scheme closed last month, with a further consultation on proposed sites likely to take place in 2025. |
| What is the aim? | What is the aim? |
| About 37% of Scotland's seas are already included in Scotland's Marine Protected Areas network. | About 37% of Scotland's seas are already included in Scotland's Marine Protected Areas network. |
| These areas are managed for the long-term conservation of marine resources, ecosystems services, or cultural heritage. | These areas are managed for the long-term conservation of marine resources, ecosystems services, or cultural heritage. |
| However, marine conservation groups have warned the proposals do not go far enough. | However, marine conservation groups have warned the proposals do not go far enough. |
| Fishing industry leaders have called for the proposals to be reconsidered | Fishing industry leaders have called for the proposals to be reconsidered |
| Our Seas - a coalition including the National Trust for Scotland, angling bodies, ecotourism firms, scallop divers, coastal communities and salmon conservation boards - has called for further protection, warning fishing stock has plummeted since a three-mile limit on trawling around the coastline was lifted in 1984. | Our Seas - a coalition including the National Trust for Scotland, angling bodies, ecotourism firms, scallop divers, coastal communities and salmon conservation boards - has called for further protection, warning fishing stock has plummeted since a three-mile limit on trawling around the coastline was lifted in 1984. |
| The Scottish government also wants to go further. It has said the new HPMAs are required to protect stock, while also warning of the "twin crises" of climate change and biodiversity loss. | The Scottish government also wants to go further. It has said the new HPMAs are required to protect stock, while also warning of the "twin crises" of climate change and biodiversity loss. |
| The Bute House Agreement stated that HPMAs aim to "provide protection from all extractive, destructive and depositional activities, including all fisheries, aquaculture and other infrastructure developments, while allowing other activities, such as tourism or recreational water activities, at non-damaging levels". | The Bute House Agreement stated that HPMAs aim to "provide protection from all extractive, destructive and depositional activities, including all fisheries, aquaculture and other infrastructure developments, while allowing other activities, such as tourism or recreational water activities, at non-damaging levels". |
| Why are fishermen opposed to it? | Why are fishermen opposed to it? |
| The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), which represents the country's fishermen's associations, has warned HPMAs could have a "catastrophic impact" on the industry. | The Scottish Fishermen's Federation (SFF), which represents the country's fishermen's associations, has warned HPMAs could have a "catastrophic impact" on the industry. |
| Chief executive Elspeth Macdonald said the scheme "is politically driven rather than based on robust policy analysis". | Chief executive Elspeth Macdonald said the scheme "is politically driven rather than based on robust policy analysis". |
| She added: "The impact on other marine users is potentially immense, and government hasn't yet been able to set out how it will assess the displacement of marine activities including fishing into other areas, or the environmental or socio-economic impacts." | She added: "The impact on other marine users is potentially immense, and government hasn't yet been able to set out how it will assess the displacement of marine activities including fishing into other areas, or the environmental or socio-economic impacts." |
| The organisation has urged Holyrood ministers to follow England's lead and launch a pilot scheme in some marine areas so the the impact of HPMAs can be analysed. | The organisation has urged Holyrood ministers to follow England's lead and launch a pilot scheme in some marine areas so the the impact of HPMAs can be analysed. |
| "SFF is urging the Scottish government to have a radical rethink on this and at very least accept our alternative proposal for two pilot projects to assess the need, practicalities and costs/benefits in a proper scientific manner," Ms Macdonald added. | "SFF is urging the Scottish government to have a radical rethink on this and at very least accept our alternative proposal for two pilot projects to assess the need, practicalities and costs/benefits in a proper scientific manner," Ms Macdonald added. |
| The Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation has also criticised a lack of detail about the ecological impact of the proposals. | The Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation has also criticised a lack of detail about the ecological impact of the proposals. |
| Fishing could be finished for me and my young son | Fishing could be finished for me and my young son |
| Island families oppose marine protection areas | Island families oppose marine protection areas |
| Isles anger over plans to protect Scottish waters | Isles anger over plans to protect Scottish waters |
| Salmon Scotland, which represents salmon farms, warned HPMAs could leads to "significant job losses in some of our most fragile coastal communities". | Salmon Scotland, which represents salmon farms, warned HPMAs could leads to "significant job losses in some of our most fragile coastal communities". |
| Western Isles local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has voiced opposition, as has Highland Council. | Western Isles local authority Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has voiced opposition, as has Highland Council. |
| Such sentiments have even been popularised in new song by Celtic music band Skippinish. | Such sentiments have even been popularised in new song by Celtic music band Skippinish. |
| The track, called The Clearances Again, warns "the soul will be torn" from island communities, with the fishing proposals representing "a wrecking ball through our existence". | The track, called The Clearances Again, warns "the soul will be torn" from island communities, with the fishing proposals representing "a wrecking ball through our existence". |
| What have MSPs said? | What have MSPs said? |
| Former SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes has told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that HPMAs could be "hugely devastating" for communities. | Former SNP leadership candidate Kate Forbes has told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme that HPMAs could be "hugely devastating" for communities. |
| The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP said the scheme could lead to further depopulation in the Highlands and islands, warning people - not wildlife - could become the "endangered species". | The Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch MSP said the scheme could lead to further depopulation in the Highlands and islands, warning people - not wildlife - could become the "endangered species". |
| Kate Forbes has been urged to rebel against the government | Kate Forbes has been urged to rebel against the government |
| Ms Forbes insisted her position on HPMAs has not changed since she pledged to scrap it in the SNP leadership election - but said there could be a way forward if the Scottish government worked with coastal communities. | Ms Forbes insisted her position on HPMAs has not changed since she pledged to scrap it in the SNP leadership election - but said there could be a way forward if the Scottish government worked with coastal communities. |
| SNP MSP Fergus Ewing - who ripped up the new fisheries protection plan in the Scottish Parliament - and party colleague Karen Adam have also criticised the scheme. | SNP MSP Fergus Ewing - who ripped up the new fisheries protection plan in the Scottish Parliament - and party colleague Karen Adam have also criticised the scheme. |
| Speaking in the chamber on Wednesday, SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar Alasdair Allan said: "I have never had to confront anything quite like the issue of HPMAs before. | Speaking in the chamber on Wednesday, SNP MSP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar Alasdair Allan said: "I have never had to confront anything quite like the issue of HPMAs before. |
| "A policy to which to the best of my recollection literally every single person of the many in my island community who have offered me a view is strongly opposed." | "A policy to which to the best of my recollection literally every single person of the many in my island community who have offered me a view is strongly opposed." |
| Mr Allan, Ms Forbes and Mr Ewing all voted against a Scottish government amendment which recognises that HPMAs will not be imposed on communities which are "vehemently" opposed to them. | Mr Allan, Ms Forbes and Mr Ewing all voted against a Scottish government amendment which recognises that HPMAs will not be imposed on communities which are "vehemently" opposed to them. |
| Ex-minister Fergus Ewing angrily ripped up the plans to introduce the controversial Highly Protected Marine Areas | Ex-minister Fergus Ewing angrily ripped up the plans to introduce the controversial Highly Protected Marine Areas |
| Ex-minister Fergus Ewing angrily ripped up the plans to introduce the controversial Highly Protected Marine Areas | Ex-minister Fergus Ewing angrily ripped up the plans to introduce the controversial Highly Protected Marine Areas |
| The Scottish Conservatives had pledged to pilot the introduction of HPMAs in their 2021 manifesto. | The Scottish Conservatives had pledged to pilot the introduction of HPMAs in their 2021 manifesto. |
| However they urged rebel SNP MSPs to back their call for the implementation and timeframe of the plan to be reconsidered in the vote. | However they urged rebel SNP MSPs to back their call for the implementation and timeframe of the plan to be reconsidered in the vote. |
| Following the vote, their rural economy spokesperson Rachael Hamilton said: "Even backbench SNP MSPs have recognised the damage that Humza Yousaf's HPMA proposals would do to coastal communities right across Scotland. | Following the vote, their rural economy spokesperson Rachael Hamilton said: "Even backbench SNP MSPs have recognised the damage that Humza Yousaf's HPMA proposals would do to coastal communities right across Scotland. |
| "The SNP-Green government must listen to the opposition across the Scottish Parliament and from Scotland's fishermen and scrap its plans to ban fishing in large parts of Scottish waters." | "The SNP-Green government must listen to the opposition across the Scottish Parliament and from Scotland's fishermen and scrap its plans to ban fishing in large parts of Scottish waters." |
| Labour and Lib Dem amendments urging ministers to work with fishing communities and island communities passed unanimously. | Labour and Lib Dem amendments urging ministers to work with fishing communities and island communities passed unanimously. |
| What has the government said? | What has the government said? |
| Before the vote, First Minister Humza Yousaf said the government will not "impose these policies on communities that don't want them" and pledged to work constructively with them. | Before the vote, First Minister Humza Yousaf said the government will not "impose these policies on communities that don't want them" and pledged to work constructively with them. |
| Mairi McAllan, the government's Net Zero and Just Transition Secretary, has said she will visit coastal and island communities in the coming months to hear from those directly affected. | Mairi McAllan, the government's Net Zero and Just Transition Secretary, has said she will visit coastal and island communities in the coming months to hear from those directly affected. |
| In a statement, she said: "We must be prepared to take action that corresponds with the scale of the climate and nature crisis, but we must do so via a fair and just transition which empowers communities and shares in the benefits of a green economy. | In a statement, she said: "We must be prepared to take action that corresponds with the scale of the climate and nature crisis, but we must do so via a fair and just transition which empowers communities and shares in the benefits of a green economy. |
| "I recognise there is considerable strength of feeling on this issue, which is why I wanted to consult so early in the process on the principles of HPMAs and the criteria that might constitute site selection." | "I recognise there is considerable strength of feeling on this issue, which is why I wanted to consult so early in the process on the principles of HPMAs and the criteria that might constitute site selection." |
| She added that the Scottish government had not yet identified any sites. | She added that the Scottish government had not yet identified any sites. |
| First Minister Humza Yousaf says the government will not impose the scheme on communities that oppose it | First Minister Humza Yousaf says the government will not impose the scheme on communities that oppose it |
| The Greens' coastal spokeswoman, Ariane Burgess, accused the Tories of "breath-taking hypocrisy" during the debate. | The Greens' coastal spokeswoman, Ariane Burgess, accused the Tories of "breath-taking hypocrisy" during the debate. |
| She said: "While the Scottish government is consulting on HPMAs, the UK government is already pushing ahead with three of their own. So when it comes to no take zones, the Tories believe it's one rule for Scotland and another for the rest of the UK. | She said: "While the Scottish government is consulting on HPMAs, the UK government is already pushing ahead with three of their own. So when it comes to no take zones, the Tories believe it's one rule for Scotland and another for the rest of the UK. |
| "No take zones could be transformative for our coastal communities, who will be at the heart of co-designing them." | "No take zones could be transformative for our coastal communities, who will be at the heart of co-designing them." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Scottish government | Scottish government |
| Fishing | Fishing |
| Scottish Greens | Scottish Greens |
| Scottish Conservatives | Scottish Conservatives |
| SNP (Scottish National Party) | SNP (Scottish National Party) |
| Fishing industry | Fishing industry |