¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ has responded to the Scottish Government Consultation on Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).
Councillor Robin Currie, Leader of ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥:
“We remain committed to tackling the effects of climate change as we all work towards achieving net zero by 2045. Whilst that commitment remains, we believe the impact of HPMAs would have detrimental effects on our the blue economy which our communities rely on including fishing businesses, aquaculture and marine tourism.
Many people and businesses across ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute are gravely concerned and oppose the proposals. We echo these concerns and have highlighted the potential economic and social devastation in our response to the Scottish Government.
Our fragile coastal, remote and island communities depend on marine tourism, aquaculture and fishing. HPMAs in the proposed form threaten a devastating reduction of jobs and ultimately people across the western half of Scotland. In some cases, businesses and their activities would close down completely. This is a loss that ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ and Bute and the wider west coast of Scotland simply cannot agree with, afford or sustain.â€