Scot Gov must get off the fence and rule out ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Moray Firth
The Scottish Government must get off the fence and rule out ship-to-ship oil transfers in the environmentally-sensitive Moray Firth, according to the Scottish Greens who today supported a rally on the issue outside Holyrood.
In January last year, Highland Green MSP John Finnie launched a Save Our Dolphins petition against the Cromarty Firth Port Authority's proposal, gathering almost 4,000 signatures.
A three-year campaign by Green MSPs to halt similar plans in the Firth of Forth ended in victory when Forth Ports dropped their proposal in 2008.
Speaking at today's rally, Scottish Greens environment spokesperson Mark Ruskell MSP said:
"The precious environment and the livelihoods of coastal communities remain at risk as the Scottish Government continues to sit on the fence on this vital issue. While the decision to licence the application ultimately rests with the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, Scottish Ministers have clear legal powers to protect the environment, and the environmental importance of the Moray Firth couldn't be clearer. They need to put their foot down, and show whose side they are on.
"It's great to see public opposition growing all the time, and I'm hopeful that we can repeat our success of 2008 and kill off this daft plan. The alternative is we open the door to similar risky activities near coastal communities all around Scotland."