Case for opposing risky ship-to-ship fuel transfers

COMMUNITIES around the Moray Firth will be, as I am, very grateful for the support of the Marine Conservation Society, the National Trust for Scotland, the Scottish Wildlife Trust, RSPB Scotland, Whale and Dolphin Conservation and WWF Scotland in the campaign to prevent risky ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Firth (“Concern voiced for dolphins over fuel transfers”, The Herald, October 26).

The application for a licence to transfer oil between ships in open water, rather than in the relative safety of Nigg harbour, threatens the vibrant, indispensable life of the Moray Firth. Its internationally important ecosystems not only support iconic bottlenose dolphins, among a huge variety of other animals and plants, but also underpin our vital fisheries and tourism industries.

When this kind of ship-to-ship oil transfer was proposed for the Firth of Forth a decade ago, Greens campaigned alongside environmentalists, scientists and local people, eventually persuading the new SNP Government to join the opposition. The plans were dropped. This time, however, the Scottish Government has so far declined to comment, and even failed to respond to the consultation run by the UK Maritime and Coastguard Agency, which will make the final decision on the application.

Worryingly, Highland Council’s SNP leader has said she “understands” that the Scottish Government actually support the proposal.

Time has not quite run out. The MCA has delayed a decision, giving the Government a second chance to respond. I appeal to Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham to join Scotland’s environmental organisations and the Moray Firth’s communities and oppose this dangerous scheme. John Finnie, Green MSP, Highlands and Islands, The Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh.