Anger at silence over oil spill fears
Marine Scotland urged to make statement on fresh shipping plan
PRESSURE is growing on the body responsible for Scotland’s seas as it has said nothing about the planned transfer of millions of tonnes of crude oil at one of the most environmentally sensitive sites in Europe.
Campaigners are angry that after 10 months the Scottish Government’s body Marine Scotland has yet to comment, despite being officially asked.
It was revealed last Christmas that the Cromarty Fort Port Authority (CFPA) had applied to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for a licence to transfer up to nine million tonnes a year between tankers at the mouth of the Cromarty Firth.
One expert said the location is visited more frequently by bottlenose dolphins than any other in Europe. It is also close to important bird colonies and other conservation sites.
However, Marine Scotland, the directorate of the Scottish Government “responsible for the integrated management of Scotland’s seas” has not given its view.
It says that under existing legislation it is not one of the MCA’s statutory consultees. But the MCA says it had asked Marine Scotland to comment at the start of the process, and would be asking it again as the port authority is “refining” its application.
Public bodies Scottish Natural Heritage, Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and the Highland Council have all raised concerns. Marine Scotland’s silence has led to growing speculation ministers support the plan.
CFPA insists it takes its environmental responsibilities very seriously. But communities around the Cromarty and Moray firths are convinced any oil spill could herald an environmental catastrophe, wiping out the considerable green tourism market.
Cromarty, on the north east tip of the Black Isle, is the closest to the transfer site. A spokesman for the local campaign group Cromarty Rising said: “For Marine Scotland, or its ministerial masters, to hide behind the fine print of who is on the list of statutory consultees, is outrageous. Silence really is not an option for those charged with responsibility for our seas.”
A spokeswoman for the MCA said once the CFPA’s “refinement process” was completed the MCA would forward the refined application for comment to the same “direct consultees” addressed at the start of the public consultation, including Marine Scotland, as well as SNH, SEPA, HC and the RSPB. There would be further engagement with these bodies “and with the Scottish Government before a final determination is made”.
When asked why there had been no comment so far and whether there would be on the amended application, a government spokeswoman for Marine Scotland would only say: “Our position has not changed – we expect the UK Government to formally consult the Scottish Government before a decision about the application is taken.”