Pro-dolphin group claims victory in conservation row
● Ship-to-ship oil transfer plans dropped by port
The world’s most northerly population of bottlenose dolphins have been saved from potential oil pollution after a campaign by a Highland village.
Scotland’s largest population of bottlenose dolphins, which lives in the inner Moray Firth, was threatened by plans to move up to 180,000 tonnes of oil, four times a month, between ships.
Bottlenose dolphins, of which only several hundred live in British waters, are protected, with the Moray Firth being a conservation area under EU law.
The controversial proposals were made by the Port of Cromarty Firth Authority, leading to a three-year campaign which gathered support internationally.
But it announced in a newsletter that“due to higher priorityprojects, the port will not be pursuing the re-submission of our ship-to-ship at anchor application”.
Although the population of Cromarty is just 700, neighbours organised a passionate campaign which included environmentalists, politicians and crime writer Ian Rankin.
The plans were described by Professor Paul Thompson, an expert in marine life at the University of Aberdeen, as “the least appropriate location on the whole coast of Europe to undertake this activity”.
Despite this, the proposal was submitted to the Marine Coastguard Authority.
Kate Forbes, the constituency MSP for the Black Isle, who campaigned against the plans, said: “There was a lot of heavy campaigning at the beginning, with a petition endorsed by big names and a debate at the Scottish Parliament which I spoke in.
“From the beginning, the protesters from a tiny little village right on the periphery of the Black Isle, managed to get the support of some of the biggest environmental lobby groups, as well as the First Minister.
“They really went global and this will be a huge relief for them.”
Campaign group Cromarty Rising group, which led the protests and petition, said: “Thanks to all who gave their support in a hard fought campaign.
“It is not an admission of defeat by the port but the nearest we will ever see in print.
“For whatever reason, it’s great for the communities and environment of the Inner Moray Firth that this project has finally be dropped and testament to the what people can do when we get together for a common cause.”