Environmental campaigners are urging the Scottish Government to use European legislation to block plans for controversial ship-to-ship oil transfers in the Moray Firth.
A new wing of a protest movement opposing the Port of Cromarty Firth’s proposed licence application has published an “open letter” it sent to Scottish Environment Secretary Roseanna Cunningham.
Nairnshirerising spokesman Iain Bruce has urged the Scottish Government “to stop patronising the communities of the Moray Firth by parroting that the issuing of a ship-to-ship oil transfer licence is a reserved matter,” and “explain why the cabinet secretary can’t pronounce that she’ll refuse to issue a licence under European protected species legislation.”
He states in the letter that the EU law “is an essential element of any licence issued by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) for ship-to-ship oil transfer to be effective in Scotland.”
Nairnshirerising was formed in the wake of a Holyrood debate this month which Green Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie set in motion opposing the transfer of crude oil in open waters of the dolphin-friendly firth.
Politicians across the political divide spoke out against the proposed licence.
The Scottish Government has acknowledged the licence decision is not a devolved matter.
Mr Bruce said: “It’s a matter of semantics and betrays their position in 2010 when they stood against a similar proposal for the Firth of Forth.”
A spokesman for the the Scottish Government said: “It’s for the UK Government to determine whether ship-to-ship oil transfer activity complies with the EU Habitats Directive. We believe these powers should be devolved.”
A spokeswoman for the port reaffirmed that it must act “in the interests of the majority of our stakeholders.”
She added: “We believe people have the right to debate and protest. We continue to listen to feedback.
“We fully appreciate that the environment in which we operate is extremely special, and we’re legally bound to protect it.”
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