Humza Yousaf and Douglas Ross conflict throughout FMQs over plans for HPMAs

Humza Yousaf and Douglas Ross clashed throughout First Minister’s Questions over the Scottish authorities’s controversial marine plans.

Proposals have been put ahead to create extremely protected marine areas (HPMAs) in at the very least 10% of Scotland’s waters.

The first minister and Net Zero Secretary Mairi McAllan have beforehand mentioned that such zones won’t be carried out in communities that are not looking for them.

During FMQs on Thursday, Scottish Tory chief Mr Ross branded the plans “reckless” as they’d “ban fishing in massive components of Scotland’s seas”.

He added: “They would danger 1000’s of jobs. They can be devastating to coastal communities.

“The first minister has said his government will not impose highly protected marine areas on any community that’s vehemently opposed to them.

“So fairly merely, can he outline what he means on this case by neighborhood and what degree of opposition will probably be thought of vehemently opposed?”

Mr Yousaf famous that the Scottish Conservatives had beforehand pledged to pilot the introduction of HPMAs in a manifesto.

Reiterating earlier statements, the primary minister mentioned: “What we have made absolutely clear is that this government will not impose HPMAs on any community that vehemently opposes them.”

Mr Yousaf defined {that a} session had taken place and responses have been being analysed.

He vowed that the Scottish authorities would proceed to interact with all of the communities concerned.

Mr Yousaf added: “It would be completely wrong of us to pre-empt what consent mechanism we end up putting in place or setting the parameters here today. That would, of course, risk excluding some voices that should be heard.”

The first minister added that he wouldn’t apologise for taking motion to sort out the dual crises of the local weather emergency and biodiversity loss.

He mentioned: “What I think we should all absolutely agree on is the fact that we have to take action to make sure our marine environment is sustainable for the future.

“What is just not going to assist our fishing communities is, after all, if that marine atmosphere is just not sustainable.

“We want to ensure it is so that the future of our fishing industry can continue for many, many years. And I am absolutely committed to doing that – not to the communities involved but hopefully with the communities involved.”

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Plenty of SNP MSPs have voiced their concern over the proposals.

Former ministers Kate Forbes, Fergus Ewing and Alasdair Allan have all raised points, with Mr Ewing dramatically tearing up the federal government session throughout a Holyrood debate on Tuesday.

All three voted towards a movement supporting the proposals in a subsequent debate on Wednesday, whereas different SNP representatives abstained within the vote.

Following FMQs, Mr Ross mentioned: “Humza Yousaf is out-of-touch with coastal communities and he’s even out of touch with many members of his own party.

“It took eight years for Nicola Sturgeon to face a significant SNP revolt. It’s taken Humza Yousaf lower than eight weeks.

“He’s losing his grip on his own party because he insists on pursuing an extreme policy that’s opposed by the very communities he wants to impose it on.

“Instead of arrogantly dismissing legitimate considerations, Humza Yousaf ought to do the appropriate factor and scrap these anti-fishing plans.”