The Scottish Conservatives have pledged to “stop the squeeze” on fishermen by halting “colossal” wind farms on fishing grounds to allow consultation with the industry on a visit to Peterhead from the Shadow Defra Secretary.
Victoria Atkins visited Peterhead Harbour to meet Scottish Fishing Federation (SFF) chief executive Elspeth Macdonald to discuss the future and challenges of the industry.
She was accompanied by shadow Scottish secretary Andrew Bowie, Gordon and Buchan MP Harriet Cross, Scottish Conservative candidate for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, James Adams, and Moray candidate Tim Eagle, on a tour of Peterhead Fish Market.
Other issues discussed include the lack of workers within the industry, increased fuel costs, the 12-year reciprocal access deal given to the EU for fishing in UK waters, and the SNP’s economic link quota increase.
The SFF has warned that the Scottish Government’s plans to install up to 40GW of offshore wind capacity by 2040 are “far too high” and would cause irreversible damage to the marine environment – while displacing fishing fleets from grounds they have worked for generations.
A report carried out for the SFF has shown the surge in offshore wind developments will exclude the trawling fleet from 50% of fishing grounds by 2050.
Following her visit to Peterhead, Shadow Defra Secretary Victoria Atkins said: “Meeting fishermen and Elspeth Macdonald at Peterhead Fish Market showed me the hard work, resilience and courage of this vital industry, as well as the day-to-day challenges they face.
“Keir Starmer’s decision to give £6 billion of fish to the EU in his surrender of our waters has put Scotland’s seas under pressure like never before.
“As if this isn’t enough, fishermen tell me that the accumulation of colossal offshore wind farms in their busiest waters is pushing them out of their traditional fishing grounds.
“This is happening without consultation or accountability for the harmful impact on Scotland’s fishing sector.
“The Scottish Conservatives would halt these developments on fishing grounds until meaningful engagement takes place and the effects on fishing are fully understood.
“I and the Scottish Conservatives will continue to work alongside the SFF to raise these concerns in Westminster for the protection of our fishing industry, which is built on Scottish heritage and sustainable fish stocks.”
Scottish Conservative candidate for Banffshire and Buchan Coast, James Adams, attended the SFF’s hustings event in Fraserburgh on Friday, signing the organisation’s moratorium to halt offshore wind consents until the industry is properly consulted on developments.
He added: “I was delighted to welcome Victoria Atkins for what was an insightful visit with the SFF to Peterhead Harbour.
“Offshore wind must be planned in a way that involves proper consultation with our fishing sector and isn’t to the detriment of the sustainability of our world-leading industry here in Banffshire and Buchan Coast.
“That is why I and the Scottish Conservatives are committed to protecting access to our fishing grounds that protects jobs, our food security and the economies of our coastal communities.”
