Following the Scottish Government's ministerial statement on HPMAs, Highlands and Islands MSP and Deputy Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, Jamie Halcro Johnston said:
“Once again, it looks like the Scottish Government has been forced to backtrack on its failed agenda.
"The Cabinet Secretary now claims there will be dialogue with marine stakeholders, and that coastal communities will be at the heart of that. But that just begs the question: why wasn't this approach taken from the very beginning?
"And what is concerning is that, despite HPMAs being a key part of the Bute House Agreement between the SNP and Scottish Greens, the Greens appear suspiciously happy with this new approach.
“My concern is that, rather than being a genuine U-turn forced by the anger in local communities, opposition MSPs and then threat of an SNP backbench rebellion, this supposed 'new approach' is nothing more than sleight of hand from SNP ministers.
"Scotland's coastal and fishing communities must guard against complacency. If the Scottish Greens really are happy with this seeming reversal on something that is a key issue for them, that should raise concerns over what the Scottish Government's true intentions really are.
"I am certainly not taking this announcement at face value, and will be continuing to press the Scottish Government to be clear that their unpopular HPMAs plans aren't going to simply be repackaged and brought back in the future".
