Green hijack will put fish industry in red

Call to halt ‘catastrophic’ conservation zones

- KATHARINE HAY

FISHING leaders have called for the plug to be pulled on eco zone plans as they accused the Greens of hijacking them.

They say Scottish Government proposals will be catastrophic and could put the embattled industry into the red.

Highly Protected Marine Areas under consultation would close at least 10 per cent of Scottish waters.

Commercial and recreational fishing would be banned along with seaweed harvesting and shellfish cultivation.

Scotland's existing network of Marine Protected Areas already covers 37 per cent of its seas.