HOW can the local community have any confidence in Marine Scotland's ability to protect our marine environment given its silence on the clear threat posed by ship to ship oil transfers (“ Anger at silence over oil spill fears”, The Herald, October 31)? It is very disappointing that a Scottish Government body has not been willing to stand up to the Maritime & Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the port authority on such an important issue, and be seen to do so.
Marine Scotland was not listed as an official consultee in the published Cromarty Firth Port Authority (CFPA) application notice of the official list of consultees provided by MCA. Coastal communities and the other consultees really needed Marine Scotland input to the licence award process. What happened to openness and transparency in this licence process?
Is Marine Scotland being forced out of the consultation process by MCA?
Craig Fraser,
Highland Councillor (SNP),
Church Street, Cromarty.
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