As our supporters will be aware, Marine Connection has been voicing our concern over plans by the Cromarty Firth Port Authority application to carry out ship-to-ship oil transfers at sea as we believe this needlessly puts local wildlife, including the resident population of bottlenose dolphins, under threat. After thousands joined to speak out against these plans last year, the Port Authority was forced to submit an updated application. To date, this has not materialised however as it is vital that we all continue to show the level of public concern over this.
Last week, Margaux Dodds from Marine Connection, joined others from pressure group Cromarty Rising and local residents to present a further petition of almost 12,000 signatures to Fergus Ewing, the Scottish government minister responsible for the area, at his regular surgery. However Mr Ewing did not attend due to ‘prior commitments’ and despite assuring that one of his staff would accept the petition and hear concerns, they would not do so publicly. Several constituents did, however, speak to members of Mr Ewing’s staff and we now await feedback on just how much support Fergus Ewing is willing to give to help save the dolphin population and other wildlife in this protected area.
