Environmentalists are outraged at Government plans to consider granting licences for oil and gas exploration in Scotland's Moray Firth. The area, rich in marine life, was only recently granted EU SAC (Special Area of Conservation) status.

Government plans came to light following an announcement on 20 December by Malcolm Wicks, Energy Minister, that whilst Cardigan Bay, also an EU SAC, would be spared, oil and gas exploration in the Moray Firth was likely to go ahead.

Both the Moray Firth and Cardigan bay are critical areas supporting significant populations of bottlenose dolphins - one of the reasons SAC status was granted in the first place.

Speaking to the diving enthusiasts paper 'Divernet' Mark Simmonds, Director of Science at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, said "at worst this could dramatically impact the dolphins' chance of survival in the Firth, and in combination with other threats could even drive this unique population towards extinction," he added that if prospecting went ahead the government would have, "let us all down".

It remains to be seen what the Scottish government position on the issue will be. Its marine environmental credentials were enhanced recently when it took a stance against ship to ship oil transfers in the Firth of Forth (again in this instance the alarms bells were rung by environmental NGOs).

Meanwhile, in a situation that is not unrelated, Manx environments, fishermen and local authorities continue to have reservations about possible aggregate exploitation in the North Irish sea.

These concerns are also being mirrored by groups in N W Ireland where Shell Oil, already exploiting gas reserves, are planning major undersea pipeline works which will pose possible pollution problems for inshore marine life in the bay area where the pipeline comes ashore.

With increasing pressure from oil, gas and aggregate interests to exploit inshore sea-bed areas all around the British Isles for commercial greed perhaps it is time that an all encompassing group was established to campaign to protect and retain these areas and the unique species that share them with us.

The Celtic League has expressed its unreserved opposition to the despoliation of our marine environment. Perhaps a coordinated campaign bringing together a variety of NGOs and other interest groups might make the governments in London, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Mann listen.

J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

01/02/08

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