Launched last Sunday Carol Shaw's petition has already attracted the signatures of 1,340 people concerned about the Cromarty Firth Port Authority's plans. The petition states:
"The Moray Firth is home to a resident population of Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise and seals: it is also visited by Minke Whales, Humpback Whales and Orca which will all be affected by a spill. It is home to a wide variety of resident and breeding sea birds and shore birds as well as numerous species of fish including salmon returning to spawn in the Rivers Ness, Nairn, Findhorn and Spey. These are important fishing rivers and an interruption, such as that resulting from a spill, will have an impact on the returning migratory fish.
From the human point of view the Firth is of great importance to the resident population who use it for work in the fishing industry and for leisure with water sports and recreational beaches. One of the major industries around the Firth is Tourism which would be impacted by beaches polluted with crude oil.
The media regularly carries reports of oil spillages from many sources around the globe and gives dramatic accounts of the devastation caused and how it takes years and years for the region to recover. I do not wish to see the Moray Firth put at such risk from a STS oil transfer accident.
A proposal similar to this for the Firth of Forth was scraped in 2008 after a risk assessment showed that the plans poised a high risk to sensitive marine life... let's make sure this is withdrawn again!"
13 comments:
All of us use oil one way or another. This is just a NIMBY protest
On behalf of the River Nairn Swans and Waterfowl Trust I support this petition. The firth is a narrow strip of water and any spill would be bad for the Marine and shore environment. I would ask all residents who value our beaches, tourist trade and environment to sign the petition as well. Joe Telfer.
Ive got to agree with the first post. While I would rather this did not take place, I would rather not have wind farms or traffic lights and I see no valid reason to stop this. While quite a simple nautical process have been forwarded, suddenly folk are running about with there hands in the air like its the Exxon Valdez. This process will be tightly regulated and governed and will not be "at the mercy of the waves," as a rather ignorant John Finnie has said. No, I'd rather it wasn't in my back yard but I don't see it as a problem.
Well said Flipper - 100% agree with you my fishy friend!!
What fish stocks are left the Firth have been 'hammered' by other means, not by oil.
Remember that this 'simple nautical process' is normaly only allowed to take place 12 miles off-shore because spills are a recognised risk. The exception to the 12 mile rule is when the transfer takes place in a port. In this case the Cromary Firth Port extends out into the Moray Firth for about 1 mile and this is where the transfers are proposed to take place. This location is ten miles from Nairn's beaches and I do not want to take the risk.
Had a look at the locations of the folk who signed the petition and wonder how it can be taken seriously when many of them are not even resident in the UK!
I believe there is going to be a meeting on this with councillors and people opposed to this issue in cromarty
Wednesday 27th Janmuary at 7.30pm
West Church Hall
High Street
Cromarty
We all need to attend to show our support and I have asked green peace also fro their support as this will have an impact on all the coastline as reported here back in 2007
http://forum.talkporty.org/viewtopic.php?t=1598
Please show your support by signing the petition below:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/en-gb/772/385/925/tell-the-cromarty-firth-port-authority-no-to-ship-to-ship-transfers-in-moray-firth/?taf_id=20693257&cid=fb_na
Having just attended a public meeting about this, the people who think this process will be highly regulated are very naive. If a hose split during a transfer 1 ton of oil per second would be poured into the firth and would reach the shore within 18 minutes. Cromarty Port Authorities plan for this is to let any spillage decompose naturally - In other words they plan to do nothing. Hundreds of people are directly or indirectly employed in the tourism industry in this area and I think dozens of tankers and no Dolphins will ensure most of them will no longer have an income.
Regarding the NIMBY comment - we already have this process happening in the Cromarty Firth at Nigg which is in fact closer to Cromarty than the proposed site, so maybe find out exactly what this is about before you make stupid statements.
Where do you get the information about allowing spillage to decompose naturally Fiona? Have you got a link please?
Up to 16 fishing boats fish for prawns in this area and this would block off a large area of fishing ground, where good quality prawns are caught east end of proposed transfer area. The general public are unaware of the sea bed damage when these ships haul there anchor leaving great holes and mud mounds on seabed which is happening on a regular basis when other shipping anchors up adjacent to proposed site. Night fishing is the norm and as I know snagging these at say 2am is stressful and with your gear straining stuck to the sea bed.
Fishing has been going one here for generation's. This proposal must be rejected outright
There is already an agreed facillity and process in place at Nigg. The case for needing this new service has not been made.
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