Dolphin euthanasia fears if ship-to-ship spill horror scenario takes … – Inverness Courier

Published: 30/04/2017 11:00 - Updated: 28/04/2017 16:04

Written byEmma Crichton

DOLPHINS and whales may have to be euthanised if a spill occurred during ship-to-ship oil transfers.

Critics of the plan to move more than eight million tonnes of crude oil in the Cromarty and Moray firths have slammed the Cromarty Firth Port Authority (CFPA) for saying animals may have to be killed if an accident happened.

The authoritys contingency plan for an oil spill states that euthanasia may be the most humane action but campaigners have branded it appalling and are preparing to ask the Scottish Government for help in blocking the transfers.

Members of Cromarty Rising will make a trip to Edinburgh next week to attend a debate on the controversial plans, to be hosted by Highlands and Islands MSP John Finnie.

Duncan Bowers will be among the Cromarty Rising campaigners attending the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday.

He said: We are not opposed to development but they already have a licence for a jetty at Nigg. They should carry out ship to ship transfers there and the Scottish Government can use development funds to help them do what they need to do.

A CFPA spokeswoman said: Every power driven vessel entering the Cromarty Firth carries fuel or oil, which most use for propulsion. As a result, the ports regulators (MCA) demand that we have an oil spill contingency plan in place for managing any release of oil by vessels into the waters of the Cromarty Firth.

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Monday 1 May 2017 3:55 AM

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Dolphin euthanasia fears if ship-to-ship spill horror scenario takes ... - Inverness Courier