THE GREENS’ call for a total overhaul of marine legislation has been backed by MSPs on Holyrood’s environment and rural development committee.

The committee has highlighted the Forth ship-to-ship oil transfer plan as a typical example of the failure of current legislation to protect the environment.

MSPs have now recommended the introduction of a single, integrated regulatory system to co-ordinate competing activities in the marine environment. They also insist that Scottish legislation must be reviewed alongside reforms planned by the UK Government.

MSP Maureen Macmillan, committee convener, said existing legislation was complex and inadequate to protect the seas. Overlaps of devolved and reserved responsibilities added to the complexity and clear, ambitious objectives were needed to direct policy. “Comprehensive Scottish marine legislation must simplify regulation and resolve this complexity,” she said.

Green MSP Mark Ballard added, “This report backs up what Greens have been arguing for years—that existing regulations have been utterly inadequate. While it’s good news that a marine act is on its way at Westminster, there is no time to waste on the Forth oil transfers plan. Action is needed now to stop the half-baked proposal going ahead.”

He said the Forth proposal was a classic example of private companies exploiting loopholes in the law for the sake of private profit, with no regard for the risk posed to the estuary, local economy and communities.

“The minister responsible, Sarah Boyack, must heed this report and change laws to ensure the Executive, not private firms, has the final say on ship-to-ship oil transfer plans,” he said.

The committee’s recommendations include:

* The Executive should prioritise measures to bring available data together in a manner appropriate and accessible to policy-making and scientific communities.

* The practical detail of objectives for management of the marine environment must be developed urgently to provide clear and ambitious goals that can give direction to policy.

* Establishing a coherent network of marine protected areas should be a significant objective of legislative reform.

* An accountable marine management body for Scotland must simplify governance and not add another layer to existing regulation.