HOLYROOD must “show leadership” on climate change and back plans to protect the country’s sea lochs, according to Labour MSP Sarah Boyak.

In an amendment to the Scottish government’s Natural Environment (Scotland) Bill, which faces its final parliamentary hurdle tomorrow, Ms Boyak has proposed to ban dredging and trawling in key parts of the lochs.

Pointing to studies which show 84,000 tonnes of organic carbon is buried in the sediments of Scotland sea lochs every year, Ms Boyak said: “More than a decade has passed since the Scottish government first mapped out the importance of our sea lochs for storing carbon. 

“Why then has not a single square foot of sea yet been protected for this purpose?”

She insisted: “This is an opportunity for this country to show leadership.

“We cannot afford yet more ‘action plans’ which contain no actual action.”

Backing the proposals, Stop Climate Chaos Scotland’s Becky Kenton-Lake argued: “This change is possibly the most effective quick win there is on carbon storage.”

Bally Philip, of the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation, added: “Dredging and trawling out of these sensitive areas allows well-managed low-impact fisheries such as creeling and hand-diving to thrive, activities that disturb far less stored carbon, generate higher value per kilo landed, support more jobs locally and have a much smaller footprint in terms of bycatch and seabed damage.

“Properly protected sea lochs are therefore a genuine win-win-win, for climate, for nature, and for coastal fishing communities.”

Recognising “the importance of blue carbon habitats” in mitigating climate change, SNP climate action secretary Gillian Martin responded: “Scottish ministers already have powers to restrict fishing activity for conservation purposes if evidence suggests this is needed.”