A SMOKE canister was let off outside Holyrood as fishermen protested against SNP plans to bring in new measures aimed at protecting Scotland's seas.

The Clyde Fishermen's Association said around 160 of its members travelled to the Scottish Parliament as Government proposals to establish new Marine Protection Areas (MPAs), where fishing would be restricted, came under the microscope.

Some members of the group brought union flags to the protest, with one attached to railings at the legislature.

Kenny MacNab, the chairman of the Clyde Fisherman's Association, said the smoke canister had been set off for "a bit of fun" and denied that Union Jacks were intended to send a political message.

He said the Scottish Government environment secretary, Richard Lochhead, had moved the goalposts in consultation with the fisherman over MPAs, with the plans set to devastate communities and businesses.

Mr McNab added: "We object to the consultation process the Government have used, which has not been carried out properly. In general we agree with the concept of MPAs, we thought we'd reached a consensus last year but then plans were announced that went way beyond anything we'd discussed.

"There are 160 people here today, who have travelled from the west coast in this weather. They wouldn't be here if they didn't think this was a serious threat. Some are going to lost 30 to 50 per cent of their gross - no business can sustain that."

Smoke canister set off at fishermen's protest against Marine Protected Areas at Holyrood. pic.twitter.com/SGgQBIYYDF — David Miller (@BBCDavidMiller) January 27, 2016

A motion from Conservative MSP Jamie McGrigor that seeks to remove restrictions on fishing in 14 of 30 Marine Protected Areas, including Loch Sween, South Arran, Upper Loch Fyne and St Kilda, was considered by Holyrood's rural affairs committee this morning. However, Mr McGrigor found little support for his position. The legislation enforcing the rules of the MPAs has still to be passed.

The Scottish Fishermen’s Federation (SFF) say the Scottish Government’s plan to ban trawling and dredging in near-shore areas of the South Arran MPA is “totally irrational”.



However, the Scottish Government has said the MPA network covers only four per cent of Scottish inshore waters, and it is estimated that the direct economic impact on the fishing industry will be "very low" - around 0.25 per cent of its combined earnings.

Environmentalists back the plan, alongside others in the fishing industry, with a rival protest in favour of the Government position also appearing outside Holyrood.