WATCH: Highland band Skipinnish release protest song The Clearances Again to challenge Scottish Government's HPMA proposals
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A popular Highland band has recorded a song in protest to the Scottish Government's plans to introduce Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA).
Skipinnish have today released the tune titled 'The Clearances Again' in response to the proposals that would see commercial and recreational fishing banned in 10 per cent of Scotland's seas.
The vocals on the song are sung by their fisherman and singer, Donald Francis MacNeil.
READ ALSO: 'Lifeline for survival at risk'
The Scottish Governments proposed HPMA has faced intense backlash from fishing communities across the region, with those in the industry saying that it would be highly detrimental to those living there. A campaign has now been started, called Say No to HPMA with guidelines on how to fill out the consultation on the plans, which closes on Monday.
Commenting on their Facebook page, Skipinnish said: "This is a genuine fight for the survival of a people. Wherever you are from – Island, mainland, town, city, country, Highland or Lowland – we need your help to spread this message and get the politicians to listen to our cries.
"Otherwise the Hebrides, The Northern Isles and the coastal towns and villages of Scotland – wherever the fickle short-sighted pen creating an HPMA falls - will be wiped out overnight as living, breathing communities.
"And to be clear, we are absolutely in favour of looking after our environment. However, these plans will do more damage to the environment than a thousand years of small-scale fishing. While ignoring the big business players doing the real damage to the ocean, they will happily end human existence in the small fragile communities that this band grew from.
"The consultation period ends on Monday 17th April.
"This is a David and Goliath battle and every objection counts.
"The song will go live tomorrow across all platforms and all income will go the Eilidh MacLeod Memorial Trust.
"Please pre-order it, download it, stream it on repeat, request it on radio, share it, like it, send it to your MSPs/MPs, learn it, sing it, record it, broadcast it, TikTok it, play it to the Prime Minister and fire it to the First Minister. Bands, businesses, community groups, interest groups, individuals and any other entity that cares about this cause, please help us spread the word.
"Our population has been cleared once before in our history. Please help us to stop it happening again."
The full song was posted on the band's Youtube page.
