Brian Nugent: Scottish Government Showing “Dereliction of Duty” on Fisheries Protection
Shetland – At the fishing industry hustings held in Lerwick Town Hall on 8 April, Brian Nugent, Alliance to Liberate Scotland (and Sovereignty) candidate for Shetland MSP, spoke strongly about the Scottish Government’s approach to fisheries enforcement. Fishing issues were front and centre throughout the event – all questions were fish related.
In his own words from the hustings video, Brian Nugent said:
“If Scotland becomes independent, we can make our own decisions. So then we’re going to tag on to the European Union and get told what to do. We’re going to leave one union to go into an even bigger one. Tell me where the sense in that is.”
“Are they getting a steer from the Scottish Government telling them to go after the local boats because they’re leaving the EU boats alone? If they’re leaving the EU boats alone, the suspicion has got to be they’re leaving them alone to keep France and Spain sweet so that when Scotland eventually, as the SNP say they want, goes back into the European Union, the EU will be nice to us. So we’re going to mess around with a real asset in order to promote SNP policy. That’s so poor.”
“This has been going on for ages, years and years. The local boats are getting harassed and the visiting boats can do what they want. It doesn’t sound like a conspiracy to me at all – it’s just the reality on the water.”
His comments prompted the SNP candidate to suggest that Brian’s position sounded like it came from “conspiracy land”. In response, the Conservative candidate acknowledged the honesty of Brian’s position on independence and the EU.
Brian Nugent has consistently raised these issues in previous statements and Sovereignty policy papers. For his fuller detailed position, including the diversion of Marine Scotland resources to wind-farm duties and other related matters, see the following:
• https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/03/30/same-old-same-old/
• https://sovereignty.scot/news/hpma-highly-protected-marine-areas/
• https://sovereignty.scot/news/scottish-waters-scottish-fisheries-protection-agency/
Read the full Shetland News report on the hustings:
https://www.shetnews.co.uk/2026/04/09/fishing-takes-centre-stage-industry/
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