A proposal is expected this autumn for tankers in the north east of Scotland to transfer up to nine million tonnes of crude oil per year between ships at open sea.
But the chosen waters, Cromarty Firth, hold special conservation status as the area is the UK’s only breeding site left for the rare bottlenose dolphin, as well as being home to porpoise, seals and an array of birdlife.
And campaigners are asking questions about government transparency and cost cutting measures after investigations raised concerns about the way a first application was handled by government.
