Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch took part in an oral evidence session with The Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) Committee and stakeholders from the fishing sector last Wednesday 23rd of September, in order to discuss some fishermen’s concerns that the proposals for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) would have a detrimental effect on their livelihoods.
Dave remains cognisant of the environmental need for MPAs, but sought to explore the effect the forthcoming Scottish Statutory Instruments (SSIs) on MPAs would have on all stakeholders. He hoped a win, win solution, between fishermen and environmentalists could be found.
The meeting followed the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead, agreement to the Committee’s request to delay the process of laying various SSIs relevant to the operation of Scotland’s network of MPAs, until the Committee had an opportunity to consider various concerns raised in relation to these issues.
Dave, who has the Small Isles MPA in his constituency, would like to see a situation where fishermen work alongside those drawing up the boundaries to come to a better solution. He would like some sort of pragmatic compromise between environmental concerns and fishing requirements to be found, so that potential disruption to fishing livelihoods is kept to the minimum.
Mr Thompson said, “It was very useful to hear evidence from fishermen on the impact of the MPAs and I am pleased the Cabinet Secretary has delayed the process of laying the orders until the various concerns have been taken on board.
“It remains my belief that the excluded areas for prawn trawlers should be shrunk to the absolute minimum required to protect the marine features and therefore limit the negative effects the current proposals will have on fishermen.
Dave went on, “I am concerned, in particular, about the small isles, where restrictive MPAs will not only effect fishermen at sea, but, when running a harbour, using Mallaig as an example, there is the provision of ice, boat building and other ancillary roles. If fishing drops below a certain level, the whole thing collapses.
“If that were to happen in Mallaig, we would not be talking about half a dozen jobs, but about 30 or 40 or more, taking into account the fishermen and the knock-on onshore effects, and for a community such as Mallaig and the surrounding area, that would be catastrophic.
“The equivalent job losses for Edinburgh would be around 5,000 and if that were the case, there would likely be an emergency Government response, so all I ask is that proportionality is taken into account when considering all the necessary objectives surrounding the implementation of the MPAs”.
Note:
The Committee has since written to Cabinet Secretary to request an update in relation to the specific rational behind the whole process, and have requested a response by Friday 2nd October.
Letter from RACCE Committee to Richard Lochhead
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