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Steps mooted to reopen Broadbay fishery            28/1/13

Marine Scotland is being urged to consider opening the Broadbay sea area on Lewis to fishing boats.

Trawlers were expelled from the large bay between Point and Tolsta Head in 1984 in a bid to conserve fish stocks, specifically plaice which used to be abundant in the locality.

Now the local fishing industry has asked MSP Alasdair Allan to raise the issue with Marine Scotland to “ascertain what the economic and scientific benefits” of having closed Broad Bay for a plaice nursery, has been since 1984.”

The Western Isles Fishermen’s Association (WIFA) wants the MSP to request Marine Scotland to undertake a further detailed study of the area to “ascertain whether it should be re-opened to mobile gear  on a seasonal basis to see whether the area can be returned to benefit the local economy as it did prior to the 1984 closure.”