Huge job losses will result from controversial plans to impose environmental designations on Western Isles' fishing grounds, warn industry leaders as they prepare to give evidence to the Scottish Parliament’s rural affairs committee on Wednesday.
Advance plans towards creating new marine nature reserves has caused grave alarm in communities from the Clyde to the Hebrides, MSPs will be told.
A significant number of shellfish processing jobs will be lost and fishermen's livelihoods attacked if a raft of marine conservation proposals are implemented, it is maintained.
The Scottish Parliament’s rural affairs committee is taking evidence from fishermen over proposals for environmental designations in Scottish seas this morning (WED).
Duncan Macinnes of the Western Isles Fishermen's Association (WIFA) emphasised it would cause “utter devastation” on local communities.
He said the proposals will drive away younger potential fishermen and their families from the industry to mainland opportunities.
WIFA maintains Marine Scotland statistics used to justify the closure of vital fishing grounds are wrong.
The closure of several key fishing areas would result in substantial job losses among island fishermen and also threaten the viability of two onshore processing plants employing over 70 personnel, says the body.
In one case, two Barra vessels with ten crew working crayfish off St Kilda will be badly affected.
Mr Macinnes said: “The whole west coast industry and the Western Isles are going to be adversely affected if the marine designations proceed as currently proposed.
The Scottish Government “draconian approach” has “underestimated the economic impact,” he highlighted.
Mr Macinnes stressed there will be “vast losses” in jobs at sea, ship repair yards and shellfish processing factories, with a devastating effect on fragile island communities where fishing is a mainstay of local economies.
A Scottish Government spokesman told Hebrides News: “We need to balance the interests of protecting Scotland’s marine environment with wider economic interests, particularly those of the fishing industry However, failure to protect coastal areas would result in permanent damage to habitats and the fish stocks they support – that is the real risk for our coastal communities.
“Our proposals on new designations and management measures are based on evidence that we need to act to protect our marine environment and biodiversity.
“While the proposals would mean restrictions within certain areas, fishermen from the Western Isles will still be able to operate in neighbouring areas. The assessment we carried out before we put forward our management plans showed a modest impact on the local economy.
“Mr Lochhead has made clear he is very willing to hear more evidence from local businesses and fishermen in relation to this issue and has confirmed we will delay any decision on Marine Protection Areas to allow the parliament’s rural affairs, climate change and environment committee to hear evidence on this issue at its meeting on 23 September.”
Landing prawns at Stornoway
Fishing industry threatened by new marine reserve proposals
22 September 2015