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Island protestors to demonstrate at Scottish Parliament        6/2/12

A Barra campaign group  is holding a protest at the Scottish Parliament against designating the Sound of Barra as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC).

Critics warn the conservation move would introduce strict environmental rules over the sea area and restrict fishing activities as well as hamper wave renewable energy schemes.

The demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament at 4pm on Wednesday coincides with a debate secured by MSP Jamie McGrigor on the issue.

Islanders and fishermen are travelling to Edinburgh to participate. The centrepiece of the protest will be a large banner showing hand-prints of many of the Islands’ children in opposition to the SAC.

The cross party Parliamentary motions come on the heels of opposition to the proposed designation from the Comharlie nan Eilean Siar and all 31 individual councillors, as well objections from more than 40 scientific bodies and individuals. A

Angus Campbell, Convener of the Council, said the show of unity "demonstrates the strength of feeling across the Outer Hebrides to this unwanted and potentially economically devastating designation.

“It would appear that Scottish Natural Heritage have been highly selective and arbitrary in choosing the Sound of Barra.

“It is nothing short of scandalous that the views of our community, our economic representative bodies, and that of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar can be ignored and that these unwanted, unnecessary and highly-damaging designations can be foisted on our community against their express will."

The proposed SAC accounts for some of the most productive shellfish grounds around the Western Isles, providing long-term employment for the crews of over 25 small locally-based vessels, employing 40 fishermen who have pioneered self-introduced conservation schemes to help preserve the future of these traditional fishing grounds.

Four local companies, Aurora Shellfish, Kilbride Shellfish, Barratlantic and Kallin Shellfish, are also dependent on shellfish from this area. Those companies provide employment for 60 employees in the processing sector, plus additional spin-off jobs for haulage and engineering services.

“The area also holds great potential for offshore wind and wave energy. Based on the SNH's past record of bureaucratic and unsympathetic micro management of designated areas, a designation for the Sound of Barra is certain to have a severe negative impact on both the community's current economic lifeblood - fishing - and its future potential - offshore energy in the form of wind and wave power.