The Scottish Government is to push ahead with its move for stricter new rules over Western Isles fishing grounds despite the local MP's call to halt the process.
Local scallop and prawn trawlers face restrictions in working a number of sea areas which will be given extra protection due to its wildlife, habitats and geology.
The islands' fishing industry maintain a significant number of shellfish processing jobs will be lost and fishermen's livelihoods attacked if the proposals are implemented.
MP Angus MacNeil criticised the plans as "draconian and economically damaging to islands."
Fishing grounds environmental rules will not be delayed
24 October 2015
The Scottish Government rejected the MP's call to stall the move until new powers for the island councils have been agreed.
It proposes handing more control of their own affairs to the Comhairle. This would be protected in law by an Islands Bill which is presently out to a preliminary consultation.
It insists the legal duty to protect the marine environment would still exist, even if nature conservation was devolved through a future Islands Bill or under community empowerment legislation.
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “A delay for an indeterminate period of time would place many of the protected features at significant risk and, in the longer term, result in permanent damage to habitats and the fish stocks they support – a real risk for our coastal communities."
Western Isles fishermen recently raised their worries with fisheries secretary Richard Lochhead.
The spokeswoman said these concerns are being considered but "it is our view, based on the best available evidence, that the proposals made by industry to date would not comply with the legal obligations."
“Our the marine protection area plans are for a restriction of fisheries within certain
areas, which means fishermen will still be able to operate in other neighbouring
areas. This is contrast to many other countries which completely exclude all trawling
and dredging from their coastal waters.
"Clearly a balance needs to be struck so we can protect our marine environment as well as the communities that depend on it, and our proposals have been widely welcomed by many organisations, including creel fishermen.”