Row over latest “secret” conservation move 28/11/11
The Sound of Barra may be blanketed with a further layer of environmental restrictions under a “secret” move to consider it for a new conversation designation.
Islanders are furious they were kept in the dark that the sea strait between Barra and South Uist area is being mooted as a Special Protection Area (SPA).
Campaigners fear it may holding back development, impact on jobs and restrictions on fishing in a community which heavily relies on the marine environment for much of the local economy.
The latest row coincides with controversy of progressing a separate environmental designation which could see restrictions imposed under a Special Area of Conservation framework. In addition, prawn trawling in certain fishing zones areas off South Barra will be outlawed after the Scottish Government approved a site for another SAC.
Campaigners are furious that MP Angus Macneil and MSP Alasdair Allan were tipped off over the latest designation move yet failed to inform the community.
Andrew Thin, chairman of Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) gave both politicians "advance warning” in March 2010.
In his e-
A spokesman for SNH, confirmed the latest designation is under live consideration.
He said: “The UK’s Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has undertaken survey work around the UK coast to identify possible sites for designation as new EU Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for certain priority inshore and migratory bird species.
“The Sound of Barra lies within an Area of Search (AoS) for inshore aggregations of waterbirds and it may or may not be recommended as an SPA in our advice to Scottish Ministers.
“We expect to be asked for advice but that may not be until next year when we expect the final analyses of data from JNCC. “
He explained the crucial information appeared but then vanished from the JNCC website as SNH “asked the JNCC to remove the map of proposed SPAs from their website as it was misleading.
“This was done and the names removed as they wrongly indicated that these areas had been classified or were earmarked for classification.
“After the maps were removed, more accurate maps indicating the areas of search were put onto the JNCC and Marine Scotland website. At all times we have sought to provide clarification in this process.”
Fisherman Angus Macleod of Barra-
Mr Macleod said: "I have written to Alasdair Allan and Angus MacNeil in the hope that I will be assured that they have been conducting a vigorous campaign of their own to oppose any such marine designations. But if they have, we have not heard about it".
He continued: “My immediate thought is for the Traigh Mhor airport beach which hosts flocks of feeding birds throughout the year. Alasdair Allan, who seems to work closely with SNH on these matters, has been focusing his attention on that area in recent days.
“But are we to witness the supreme irony of seeing the beach removed from an SAC proposal – by what legitimate means is unclear – only to then see it included again in an SPA proposal?"
In reply to campaingers, Angus Macneil, MP, highlighted Mr Thin’s e-
He said a stakeholder consultation promised over 18 months ago had not materialised and it would be a “travesty if these steps that SNH promised have not happened.”
He pledged to pursue SNH on “what exactly is going on” and urge the body to be open about the current state of play.
He added: “We have all had quite enough of this time consuming conservation stuff in the midst of the harsh times of an economic downturn and a background of ever growing cuts.”
Alasdair Allan, MSP told campaigners the e-
He added his correspondence with SNH has “all been making the case against the SAC , and most recently pointing out the specific folly of putting the airport and Ardveenish in an SAC when neither even contain the habitats or species concerned.”