LOCAL NEWS 30 MARCH 2023

Highly Protected Marine Areas see “final wave of clearances”

A Barra fisherman who serves on the Western Isles council has written an open letter imploring the Scottish Government to scrap its proposal to introduce Highly Protected Marine Areas.

At present the Scottish Goverment is holding a consultation on its plans to introduce Highly Protected Marine Areas by 2026.

The commitment, which is through the Bute House Agreement between the Scottish Goverment and the Scottish Green, aims to provide a high level of protection by placing strict limits on some human activities, such as fishing and aquaculture, while allowing non-damaging recreational activities to take place at carefully managed levels.

However, in an an impassioned address, Councillor Kenneth MacLean (pictured) described the proposed legislation as an attack on island communities, Gàidhealtachd, and the Gaelic language.

The Barra man said he found himself apocalyptically angry at the HPMA plans for the “waters surrounding our islands.”

Mr MacLean said that fishing and the sea were not simply part of the economy or a tradition but “an intrinsic part of the island’s culture and who we are.”

Outlining his own personal connection, he said his father, brother, uncles, grandfather were all fisherman and that most people on the islands have a direct connection to fishing and the sea.

The Comhairle member said as well as a fish factory being being the biggest employer, fishing also plays a role in the tourist industry by provided food to local hotels and restaurants, and argued that if pushed forward the HPMAs proposal would “finish what the Duke of Cumberland and absentee landlords started, a final wave of clearances”.

 

Councillor Kenneth MacLean’s letter

 

Scotland’s current MPA network includes sites for nature conservation, protection of biodiversity and covers approximately 37 per cent of our seas.

In its consultation paper, the Scottish Goverment states that HPMAs may overlap either fully or partially with existing MPAs in order to maximise the conservation benefits associated with stricter management approaches in a particular geographic location.

HPMAs may also be located outside the current MPA network.

Mairi McAllan, the minister for environment and land reform when the consultation was launched, said she was determined that those who may be affected by these proposals are involved from the outset.

She stated that “our seas must remain a source of economic prosperity for the nation, especially in our remote, coastal and island communities.”

Skye and Lochalsh MSP Kate Forbes has pledged to scrap HPMA plans and commission feasibility study into devolving marine powers to local authorities.

Earlier this month, Neil Robertson, spokesperson for the Ross, Sutherland, Skye, and Lochalsh Fisherman’s Association told Radio Skye the plans were hopelessly flawed and many working in aquaculture were angry and bewildered.

The consultation on Highly Protected Marine Areas can be accessed via the Scottish Government website and will run until 17th April.

 

MV Hebrides back in action after engine issues

The MV Hebrides has returned to service as part of an amended table for the Skye Triangle route.

On Wednesday all sailings were cancelled between Uig, Lochmaddy, and Tarbert due to an ongoing technical issue as a result of an overheating electrical component resulting in smoke in the engine room.

The problems came after CalMac was forced to cancel sailings on Tuesday to and from the Skye port after a fire broke out in the engine room of the MV Hebrides during the 2pm sailing from Uig to Lochmaddy.

In an update on Thursday morning, CalMac said the issues associated with the overheating electrical component may mean that service could be liable to disruption or cancellation at short notice.

The first of four sailing on the Skye Triangle route departed Uig at 11am to arrive in Lochmaddy at 12.45pm.

For more information, you can visit the CalMac website.

 

 

Angus Og cartoons to be celebrated at Staffin event

The Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre are tonight hosting an event at Staffin Community Hall celebrating the much-loved Angus Og cartoon strip.

The island institution was recently gifted  a collection of original Angus Og drawings from creator Ewan Bain’s daughter.

The event will be held at Staffin Community Hall on Thursday 30th March from 7pm to 9pm.

It is a partnership with cartoon expert Professor Laurence Grove of The University of Glasgow and Frank Quietly, one of Scotland’s leading contemporary comic book artists who has created work for major titles and household names such as ‘Judge Dredd’, Marvel’s ‘X-Men’ and DC Comics’ ‘Superman’ and ‘Batman’.

The evening will be hosted by Skye and Lochalsh Archive Centre archivist, Catherine MacPhee and project officer for the Angus Og collection Katharine MacFarlane.

News by Adam Gordon.

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