Scottish Islands Explorer 41: Jan / Feb 2017

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New Marine Protected Area in Wester Ross The Glacial Past e WRMPA was designed specifically for the conservation and recovery of certain ‘Protected Features’ - species providing valuable habitats. Maerl (a slow-growing coralline red algae whose delicate skeleton locks up carbon and provides a nursery bed for many species including scallops); burrowed mud (habitat for economically valuable langoustine); kelp forests; flame shell beds and Northern feather star aggregations; together with ‘geodiversity’ features from the glacial past. Once a line has been drawn and agreed on a map, you might expect the seas within a Marine Protected Area to be ‘Protected’ but - fascinatingly and infuriatingly - the original ‘Management Approach’ for the WRMPA prohibited dredgers and trawlers only from tiny patches surrounding these ‘Protected Features’. It is ‘Business as Usual’ permitted all around, an approach which seemed absurd. How could such restrictions be enforced or policed? ere are no fences on the sea. Furthermore, with such miniscule specifications, how could the wider seas recover? And crucially, how could we be sure that there are no more of these ‘Protected Features’ elsewhere in the area? ere has never been a comprehensive survey of the seabed. e plans were based on information cobbled together from various surveys conducted since the 1980s. To assume the rest of the area is safe to trawl and dredge is to defy the ‘Precautionary Principle’ - one of the key elements for policy decisions concerning environmental protection and management. Signed by Hundreds Fortunately for the sea, there are people with the dedication and know-how to challenge the traditionally powerful lobbies. Environmental NGOs continued to work together (the Scottish Environment LINK’s Marine taskforce), and launched a national campaign to ensure proper Protection - ‘#DontTakeeP’. A local group was formed called ‘Sea Change’ and submitted a petition ‘For the Protection of the Sea Bed’, signed by hundreds of local people in the communities around the proposed MPA. is was a powerful message to take to MSPs and the then the chair of the Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment Committee, Rob Gibson, agreed with the logic of our argument. Eventually, aer a second round of consultation and devoted lobbying, the then environment secretary Richard Lochhead declared that the whole area should be free from dredgers, with trawlers restricted to certain less-sensitive areas. Creel fishing for prawns and hand-diving for scallops (employing more fishermen in this area) continue as before. Jubilation! Here was a triumph of sound science, common sense and long-term vision. However, now the MPA needs to be managed. Given that the State instigated the process, one might imagine that the State has a practical, affordable plan to ensure MPAs work. But in this era of financial constraint, there is no budget for such luxuries as a baseline survey, or management of the remaining fishing effort. 22 SCOTTISH ISLANDS EXPLORER JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017
New Marine Protected Area in Wester Ross The Sea’s Recovery Coinciding with financial constraint is an era of ‘Community Empowerment’ and so it’s now down to ‘The Community’ to make this work. Again, luckily, there are dedicated, determined people such as the ‘Sea Change’ group now working on a plan to monitor the seabed (in collaboration with experts from Glasgow University) and promote economic regeneration. This will involve many local people, including the static gear fishermen who will benefit most directly from the sea’s recovery. Meanwhile, the Scottish Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas programme is getting people beside, on and into the water, exploring shore-life, boarding the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust’s research boat and even squeezing into neoprene for the newlylaunched North West Highlands Snorkel Trail. This is all helping the people on the fringe of the MPA to get to know more of our awesome nature, to respect it, and maybe even to love it. We take care of what we love. As I sit in my kayak swamped by this paradisiacal scenery, there’s a rumble in my sternum. At least I know it’s not the resonance of a dredger’s engine ... but it is the dispiriting knowledge that a multinational fish farm company has applied to site a huge new salmon farm in this wild place. The MPA status may not have any influence if the Environmental Impact Assessment shows that the farm will not directly impact on the five specified ‘Protected Features’. Unique Environment It’s difficult for such a farm would provide jobs in this economically struggling area. Yet this industry has multiple environmental impacts - from local pollution to the global issues of fishmeal sourcing. e Scottish Government has pledged to double aquaculture by 2030. Is this more industry-pleasing policy at the expense of our unique environment and the truly sustainable jobs it could provide? e Summer Isles are not alone in this conundrum; others in Skye and Arran are facing similar challenges. Fortunately, these island-based groups do not have a complete island-mentality for we recognise that by working together our voice can be heard above the waves. Page 21 Top: Underwater perspective (Lizzie Williams). Below: Dolphin calf (Noel Hawkins). Left: Paddling home (Lizzie Williams). Below: Comb jelly (Noel Hawkins). JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 SCOTTISH ISLANDS EXPLORER 23
Page 1 and 2: SCOTTISH ISLANDS THE UK’S ONLY MA
Page 3 and 4: Gallery of Rust Page 36 Scottish Se
Page 5 and 6: VISION FOR 2020 ‘Challenge Ordina
Page 7 and 8: INSIGHTS Page Index Header Shipping
Page 9 and 10: Scottish Seabird Islands - Part One
Page 11 and 12: Scottish Seabird Islands - Part One
Page 13 and 14: House on the Point - Ullapool House
Page 15 and 16: ISLANDS BEYOND Island of and Iceber
Page 17 and 18: ‘Archaeologists believe that the
Page 19 and 20: ‘A Good Enough Day’ e archaeolo
Page 21: ‘As well as being crucial for nat
Page 25 and 26: READERS’ OPPORTUNITIES Page Index
Page 27 and 28: Golden eagle in flight during winte
Page 29 and 30: The Atlantic Grey Seal ‘Grey seal
Page 31 and 32: distances of over 200 miles. Man ha
Page 33 and 34: A History of Lismore A History of L
Page 35 and 36: A History of Lismore Roman Catholic
Page 37 and 38: JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2017 SCOTTISH IS
Page 39 and 40: A Gallery of Rust next to a redunda
Page 41 and 42: Apostle of Land Reform The Crofters
Page 43 and 44: A Short Hop to Papa A Short Hop to
Page 45 and 46: A Short Hop to Papa Flying Time Fro
Page 48 and 49: RESPONSES Responses The west coast
Page 50 and 51: ISLAND INCIDENTS Mike Heslop wonder
Page 52: £60 Richard Kershaw www.nake

Scottish Islands Explorer 41: Jan / Feb 2017

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