Slowly but surely C.O.A.S.T.’s plans for No Take Zones and a Marine Protected Area are moving up the political agenda. In the past few weeks there have been two high profile reports on the fishing industry, which support our cause.
The first report is by the Royal Society of Edinburgh on the future of the Scottish fishing industry. It recommends to the Scottish Executive that Marine Protection Areas be established. Furthermore it highlights the obligation of the Scottish Executive enshrined within the OSPAR Convention of 1992 to set up a network of Marine Protected Areas in Scottish waters within the next decade (1992-2002!!).
The second report is from the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit on the UK fishing industry. (On which COAST was consulted). It also recommends the development of experimental Marine Protected Areas, which would provide benefits to everyone –fishermen, tourism, anglers etc. This is a highly significant statement because in COAST’s meetings so far with the Scottish Executive it has been stated that Tourism and Sea Angling play no part in Fishing Policy. Also, the First Minister this week announced the start of a Consultation on how we manage the marine environment. Therefore perhaps Government is slowly moving towards policies with more joined up thinking!
We have been taking every opportunity to promote the project.
On Wednesday of this week representatives from COAST attended and spoke at the launch of the Joint Marine Programme in Glasgow called the “Tangle of the Clyde” on why we need fundamental reform of the Marine Management in Scotland. We look forward to hearing more about it at the AGM..
A few weeks ago delegates from COAST attended the Millport/Clyde Fishermen’s Workshop, where we met fisherman, marine scientists and marine environmental organisations. We gained a good insight into the state of fish stocks in the Clyde and learnt that the situation was even more worrying than we had realised. Nephrops (scampi) account for 90% of commercial landing in the Clyde area, with scallops making up the remaining 10%. Therefore all landings are shellfish and at present due to over exploitation there are no landings of white fish.
At the fishery workshop and in the last few weeks we have spoken to many commercial fishermen from both the mobile and the static sector about COAST’s plans for Lamlash Bay. We found that the majority of fishermen were willing to support the trial in Lamlash Bay with the reactions “Why not?”, “What have we got to lose?”, “It can’t be any worse than the situation we have at the moment”. Yet the leaders of one of the two Fishermen’s Organisations are still blocking the Arran Community’s plans for a sustainable marine environment around Arran.
COAST hold their 2nd A.G.M. on Tuesday 27th April in Lamlash Hall. It is an opportunity to find out what they have been up to in the last year and more importantly the chance for you,, the Arran community to have your say about the future direction of this community organisation. Also present will be David Donnan, Fishery Policy Officer with Scottish Natural Heritage and Julia McPherson, Project Officer with the Clyde Forum. They will explain how their organisations are working towards achieving healthy marine environments.
If you would like to find out more or have any questions (like why are there no fish in the Clyde?) please come along. All welcome.
NEXT TUESDAY 27TH APRIL AT 7.30p.m in LAMLASH HALL. COMMUNITY OF ARRAN SEABED TRUST A.G.M.