Community support underpins MPA success

A Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the Gulf of California reveals an interesting lesson for the Scottish context.

Over the past decade there has been a phenomenal recovery of marine life in Cubo Pulmo National Marine Park. A recent report showed that the amount of fish in the marine protected area (located off the Baja Peninsula) soared 463 percent between 1999 and 2009. Populations of large predator fish have recovered and the average biomass is five times larger than the average in comparable open access areas in the surrounding Gulf of California. It’s a success story that is being heralded as an international model for marine conservation.

Other MPAs in the area haven’t been nearly as ‘successful’ and researchers attribute the Cubo Pulmo success as much to the socio-economic context as any underlying ecological factors. Local skippers, dive masters and residents have all been firmly supportive of the MPA, promoting and self-enforcing the reserve.

A study of the findings concluded that: "Protected areas with locally managed resources and stakeholder buy-in can be more successful than areas with top down, federally mandated preservation. This model is considered the most viable in rural settings where people rely on local natural resources for their livelihoods."

It’s a simple, interesting point. People who very directly depend on the health of the marine resource are most likely to do the right thing by the ecology upon which their jobs rely. In Scotland, this link is more complicated. Some of the revenues flowing from Scottish fisheries do get recycled locally in the form of jobs, but much of the value is absorbed by large, nomadic fishing boats and remotely-located processors. No longer do all coastal communities immediately feel the pinch when local fisheries are in decline.

At root though, we do still all depend upon the health of the marine resources. A productive commercial fishery and the marine tourism that can flow from it can be a critical part of Scotland's future economy. This requires imagination. And many, for example, still have the memory of the recreational sea angling which brought so much well-distributed wealth to the Clyde. The success - or otherwise - of Marine Protected Areas in Scotland as a measure to help regenerate the resource, will boil down to whether people see the long-term interest for their local communities

Southend MPA proposal - island meetings

Last month, COAST held a number of drop-in events around the island to explain plans to propose a MPA round the south coast of Arran from Corriegills Point to Drumadoon Point. The proposed MPA would be an important step to help conserve and regenerate the maerl, kelp, and seagrass beds, rocky reefs and other local habitat which is known historically to have provided important herring spawning grounds. The MPA would promote sustainable fishing methods and uses of the marine resource, such as creeling, scallop diving and sea angling.

The meetings were an opportunity for people to give their thoughts on the proposals and around 60 people attended. Here is a selection of some of the comments received:

"The minimum size of the new MPA should be from Lamlash to Pladda, it should be no smaller. I think it would be a good idea for an MPA between Corriegills Point and Drumadoon Point as detailed on the map which excludes bottom trawling."

"Get a move on and designate the whole of Lamlash Bay as a MPA before the seabed is ruined beyond recovery. Why does it take the Environment Minister so long to do the right thing?"

"Let's go for an MPA as soon as possible, ideally the whole Clyde area."

Clyde IFG disregards marine stakeholders

Nearly 70 people attended the Clyde Inshore Fishery Group (IFG) consultation in Brodick last month set up to discuss the draft Clyde IFG management plan. The IFG events were held at various locations around the Clyde and were poorly advertised with few people turning up to the meetings in Inveraray and Stranraer. A local Voice for Arran report of the event described how “neither consultation nor discussion was seriously on the menu” and detailed a failure to engage with local concerns about the proposed plans. COAST has submitted its own response to the Clyde IFG draft management plan, concluding that “the Plan is without any clear proposals to protect and restore the damaged inshore marine ecosystem and completely disregards those marine stakeholders who are not mobile fishermen.” The rest of the response can be read here...

Crunching NTZ scallop data

Early results from this summer dive surveys - undertaken by PhD researcher Leigh Howarth and Tim Cross - would suggest that things are looking promising within the NTZ. Once the data has been analysed and the scallop numbers have been metaphorically crunched, figures will be published which should help to build upon the emerging picture of how scallop sizes and population density in the NTZ compare to those outside the protected area. Keep a look out for the results in future newsletters.

Science links explored

COAST’s Marine Project Officer Andrew Binnie attended the Marine Alliance for Science and Technology conference last month. This was a good opportunity to meet marine science academics and strengthen relationships with key Scottish institutions with research interests in marine conservation and monitoring. Particularly interesting at the Edinburgh conference were climate change studies based on the longevity and chemistry of Maerl, a coralline seaweed; under water visual monitoring studies similar to those deployed by York University and COAST; a study of vegetable alternatives to fish meal and oil for use in fish farms (do salmon really want to become vegetarians?); and an SNH/Marine Scotland workshop on Marine Protected Areas. The process of designating MPAs is largely a top-down process looking at all Scottish off shore and inshore waters. However, even in inshore waters there has been little input solicited or provided by coastal communities, who, under the guidelines, are able to submit third party MPA proposals to SNH (perhaps because vested mobile fishing interests make it so difficult for Marine Scotland and SNH to hold a rational debate). This is a pity, especially since the long term success of MPAs is clearly related to stakeholder involvement and support as demonstrated in the Mexican MPA above and other overseas examples.

Save the Clyde Coastguard

Proposals to 'modernise' coastguard services threaten the local knowledge, jobs and very existence of our local Clyde Coastguard. Register your opposition to the plans via the campaign website or Facebook page.

Sea Angling Survey

Participate in the local sea angling survey currently being conducted by Ross Greig of York University. The survey asks a series of short questions about sea angling experiences and attitudes towards conservation. The survey can be downloaded here.

Fish concert

Fish (Derek Dick) and the Fishheads Club put on a fine show in Whiting Bay a couple of weeks ago and raised some valuable funds for COAST. Take a look at some of Andy Surridge’s pics (like the one above) from the gig here.

Islay speaks as one against fish farm

Back in May, the Scottish Salmon Company proposed to site two large fish farms off the coast of Islay. As word of the news spread, a local group called IASG (Gaelic for ‘fish’) was soon set up to gauge the community's view on the fish farm. 5 months, 1,700 online petition signatures and 172 "Facebook likes" later, SSC decided to withdraw its application. The strength, unanimity and considered reasoning of Islay's community-based objection to the fish farms was used yesterday as a case-study during a Salmon and Trout Association meeting with the Scottish Government and may prove a useful guide to informing government policy. Willy Inglis, a member of IASG provides this account of the background to the fish farm campaign and why salmon farm companies must pay heed to local concerns.

Seil fish farm "extension" not welcome

A planning proposal to "extend and relocate" a fish farm in Argyll's Seil Sound is being challenged on the basis that the plans in fact constitute a new fish farm operation and that, unless treated as a new application, it will circumvent important planning requirements and potentially ride roughshod over local economic interests. The proposed fish farm would almost double the current capacity of Lakeland Marine Farm Ltd's operation in the area to 2,500 tonnes of salmon. Local campaigners Save Seil Sound have outlined a number of reasoned objections to the plans. You can join the campaign and show support on Facebook too.

Luce Bay consultation

Proposals to manage the mobile fishing sector (dredgers, trawlers) in Luce Bay in the Solway Firth are now open to consultation. The deadline for responses is 15th September. More on this next month.

Barra fishermen feel ‘betrayed’ by SAC

Last month, a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) off East Mingulay was approved by the Scottish Government. Ever since the designation was proposed, the islanders of Barra have felt that their views have not been listened to. The SAC has been introduced to protect a rare cold water coral reef and safeguard other species in the area. Fearing the designation will adversely affect local boats, the Western Isles Fishermen’s Association Fishing is now considering legal action. SNH, continues to bear the brunt of the local backlash, despite the SAC's intention to conserve an important marine resource for the long-term. It seems to be a classic case of how marine conservation measures are more likely to succeed with strong, community buy-in and highlights the necessity for open and reasoned community consultation (see editorial above).

Coastal Communities Fund launched

A new fund for Coastal communities across the United Kingdom will disburse the equivalent to 50% of the revenues from the Crown Estate’s marine activities. Designed to support the economic development of coastal communities the fund will support a wide range of projects. Click here for more information.

Government launches 3D sea surveys

Marine Scotland has started an ambitious programme of marine surveys across Scotland to gather information on the biodiversity of our coastal waters. The initiative brings together a range of organisations in the marine science sector and will involve acoustic multi-beam survey techniques in eight sites around the Scottish coast.

Inshore meeting held

COAST attended a meeting with the newly-formed Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust (SIFT) and the Rivers and Fisheries Trusts of Scotland (RAFTS) in Oban last month. The meeting provided the opportunity for SIFT to explain its objectives to the network of river and fisheries trusts - namely the promotion of sustainable development in Scotland's inshore waters. Also explored was the potential for RAFTS members to form strategic partnerships that could provide policy-informing, baseline data about the health of the estuarine and inshore ecosystem.

Concern over 'blue label' deepens

Research into a product line of MSC-certified fish has found that some of the supposedly 'blue-label' fish were not from a certified fishery and that some were not even the same species as marketed. A study of 36 samples found that 8% were not Patagonian toothfish and that genetic data suggested that 15% did not come from the certified population.

The research is part of increasingly concerned scrutiny of the rigour and environmental underpinnings of the Marine Stewardship Council's certification system and COAST continues to take an active interest in this area of fisheries policy.

Oil spill highlights Shell's marine record

An oil leak at Shell's Gannet Alpha oil platform in the North Sea has highlighted the company's questionable safety record in recent years. Although the spill pales in comparison to the Deepwater Horizon spill in the Gulf of Mexico last year, the latest incident in the North Sea has released upwards of 1,300 barrels of crude oil, sparking concern amongst conservationists about its local environmental impact.

'More Fish' petition

The WWF has launched a 'More Fish' campaign which aims to present 5,000 signatures from Scotland to the President of the European Parliament calling for reform of the Common Fisheries Policy. You can read and choose to sign the petition here...

A few fishy facts folks should know

12 - the number of months since Richard Lochhead agreed to commission an urgent review of the state of the Clyde. Unfortunately nothing has happened since, see agreed statement with Marine Scotland after last years meeting ... COAST will be following this up in the next issue.
1,300 miles - the stretch of coastline covered by the Clyde Coastguard - from Mull of Galloway to Ardnamurchan Point. Save the Clyde Coastguard.
£47.4m – the revenue raised by the Crown Estate’s marine activities in 2010/2011
140 – number of kittiwake chicks that have fledged from the 350 nests in the Mull of Galloway, thought to be largely down to a decline in sandeels
339 - the number of people employed in the Scottish shellfish farm industry in 2010

Fish of the month

Earlier this week a 171lb skate was caught near Oban off MV Gannet. Catching skate is no longer a common occurence. Once abundant throughout the Mediterranean and Atlantic seas, the common skate is now critically endangered. Although, it can grow up to 220lbs, the skate is a relatively slow-growing creature and has a low reproductive rate too. This has made it a prime victim of overfishing. Females reproduce every other year and produce up to 40 eggs. The young hatch within 2-5 months with their striking rhombic shape so characteristic of skates and rays. The common skate is excellently camouflaged with a olive-grey to brown colour and spotted patterns on its topside. The Scottish Sea Angling Conservation Network is doing some fantastic work to help conserve the skates and sharks in Scottish waters (click here for more details). And for more detailed biological information about this amazing fish see the Marine Life Information Network for Britain and Ireland (MarLIN)

Name: Dipturus batis
Size: up to 2.85m (100kg)
Habitat: the common skate dwells in muddy gravels and sands at depths of 100m-1000m in either exposed or sheltered habitats.
Diet: bristle worms, sand eels, crabs and flatfish

WEBSITE REVAMP

Over the coming weeks, we will be revamping the COAST website (www.arrancoast.com). In the meantime, if any readers have any ideas, suggestions about how to improve the site and features to include, please get in touch.

THANKS

If you have enjoyed reading this newsletter and feel supportive of COAST, please get in touch. Our work to date has been made possible by charitable funding, government grants, individual donations and a lot of voluntary time and effort. If you would like to offer any financial support, you can donate via the website. Alternatively feel free to contact us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Thank you for reading COAST’s 17th newsletter. We hope you are looking forward to the next month’s edition already.

Coming in next month's newsletter:
- the state of the Clyde 12 months since Richard Lochhead's commitment to review the resource
- Luce Bay consultation