Fishing ban ‘would be end of Tiree community’
A ban on fishing around Tiree would wipe out 20 jobs “overnight with one stroke of the pen”, and “end” a community “hanging on by its fingertips”, locals have warned in a Scottish Government consultation.
The Ministry for Environment and Land Reform plans to designate at least 10 per cent of Scotland’s seas as Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs) by 2026. Its consultation closes on Monday April 17.
Its website explains: “These sites will provide high levels 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.”
Making the waters used by the Tiree fishing fleet, from Skerryvore to the Cairns of Coll, an HPMA “poses an existential threat to the Tiree community”, said Tiree Community Council and Tiree Community Development Trust. “Fishing remains one of the three legs that supports the island’s economy, along with tourism and crofting.”
Tiree’s small harbour received a major upgrade in 2020, thanks to a £1.1 million investment from the Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and the Tiree Community Development Trust.
From two boats in 1995, the local fleet is now nine strong providing 20 full-time jobs. The annual catch of crab and lobster has a value of around £1,000,000 and a quarter of the children in P4 and below come from fishing families.
Local fisherman Neil MacPhail said: “My boat alone puts food on the table for 11 people. One boat’s worth of economic impact is huge in a community such as Tiree.
“It’s the only industry in the island which has genuinely bucked the depopulation trend. If this landed on top of us, we would be wiped out overnight with one stroke of the pen on a chart.”
Tiree’s population at the 2011 census had declined to 653, a 15 per cent fall over the previous 10 years. The secondary school roll is now 30, and an increasing number of young people are choosing to transfer to Oban to complete their education.
Rhoda Meek, chairperson of the Tiree Community Development Trust, said: “Our island, as a thriving community, is perilously close to being non-viable. Social capital has been hollowed out and many voluntary committees are under strength.
“The Tiree community is hanging on by its fingertips. If the Tiree fleet cannot work local waters, there will be no fishing boats, no fishermen, and no fishing families. It would be the end of our community.”
The joint statement, accompanying a video (https://bit. ly/42831CB), added: “Tiree, known as the ‘Hawaii of the North’, is internationally famous for its water sports and marine wildlife tourism. If HPMA rules are interpreted strictly, these would be restricted.
“Future developments that hold out the prospect of a more sustainable future for the island – developments such as the construction of a breakwater to protect the island’s exposed harbour, a fixed link to Coll, shellfish aquaculture or seaweed farming – would become almost impossible.
“The Tiree current fleet uses fixed-line creels, which have little impact on the sea bed beyond the prey species.
“Even a partial designation would have the same effect. The Tiree fishermen need the whole area to take advantage of shelter as weather systems sweep over the island, and to work the ground less intensively and more sustainably.”
A Scottish Government
spokesperson said: “Improving marine protection, a necessity in a climate and nature emergency, allows key species and habitats to restore and recover, benefiting both nature and our economy by making sure there are sustainable levels of fish and other marine products to be derived and benefited from our seas.
“Our proposals to allow recreational activities such as sailing so to enjoy and appreciate HPMAs will also provide economic benefits.
“We are currently at the early stages of consulting on the principles which will inform our overall approach to the future development of Highly Protected Marine Areas and how sites will be identified and selected. As this work progresses, we will be working closely with the fishing industry and other marine users.”