Opposition grows against marine park
Thursday, January 11 2007
The Scottish Executive launched plans for the creation of Scotland's first Coastal and Marine National Park. Ten candidate areas were appointed for the possible location of such a marine park: Solway, Argyll Islands and Coast, Ardnamurchan, Small Isles and the South Skye Coast, North Skye Coast and Wester Ross, North Uist, Sound of Harris, Harris and South Lewis. Last year The Scottish Executive launched a roadshow as part of a consultation process to get feedback for their plans. The consultation closed yesterday and according to an article in The Herald the Scottish Executive has received massive opposition to its proposed coastal and marine national park.
Despite assurances, most fear new regulations would restrict traditional activities such as fishing and crofting. The location of the park has yet to be decided but west coast fishermen's representative bodies are "resolutely opposed to the creation". John Hermse, secretary of Mallaig fishermen's association, said: "Much is made of the success of national parks in other areas, but these are set in areas of wilderness with little existing economic activity. That is not the case on the west coast. "The area is an important economic resource, and a marine park authority would stop many of the economic activities that exist at present. Any marine park should have as little human economic dependency as possible."
The Scottish Wildlife Trust strongly supports the plans and they want an even bigger park. Jonny Hughes from the SWT is in favour of creating one park stretching from the South skye coast down to Islay and Jura.
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