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Call for moratorium on Outer Hebrides designations

September 24, 2014

A large Special Protection Area is currently proposed west of the Southern Isles.

A large Special Protection Area is currently proposed west of the Southern Isles.

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Sustainable Development committee today unanimously agreed to call for a ten year moratorium on the introduction of any new environmental designations in the Outer Hebrides.

Speaking earlier today, Cllr Alasdair MacLeod, chair of the committee, said: “The Outer Hebrides are affected by several forms of environmental designations – International RAMSAR designations, Special Protection Area, Special Area of Conservation, SSSIs and Wildland.

“The Outer Hebrides are making a significant contribution towards Scotland’s overall commitment to safeguarding the natural environment.  We make a greater contribution than any other part of Scotland, with significantly more of our land under designation than any other part of Scotland.  I don’t think it’s a coincidence that we have the highest level of designation and the lowest level of GDP.

“With the introduction of Marine Protected Areas and the potential for new marine Special Protection Areas we can see the potential for our seas to become overly designated in the same way that our land has.  For an area dependent on so many forms of marine activity this is a development that we should be incredibly wary of.

“Over the past period the Comhairle has adopted a policy position of only supporting new designations if it could be clearly demonstrated that they had no potential to adversely impact on economic activity and if they were supported by local communities.  With the publication of new information in regard to the suite of draft Special Protection Areas, I think the Comhairle’s position should now become stronger.

“I would therefore wish to put forward a new recommendation asking that Comhairle nan Eilean Siar adopt a position of seeking a ten year moratorium on the introduction of any new environmental designations in the Outer Hebrides.  I recommend formally writing to both the Scottish Government and the European Commission outlining that position.”

The recommendation of the committee will now go to the full Comhairle next Thursday (2nd October).

Filed Under: Fishing, Local Government, News, Renewable Energy Tagged With: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Designation, SPA

SHAMED again questions further designations

September 9, 2014

Map of the proposed 'West Coast of the Outer Hebrides SPA'.

Map of the proposed ‘West Coast of the Outer Hebrides SPA’.

Campaign group Southern Hebrides Against Marine Environmental Designations (SHAMED) has raised questions over plans to designate the west coast of the Outer Hebrides – from Barra to southern Harris – as a Special Protection Area (SPA).

Plans to create the new designation – which would aim to protect species including Great Northern Divers and Slavonian Grebe – were published by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) in August.

Reacting to the news, South Uist community landlord Storas Uibhist said the proposed SPA would be a matter of “major concern” to islanders.  North Uist councillor Uisdean Robertson said the islands were being “squeezed” by environmental designations and might as well be declared “a national park”.

Now SHAMED – which led the fight against the eventual creation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) at East Mingulay and in the Sound of Barra – has added its voice to the debate over further designations.

In an open letter, SHAMED chair Angus MacLeod asks for clarification on the impact the SPA would have on potential future marine renewable energy developments in the area.

 

The full letter is re-printed below:

Dear Sir,

We have known since March 2010 that the Scottish Government was searching for new EU Special Protection Areas in our waters. The result of that search is a proposal for a huge SPA to the west of the islands, running from Taransay to Barrahead.

Surely this community should be discussing the possible impact of this site?

We need to know what will happen to the potential for marine renewables in our local area. The waters west of Barra and Uist were identified for development by the Scottish Government in 2008 as an alternative to the now protected Sound of Barra location. Now the alternative site itself is in danger of being designated.

I think we should also be asking how the “locally-led” Sound of Barra SAC management can possibly work now, since the new SPA proposals will cover most of the SAC waters within the Sound.

I would be happy to hear from anyone who shares these concerns.

 

Yours faithfully,

Angus MacLeod

Chairman for SHAMED

2 Eoligarry

Barra

Filed Under: Fishing, News, Renewable Energy Tagged With: Designation, Outer Hebrides, Renewable Energy, SPA

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