Dave Thompson MSP

Dave Thompson, SNP MSP for Skye, Lochaber and Badenoch and Rural Affairs, Climate Change and Environment (RACCE) Committee member recently (27/01/16) supported the Marine Protected Area (MPA) proposals and has since secured a meeting with the Cabinet Secretary, Richard Lochhead and the MNWFA, due to take place on Thursday the 4th of February, in order to discuss the management detail of the Small Isles MPA.

At the meeting on the 27th of January, Mr Thompson supported the principle of MPAs and used the debate to welcome environmental monitoring. However, he urged caution on the proposals so as to balance fishing industry needs against the requirement for MPAs and is pleased that the Scottish Government has agreed to report on MPA implementation later in 2016.

The MSP, whose constituency takes in Mallaig and the small isles, also urged Marine Scotland, SNH and the Government to keep a close eye on developments, as there is conflicting views on the science on the west coast, which is not particularly good in many areas and highlighted the issue of critical mass in small communities like Mallaig.

Mr Thompson said, “I support the principle of MPA’s and welcome environmental monitoring, however caution is required as it is important to balance fishing industry needs against the requirement for MPAs.

“However, it is imperative that Marine Scotland, SNH, The Scottish Government and other interested parties keep a close eye developments, especially as there are conflicting views on the science on the west coast, which is not particularly good in many areas”.

“We must take cognisance of critical mass in small communities like Mallaig where one or two boats drop out for whatever reason, out of maybe fifteen then the slip is not viable, the ice factory is not viable, the transport is not viable and the whole infrastructure of fishing is destroyed. Therefore, I think this has to be looked at very carefully, especially as you move up the west coast where we have very many fragile communities quite remote from the central belt.

Dave went on,

“I am pleased, however, that the Cabinet Secretary, Richard Lochhead, will bring forward progress reports before the end of 2016 as a means to inform the Rural Affairs, Climate Change, and Environment Committee, as to how the implementation of the management measures on the MPAs is progressing.

“It is also positive that the Cabinet Secretary, Richard Lochhead, has agreed to meet with me and the MNWFA on Thursday the 4th of February to discuss the management detail of the Small Isles MPA, which I will report on in due course”.