Tag Archives: Western Isles
Fight for the Future! Harris skipper urges Isles MSP to take stronger stance on HPMAs
Western Isles MSP Alasdair Allan MSP needs to stop “downplaying” the concerns voiced by fishermen over the threat to their livelihoods posed by a controversial new environmental designation, it was claimed this week. Harris fisherman Iain Dix has been in correspondence with Mr Allan over the last few weeks on the subject of Highly Protected Marine Areas. Mr Dix said Mr Allan’s response was “totally lacking in the seriousness conveyed to you in the past number of weeks” by your constituents. He told the MSP: “Where you talk of ‘concerns’ and ‘potential damage’, the fishing industry and our representatives have repeatedly told you of the sheer anger and disbelief regarding these proposals, and the obliteration of our industry and islands they will bring. >click to read< 15:14
Fishermen in Western Isles fishing vessel “Louisa” tragedy tried to swim to shore
Two of the men stranded in the sea after a fishing vessel sank off Mingulay in the Western Isles in the early hours of Saturday morning left their life raft to swim for shore. Finlay Macleod of the Fishermen’s Mission said all four reported missing had made it to their life raft. But two of them tried to swim for the shore, which was in sight. One of the four was found safe, while another is still missing. Two of the four men on the raft were later found to have died, whilst another is still missing. Read the article here 08:17
FISHING leaders in Shetland, Orkney and the Western Isles move to protect fishing communities
Commercial fishing is economically and culturally vital to island communities with around a quarter of the industry based in Shetland, Orkney and the western isles. Secretary of the Orkney Fisheries Association, Fiona Matheson, said: “As everyone in the islands knows, fishing is an absolutely essential part of economic life and it’s time this was reflected in devolved powers for the industry. The move follows the example of the Our Islands Our Future initiative, which is seeking for more political decision-making powers to be devolved to the islands. Read the rest here 14:08
