News / In brief for 7 July 2010
Marine energy
MARINE renewables projects in the western isles, Orkney, Loch Ness, Cromarty Firth and South Kintyre are sharing in a £13 million Scottish government pot of gold.
The £15 million WATERS fund (Wave and Tidal Energy: Research, Development and Demonstration Support) has been set up to help develop marine energy and improve existing marine renewable devices.
The fund is a collaboration between the Scottish government, Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise with support from European Regional Development Funds.
RWE npower renewables have received £6 million to help build one of the world’s largest wave stations off the western isles, while Aquamarine Power’s Oyster 3 project at Orkney’s European Marine Energy Centre are being given £3.15 million.
A Scottish Low Carbon Investment Conference is being held in Edinburgh on 28-29 September to bring projects and investors together to match low carbon opportunities, identify and debate the risks and rewards and facilitate financial solutions and innovative investment.
More information is available at http://www.slciconference.com/
Planet friendly fishing
THE SCOTTISH Fishermen’s Federation has underlined its commitment to protecting the sea and sustainably harvesting fish and shellfish with the publication of a new environmental policy statement.
SFF policy officer Rory Campbell said: “We recognise that the key to our future lies in the health of (fish) stocks and the ecosystem that sustains them.
“Our environmental policy statement is a guide to what our members in the various sectors of the industry are doing to address issues of sustainability. We regard our approach and the aspirations expressed in the document as work in permanent progress that will continually evolve and develop.”
The statement can be seen at http://www.sff.co.uk/environmental_statement_2010.pdf
Torture
ISLES MP Alistair Carmichael has spoken out in favour of the UK government’s announcement on Tuesday to hold an inquiry into allegations that Britain’s intelligence service colluded with acts of torture.
Mr Carmichael said that his Liberal Democrat party had called for a public inquiry last year but the Labour government had refused to listen.
“I am pleased that we are finally in a position where the facts behind suggestions of UK complicity in the mistreatment of detainees can be established.
“Involvement in torture goes against our values as a country and our responsibilities as a member of the international community. This inquiry underlines the commitment of the coalition to restoring human rights and civil liberties at the heart of government in the UK,” he said.
New HIE chief
HIGHLANDS and Islands Enterprise has appointed a new chief executive to run its community and economic development work across the region.
Alex Paterson has been a director with HIE for the past nine years heading its Developing Skills and then its Regional Competitiveness groups.
He has worked for oil giant Esso and Swedish car manufacturer Volvo prior to joining Scottish Enterprise and then HIE.
He takes over from Sandy Brady who has served as acting chief executive since August last year.
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