Management measures must not undermine viability of fishing fleet
Shetland Fishermen’s Association executive officer Sheila Keith responds to Scottish Government minister for agriculture, marine and the islands Jim Fairlie’s comments on the forthcoming consultation on new management measures for existing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
The Scottish Government has assured us that Highly Protected Marine Areas (HMPAs) will not be introduced “by the back door”, and we welcome that clarity.
At this stage it is difficult to offer detailed comment on MPAs) before we have had the chance to read the full consultation.
‘My commitment is to keep listening, to get the balance right’
We have already begun early discussions on the proposed management measures for several areas around Shetland, and some of these would close important fishing grounds.
Thanks to the Shetland Shellfish Management Organisation (SSMO), there are already well‑established measures in place to protect fish stocks and sensitive habitats in our inshore waters.
The existing closed areas around Shetland were developed with direct input from local fishermen, whose knowledge of the marine environment is second to none.
As Mr Fairlie notes, the MPA network and Priority Marine Features were developed over a decade ago with fishermen’s involvement, but some aspects have changed since then.
For example, it was never the intention to close productive fishing grounds simply to protect sand, which is a highly mobile feature shaped constantly by tides and weather.
It is changes of this nature that risk having the greatest impact on fishermen, particularly when the rationale does not align with practical experience or ecological reality.
We fully recognise the legal requirement to introduce management measures, but they must not come at any cost to fishermen or undermine the viability of our fleet.
It has already been widely reported that fishing grounds available to Shetland fishermen are being steadily eroded [from development such as aquaculture and cabling].
The proposals currently being discussed would certainly exacerbate that situation.
Until we see the consultation in full, we will not know whether our early representations have influenced or altered any part of the initial proposals.
We will be happy to comment further once we have had sight of the full consultation and can assess the proposals properly.
Sheila Keith
Shetland Fishermen’s Association (SFA)
