MENU

HOMEPAGE

Animal Health/
Welfare/Zoonoses

Environment

Land Reform

Social/
Economic/
Political

Food

Science

Fishing

Tourism

Education

Cultybraggan
Farm

Trade

Book Reviews

Light Relief

Links

Glossary

Correspondence

Vacancies

Contact Us

Public meeting to consider proposed
Coastal & Marine National Park:
Mallaig, 25th March 2006

James Irvine

Editor: www.land-care.org.uk

Filed 27 Mar 06
©www.land-care.org.uk

As previously announced on this website (1) a public meeting was to be held in Mallaig on the morning of Saturday 25th March with the brief:

"Are you concerned about the prospects of living in a Coastal & Marine National Park?"

The meeting was organised by Kirsty Macleod, the Mallaig & North West Fishermen's Association and the People Too organisation on account of concerns that local people who live and work in the proposed area of such a Park had not been adequately consulted by Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

The meeting was chaired by Ian Mitchell, a director of People Too and author of Isles of the West and Isles of the North. In his books he has researched in some considerable depth the impact of conservation bodies such as SNH, RSPB, National Trust for Scotland, John Muir Trust and others on the people who live and work in the areas involved.

Ian Mitchell described the experiences of people who lived and
worked in designated conservation areas
(To enlarge photo Click Here)
Photo ©Kimpton Graphics

John Hermse, secretary of the Mallaig & North West Fishermen's Association, expressed his concerns over what impact the designation of National Park might have on the working lives of the fishermen in the area. Fishermen were already burdened by a massive number of rules (429 according to the latest count) as to what they can or cannot do. Doubtless a National Park designation would increase the number of these rules substantially.

He emphasized that when a balance need to be struck within a National Park between conservation and making a livelihood from fishing, conservation would take priority. The trend whereby SNH tends to focus on single species of particular interest to itself is dangerous. Few among the bureaucrats running SNH would understand the practicalities of the fishing industry. He was sick and tired of fishermen being perpetually vilified by so-called conservationists while over many generations it is the fishermen who have been the conservationists. Indeed, nowadays it is fishermen who need to be conserved.

The proposed funding of a Coastal & Marine National Park would appear to be small, with much of the suggested £4million going on SNH staff salaries and other aspects of administration. The result would be yet another layer of bureaucracy - probably productive of very little other than more rules and penalties, making the work of those who have cared for the area so well even more unproductively burdensome.

John Hermse, Secretary Mallaig & NW Fishermen's Association spelt out
his concerns a designation os national Park would have on
fishermen's livelihoods.
Too much was unknown and there could bow be little trust left in
promises from government or its agencies.
(To enlarge photo Click Here)
Photo ©Kimpton Graphics

Ian McKinnon, speaking from the floor, fishes off Mallaig and also, after much argument with SNH, was eventually given permission to run a mussel farm. He had researched the conditions that go with National Park status and they are indeed draconian - ranging from compulsory purchase of land to controlling everything that is done within the area. To develop any new venture would be very difficult. "What can or cannot be done is controlled by people living in cities who have little practical experience of the work people do within the area.," he said.

"Getting up in the morning and going out to attend to the creels is conservation
Getting up in the morning and putting on a WWF tee shirt is getting dressed.

"Throwing back into the sea fish that are too small is conservation
Running around cities in a 4x4 with a sticker on the back is conversation"

He asked how many generations of Macleans had fished out of Mallaig. The answer came back from a current Maclean - 9 generations.

"That is sustainability, that is conservation - not the arrogant self-styled assumptions put forward by the new breed of academic so-called "conservationists."

 

Ian McKinnon, a Mallaig fisherman and mussel farmer, described
the immense powers SNH have over people trying to
earn a living in a National Park
His grandparents had to leave the fishing and go to Glasgow to earn a living.
He has come back and will fight hard not to give up
(To enlarge photo Click Here)
Photo ©Kimpton Graphics

Invitations had been extended to SNH asking if they would like to attend the meeting, but even with ten days notice SNH claimed that they had not had enough notice to organise anyone to come. This was greeted with incredulity until it was pointed out that SNH do not generally attend meetings in an official capacity unless they can control the meeting. Clearly, in the assessment of SNH they would be unlikely to control this one - nor should they. But if they are genuinely interested in local views it would hardly be possible to find a better venue. The 90 or so delegates would have been prepared to listen to what SNH had to say and to seek the information about the proposed National Park that is so sadly lacking. But it was apparent that there is now a marked lack of trust in what SNH says, in contrast to what it does.

In terms of science, SNH was accused of cherry-picking the bits that suited them, irrespective of the quality of that science.

Ever since I was a student hitch-hiking around Scotland, like so many others I have a profound love for the West Coast and the Hebridean islands that lye off it. Revisiting to attend this meeting, I even surprised myself what a strong attachment I felt with the beauty and the traditional lifestyle of the area and yet how it had adapted to modern needs and to modern technology. Over all these years, and for many more, those who have worked and lived there have certainly looked after it - and, given a chance, surely always will. The claim that there is a need for a fiendish layer of incompetent bureaucracy in order to preserve it should certainly be resisted.

It was clear that the local folk were most welcoming to tourists. There were masses of things to do and very little restriction on where you might like to go. The Road to the Isles is modern and there is a train service from Glasgow to Mallaig, including one of the most impressive railway journeys in the world. Just what benefits would a National Park designation achieve?

On my journey north by car (because there is a lousy public transport system between Edinburgh - or Comrie - and Mallaig), the outward appearance of Belford Hospital at Fort William looked sad. The placard outside the village post office at Arisaig proclaimed that an OAP had been kept in a wheelchair overnight. Chatting to locals there was much concern about the local schools, both primary and secondary. Good teachers could not be attracted to the area because of rocketing house prices. I didn't hear a word about school buildings or equipment, but just about the quality of the teachers. Is this going to be helped by the Scottish Executive spending money on a National Park designation?

A little further along the coast, at another gorgeous sandy beach with not a soul in sight, the beautifully clear water carried a certificate from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) proclaiming on an official notice board that for all the weeks for the past umpteen weeks the water quality was of the highest grade possible (except for one week when for some inexplicable reason it got 4 stars instead of the usual maximum of 5). But, in truth, the temperature of the salt-laden sea would be a far greater health hazard at least for man.

Mallaig harbour
(To enlarge photo Click Here)
Photo ©Kimpton Graphics

Comparisons were drawn between what the Scottish Executive (through its agency SNH) has done to Scottish farmers and what they are doing to Scottish fishermen. Thus in farming the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) has been implemented in Scotland so that payments to farmers are progressively cut back and only partially restored through a system of Land Management Contracts (LMCs). The trouble is the conditions attached to most of these LMCs have clearly been drawn up by folk with little practical knowledge of farming (2). Thus SNH has gained massive control over how Scotland's farmland is managed, even without the additional weapon of a National Park designation.

The track record of SNH managing land has come in for serious criticism, particularly where farming is concerned, be it in relation to the National Park at Cairnsmore in the Galloway Hills (3) or on the Isle of Rum, which SNH owns (4). The National Trust has caused outrage in Cumbria on account of the manner in which they have disbanded Beatrice Potter's sheep farm that was left to them in trust (5). Dr Robin Pellew, until recently CEO of the National Trust of Scotland, walked out of his job with immediate effect because he could not see the way ahead whereby the Trust could balance its books.

"People just do not realise how much it costs to maintain property", he said.

The new chief executive of the Trust has stated that mistakes had been made and that the Trust should concentrate on its core function (6). it could well be argued that The National Trust for Scotland owns far too much land and, like SNH, is not competent at its practical management if livestock or game are involved. They are good at looking after castles and gardens with the help of volunteers, yet they do not have enough money to maintain two of Scotland's most precious icons: Robert Burns 's Cottage in Ayrshire and Sir Walter Scott's house, Abbotsford, at Melrose.

I stayed overnight at the Old Library, lodge and restaurant at Arisaig. It provided, at reasonable cost, simple but very comfortable accommodation, good food in a traditional setting with impeccable taste and a warm welcome. The building, by the sea shore, dated from 1723. What more could a visitor to the area wish for?

The absence from the meeting of any politician from any party was regrettable. It was alleged that some of the political parties never even bothered to answer the invitation sent to them. Fergus Ewing (SNP) was keen to come and was billed to be present. He is a well known face in the area. Tragically his wife had recently died and the funeral coincided with the meeting. All those present at the meeting sent their condolences and fully appreciated his interest in their concerns whether or not they agreed with the overall policies of his political party. He was the only politician whose esteem by the gathering was enhanced.

It was stated at the meeting that the local Community Council did not support the setting up of a Coastal & Marine National Park. It was also stated that a government advisor on marine science did not see the benefits of such a Park. Yet the relentless progress of the proposal goes on, with specific areas to be included due to be announced by the Scottish Executive in the next few weeks, with the Park established in 2008.

It was stated at the meeting that the initial proposal came from a small private group of people who have not properly consulted with others in the locality will inferring that they had.

The meeting resolved unanimously (7) that

SNH had not adequately consulted with local people who live and work in the areas that may be involved in a proposed Coastal & Marine National Park

"an action group should be set up with the main aim to fight the imposition of marine park status."

This will clearly be an uphill task when the views of a substantial group of local people are being ignored by SNH and most politicians, and when the dominant urban community have so little understanding of either the fishing or the farming industries and the dedication these industries have shown to conservation over generations, rather than just a few years. But, as with myself, such is the love of that particular part of Scotland felt by vast numbers of Scots - be they living in towns or cities - that if they feel that unnecessary bureaucracy is threatening to mess it up they would come out in their droves to protect it.

©www.land-care.org.uk
editor@land-care.org.uk

References

1. Editorial (2006). Is a Coastal & Marine National Park really wanted? If so, who says that it is? And who wants to live in it? Notice of a public meeting, 25th March, Mallaig.
See ENVIRONMENT Homepage, filed 14 Mar 06, www.land-care.org.uk Click Here to View

2. Editorial (2005). Land Management Contracts - a joke if they were not so sad.
See SOCIAL/ECONOMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, filed 28 Feb 05, www.land-car.org.uk Click Here to View

3. Irvine, James (2006). SNH criticised over its management of its hill farm at Cairnsmore.
See ENVIRONMENT Homepage, filed 20 Jan 06, www.land-care.org.uk Click Here to View

4. Editorial (2004). The management of the SNH suckler herd of Highland cows on Rum.
See SOCIAL/ECONOMIC/POLITICAL Homepage, filed 30 Aug 04, www.land-car.org.uk Click Here to View

5. Irvine, James (2005). Fury with the National Trust as it plans to break up historic farm in the Lake District.
See ENVIRONMENT Homepage, filed 29 Jan 05, www.land-care.org.uk Click Here to View

6. Linklater, Magnus (2006). Linklater's Scotland. Poisoned chalice or holy grail?
Spectrum Magazine, Scotland on Sunday 26th March 2006.
Reproduced with permission on Land-Care
See ENVIRONMENT Homepage, filed 27 Mar 06, www.land-care.org.uk Click Here to View

7. West Coast Action Group (2006). Press Release: West Coast Action Group formed to fight the imposition of a Coastal & Marine National Park. Click here to View pdf

Finis