Category Archives: Fishing

HPMAs – full statement by TCC and Tiree Trust

THE PROSPECT OF AN HPMA AROUND TIREE AND COLL:

Statement from Tiree Community Council and Tiree Community Development Trust

It is not an exaggeration to say that the designation of the waters used by the Tiree fishing fleet – from Skerryvore to the Cairns of Coll – as a Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA) poses an existential threat to the Tiree community.

The island’s population at the 2011 Census had declined to 653, a 15% fall over the previous 10 years. This is perilously close to being non-viable. Our secondary school roll is now 30, and an increasing number of young people are choosing to transfer to Oban to complete their education. Social capital has been hollowed out and many voluntary committees are under strength. The Tiree community is hanging on by its fingertips.

Tiree, known as the ‘Hawaii of the North’, is internationally famous for its water sports and marine wildlife tourism. If HPMA rules are interpreted strictly, these would be restricted. Future developments that hold out the prospect of a more sustainable future for the island – developments such as the construction of a breakwater to protect the island’s exposed harbour, a fixed link to Coll, shellfish aquaculture or seaweed farming – would become almost impossible.

Tiree has been a centre of fishing since Viking times, becoming a commercial exporter of fish in the 1840s. Fishing remains one of the three legs that supports the island’s economy, along with tourism and crofting.

The island’s small harbour received a major upgrade in 2020, thanks to a £1.1 million investment from the Scottish Government, HIE and the Tiree Community Development Trust. From two boats in 1995, the local fleet is now nine strong providing 20 full time jobs. The annual catch of crab and lobster has a value of around £1,000,000. A quarter of the children in P4 and below (14 out of 59) come from fishing families. It has been a real success story.

The Tiree current fleet uses fixed-line creels, which have little impact on the sea bed beyond the prey species.

The most crucial point is this: Milton harbour is shallow, tidal and relatively unprotected. This means that the largest boats that can berth there safely are less than 10 m in length. These are day boats. They simply cannot steam off to new fishing grounds if there are local restrictions. If the Tiree fleet cannot work local waters, there will be no fishing boats, no fishermen, and no fishing families. It is a binary choice.

Even partial designation would have the same effect. The Tiree fishermen need the whole area to take advantage of shelter as weather systems sweep over the island, and to work the ground less intensively and more sustainably.

Tiree Community Council and Tiree Community Development Trust have no comment to make about the concept of HPMAs. But we will strongly oppose the creation of an HPMA around Tiree and Coll. It would be the end of our community.

Tiree Community Development Trust

Tiree Community Council

14 March 2023

Downloadable Word version of this statement

See our joint press release relating to this statement here

HPMA consultation – TCC / Tiree Trust joint press release

EDIT: The deadline for the consultation has now been delayed to April 17th and can be completed here

PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE USE: THE ISLE OF TIREE RESPONDS TO THE HIGHLY PROTECTED MARINE AREAS CONSULTATION.

“We would be wiped out overnight with one stroke of the pen”.

Tiree Community Council and the Tiree Community Development Trust have raised grave concerns in response to the Government’s Highly Protected Marine Areas consultation saying, “It is not an exaggeration to say that the designation of the waters used by the Tiree fishing fleet – from Skerryvore to the Cairns of Coll – as a Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA) poses an existential threat to the Tiree community.”

Tiree’s small harbour received a major upgrade in 2020, thanks to a £1.1 million investment from the Scottish Government, HIE and the Tiree Community Development Trust.

From two boats in 1995, the local fleet is now nine strong providing 20 full time jobs. The annual catch of crab and lobster has a value of around £1,000,000 and a quarter of the children in P4 and below come from fishing families.

“One boat’s worth of economic impact.”

Local fisherman Neil MacPhail said, “My boat alone puts food on the table for eleven people. One boat’s worth of economic impact is huge in a community such as Tiree. It’s the only industry in the island which has genuinely bucked the depopulation trend. If this landed on top of us, we would be wiped out overnight with one stroke of the pen on a chart.”

Tiree’s population at the 2011 Census had declined to 653, a 15% fall over the previous 10 years. The secondary school roll is now 30, and an increasing number of young people are choosing to transfer to Oban to complete their education.

Rhoda Meek, Chair of the Tiree Community Development Trust said, “Our island, as a thriving community, is perilously close to being non-viable. Social capital has been hollowed out and many voluntary committees are under strength. The Tiree community is hanging on by its fingertips. If the Tiree fleet cannot work local waters, there will be no fishing boats, no fishermen, and no fishing families. It will be the end of our community.”

ENDS

FURTHER INFORMATION & CONTACTS

The full joint statement from Tiree Community Development Trust and Tiree Community Council can be found here: http://tireecommunitycouncil.co.uk/hpmas-full-statement-by-tcc-and-tiree-trust/

Rhoda Meek (Chair of Tiree Community Development Trust) and Neil MacPhail, (Fisherman) are both available for comment.

Rhoda Meek: 07771394030

Neil MacPhail: 07747791400

IMAGES

several families including many children assembled in front of a fishing facility

“One boat’s worth of economic impact”

This image features the crew and families who make their living from just one of the boats in Tiree, belonging to Neil MacPhail. “One boat worth of economic impact.”

Further images and video are available at the following link – https://photos.app.goo.gl/kQ3nRGafFaKGxY3e7. Please get in touch with rhodameek@gmail.com for high res copies and HD raw footage. No credits required.

SNH consultation on proposed marine Special Protection Areas for seabirds

EDIT – 11/10/16

Tiree Community Council made the following submission:

‘Tiree Community Council (TCC) considered the proposed Special Protection Area for Tiree and Coll at its public meeting on 7th September. We acknowledge that we do not possess relevant expertise in maritime ecology; our job is to represent the views and interests of our constituents on the electoral roll of the island. The matter was an agenda item, which was advertised in advance. The pSPA was also flagged prominently on the TCC website and comments were solicited. At the public meeting a member of the public commended the report as balanced. As a member of the pressure group No Tiree Array he had already provided a detailed submission to the consultation process. As Convenor I reported that I had held a meeting with two island fishermen, who were very concerned about the proposed SPA. They pointed out that fishing was one of the three pillars of the Tiree economy, and, significantly, encouraged young families to stay on the island. They pointed out that the bird population figures behind the proposals were at least ten years old and may not accurately describe the present situation. These fishermen had told me that, while the present local static gear fishery was not thought to impact significantly on the two bird species concerned, experience in other marine protected areas was towards tighter regulations as time went on. One of the fishermen made limited use of a set net for bait, and this catch was worth £15,000 a year to him. The other fishermen said he had made plans to buy equipment to start limited dredging and the proposed tightening of this form of fishing would load significant pressure onto his already fragile business. They were strongly against the proposals, and in particular, the inclusion of the south coast of the island. There have been no other comments to TCC about the pSPA.’

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Tiree Community Council are looking for feedback on the following SNH consultation.

http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/protected-areas/proposed-marine-spas/

(Special Protection Areas) SPA are particularly relevant for creel (static gear) fishermen, but also important for overall marine conservation and preservation of marine habitats.

Please leave feedback in the comments section on the website!

Deadline for the consultation is 21 September. If you would prefer to submit a response directly to SNH you can do so at the following link.

http://www.snh.gov.uk/protecting-scotlands-nature/protected-areas/proposed-marine-spas/