we actually pulled it off and the dredgers are staying out of wester ross for good. it took so many of you speaking up to make the government listen but they finally did. lets keep an eye on the water to make sure it stays protected.
August 12, 2015
Final supporters
SUPPORT MARINE SCOTLAND'S PLANS FOR THE WESTER ROSS MARINE PROTECTED AREA (MPA) AND EXCLUDE SCALLOP DREDGING.
Wester Ross Marine Protected Area (http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A978502.pdf) was recently designated in order to protect and recover some important species which had been damaged by destructive fishing practices. The MPA area extends from Reiff, at the northern tip of the Summer Isles to Loch Ewe in the south. A campaign by members of the public, and creel and dive fishermen throughout the west coast has encouraged the Scottish Government to announce draft Marine Conservation Orders (http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0047/00478979.pdf) which plan to exclude scallop dredging from these highly sensitive areas and limit trawls to areas. The Government has requested that coastal communities and stakeholders respond by the 12th July.
Scallop dredgers do serious damage to the sea bed and destroy habitats that can take years, even decades to recover. These are areas where many fish including skate, rays, cod and herring (a keystone species) spawn and live whilst juveniles. Brown crab and lobster and scallops can also get smashed by the dredgers as do other less commercial species. Local fishing pays a price because dredgers damage opportunities for more sustainable low-impact fishing practices. Protecting inshore areas from scallop dredgers will help to protect the future of local scallop diving, sustainable creeling, sea angling and, ultimately, wild life tourism.
There is considerable opposition from those who represents the dredgers and mobile sectors interests so it is essential to strengthen the government’s resolve to make this law by demonstrating our local communities support for this. If you support the Scottish Government’s plans for the Wester Ross MPA and it's closure to scallop dredging to protect the inshore waters please sign the petition.
PLEASE INCLUDE NAME & POSTCODE SO WE CAN ASSESS LOCAL OPINION - BUT WORLDWIDE SUPPORT WELCOME.
All information is strictly private and will not be passed on. If anyone wants their name private just un-tick the small box after adding your signature.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
June 24, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
June 19, 2015
8 Comments
Dredging is absolute madness in these waters. Seen the damage myself up near the Summer Isles and there is nothing left but mud. Time to stop it.
lived here all my life and the difference in the sea life in the last 20 years is scary. ban the dredgers.
About time something was done about the destruction in Wester Ross. Hope this actually goes through.
Hi Barbara, Whilst we are mostly gauging resident opinion the petition is open to our families, friends and supporters worldwide - and there is a large Scottish diaspora all over the world and we have connections with other groups. So I think for a petition open to the world it is the default position for the currency to be dollars and it is an easy currency conversion. But I will investigate what is best and change if people think it if other people feel it makes more sense. Please do donate, we are raising money for a sea bed survey.
Keep the dredgers out! We need to protect the seabed so the creel fishermen can actually make a living. Enough is enough.
The donations go to Ipetitions not us as they are for site donations. For donations to Sea Change please get in touch as we are raising money for a sea bed survey currently - so donations are very welcome - contact [email protected] if you want to contribute to our survey.
Why do you want donations in dollars?
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we actually pulled it off and the dredgers are staying out of wester ross for good. it took so many of you speaking up to make the government listen but they finally did. lets keep an eye on the water to make sure it stays protected.
August 12, 2015
Final supporters
SUPPORT MARINE SCOTLAND'S PLANS FOR THE WESTER ROSS MARINE PROTECTED AREA (MPA) AND EXCLUDE SCALLOP DREDGING.
Wester Ross Marine Protected Area (http://www.snh.gov.uk/docs/A978502.pdf) was recently designated in order to protect and recover some important species which had been damaged by destructive fishing practices. The MPA area extends from Reiff, at the northern tip of the Summer Isles to Loch Ewe in the south. A campaign by members of the public, and creel and dive fishermen throughout the west coast has encouraged the Scottish Government to announce draft Marine Conservation Orders (http://www.gov.scot/Resource/0047/00478979.pdf) which plan to exclude scallop dredging from these highly sensitive areas and limit trawls to areas. The Government has requested that coastal communities and stakeholders respond by the 12th July.
Scallop dredgers do serious damage to the sea bed and destroy habitats that can take years, even decades to recover. These are areas where many fish including skate, rays, cod and herring (a keystone species) spawn and live whilst juveniles. Brown crab and lobster and scallops can also get smashed by the dredgers as do other less commercial species. Local fishing pays a price because dredgers damage opportunities for more sustainable low-impact fishing practices. Protecting inshore areas from scallop dredgers will help to protect the future of local scallop diving, sustainable creeling, sea angling and, ultimately, wild life tourism.
There is considerable opposition from those who represents the dredgers and mobile sectors interests so it is essential to strengthen the government’s resolve to make this law by demonstrating our local communities support for this. If you support the Scottish Government’s plans for the Wester Ross MPA and it's closure to scallop dredging to protect the inshore waters please sign the petition.
PLEASE INCLUDE NAME & POSTCODE SO WE CAN ASSESS LOCAL OPINION - BUT WORLDWIDE SUPPORT WELCOME.
All information is strictly private and will not be passed on. If anyone wants their name private just un-tick the small box after adding your signature.
Updates
Reached 500 supporters
June 24, 2015
Reached 100 supporters
June 19, 2015
8 Comments
Scallop dredging is killing our coast. Please government listen to us for once!!!
Dredging is absolute madness in these waters. Seen the damage myself up near the Summer Isles and there is nothing left but mud. Time to stop it.
lived here all my life and the difference in the sea life in the last 20 years is scary. ban the dredgers.
About time something was done about the destruction in Wester Ross. Hope this actually goes through.
Hi Barbara, Whilst we are mostly gauging resident opinion the petition is open to our families, friends and supporters worldwide - and there is a large Scottish diaspora all over the world and we have connections with other groups. So I think for a petition open to the world it is the default position for the currency to be dollars and it is an easy currency conversion. But I will investigate what is best and change if people think it if other people feel it makes more sense. Please do donate, we are raising money for a sea bed survey.
Keep the dredgers out! We need to protect the seabed so the creel fishermen can actually make a living. Enough is enough.
The donations go to Ipetitions not us as they are for site donations. For donations to Sea Change please get in touch as we are raising money for a sea bed survey currently - so donations are very welcome - contact [email protected] if you want to contribute to our survey.
Why do you want donations in dollars?
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Scallop dredging is killing our coast. Please government listen to us for once!!!