Now is our chance, but much is at stake! If we fail to secure a REAL Marine Protected Area our inshore waters and fisheries will decline further or even collapse. A well protected area with dredgers banned and trawlers limited to deep water will benefit sustainable local creel and dive fishermen, boost tourism and help the whole community’s prosperity. Life in the ocean is threatened. Yet we have a real opportunity to change that and restore the seas, fish populations, mammals and sea birds once again. Our coastal communities depend upon this and the Government will support us if we can show we care.

Wester Ross was known for the fertility of it's inshore area's, and it's waters known as nursery and spawning grounds for many species which start life at the bottom of the sea bed, this in turn supports the whole food chain. Dredging and trawling drags heavy gear over the sea bed and destroys the slow growing habitats which protect these larval and juvenile species. Yet on the 18th of December the Govt appeased the trawl boats by making these trawl areas. This will jeopardise recovery as they will be unable to regenerate to their former abundance due to damage done by dragging.

Our Seas have been damaged badly since the 3 mile limit was lifted. Our waters once had abundant herring, haddock, halibut, skate, lobster, cod, sea trout, salmon and many other species which are now commercially unviable.

Since the 1950s, coastal ecosystems worldwide have been radically transformed by human activity. Our use of finite natural resources is accelerating and this, coupled with poor management of fisheries, (our future food resource and tourist attractions) means the planet has entered a phase of widespread biodiversity loss. The damage to the sea is invisible; yet within a generation, increased efficiency of fishing has removed large fish from ecosystems and caused extensive damage within the inshore breeding areas so vital for the regeneration of all Sea-life. Added to this are serious problems caused by climate change, toxic pollution and plastics.

The good news is that we have abundant scientific evidence and the ability to address these problems if we act now. Wester Ross was designated as a Marine Protected Area in order to protect some vital keystone species which are particularly fragile and damaged by dredgers and trawlers. These keystone species provide nursery and spawning grounds for our own commercially fished species including scallops, which left intact, would allow the next generation to mature and to seed other areas outside of the MPA.

Sign to support a truly sustainable sea, managed for the majority, and say no to the continued depletion of this public resource for the short term commercial gain of a minority.

The Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation (representing the vast majority of creel and dive fishermen on the west coast) has campaigned FOR the Marine Protected Areas alongside other community groups along the west coast. (CHECK ALISTAIR OK)

Join us in supporting our community’s future prosperity, and stop the depletion of our seas.

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