MP criticises "uncompromising" MoD over sub exclusion zone plan in west
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An MP says 140 fishermen's livelihoods could be sunk over controversial plans to double the size of the exclusion zone around Britain's major torpedo and submarine testing range.
Ian Blackford has accused the Ministry of Defence of being “uncompromising” and adopting an “imperial attitude” towards local fishing interests in the west of Scotland.
He has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the UK Parliament to protest against the department's failure to carry out an economic impact assessment on proposed MoD byelaw changes to the inner sound between Applecross and Raasay, where submarines are tested.
The proposed byelaw changes were the subject of a public meeting in Kyleakin recently hosted by the MoD’s Defence Infrastructure Organisation and defence technology company QinetiQ.
In the aftermath of discussions held at the meeting, Mr Blackford wrote to the Defence Secretary Michael Fallon to ask him to postpone the consultation on the byelaws until a later date and to suggest the establishment of a project group consisting of the MoD, QinetiQ and the fishing community, together with an economic impact assessment to be undertaken with the assistance of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
This would look at how adverse effects on fishing could be minimised, perhaps by allowing some fishing to take place at certain times within the revised water space.
Although the consultation has been postponed by the MoD, the other suggestions have been ignored.
The EDM reads that it “notes that the Secretary of State for Defence has so far not taken account of reasonable requests for carrying out an economic impact assessment on the effect of the proposed MOD byelaw changes to the inner sound in the north west of Scotland that will close off valuable fishing grounds; further notes that a request that a project group of the MoD, Butec and fishing interests has also been ignored; this leaves the conclusion that the MoD do not recognise legitimate local interests to the extent that it appears uncompromising in its imperial attitude; and calls upon the Government to address these legitimate concerns. “
Proposals to expand the Navy's test site off the west coast of Scotland have been blasted by fishermen.
They claim it could be the "death knell" for their livelihoods if fishing is banned or severely restricted in the test area between Raasay and the mainland.
Ross, Skye and Lochalsh SNP MP Mr Blackford said the changes could potentially threaten the livelihood of around 140 fishermen who work in the area.
Creel fisherman Alasdair Macleod, chairman of Applecross Community Council has previously warned:"The fishermen are very concerned. It is going to affect a huge displacement of ground and affect upwards of 30 boats and put a huge strain on the area. We are pretty devastated by it all.
"They are just turning the place into a Navy base. This could be the death knell of this way of life in this place."
Butec trials submarine weapons and sonar systems. It is vital to maintaining the readiness of Britain's fleet of nuclear submarines.
