Thursday 4th of February sees Stage Three of the Marine (Scotland) Bill. This is where the Bill is debated in Holyrood. Numerous Non Government Organisations (NGOs) are busy behind the scenes scrutinising the small print and any amendments and rushing forward any final alterations for the consideration of willing MSPs for the Thursday’s debate.

As it stands, there are many areas within the Marine Bill left wanting. It has become far from the all encompassing legislation that will enable real sustainability both for us and the marine environment. Never has the term; ‘Out of sight, out of mind’ become so pertinent.

Once again Scotland’s commercial sectors, those which hold a vested interest, have influenced Scotland’s politicians. The next few days are vital, if there is going to be any chance of winning the debate for a healthy truly sustainable future – our legacy to the next generation.

Hebridean Partnership made a submission to the Scottish Public Petitions Committee calling for a ‘level playing field’ within consultations and deliberations concerning the Marine legislative process. The Petition’s Committee passed this request over to the Rural Affairs and Environment Committee, who stated that they would take the recommendations of the Hebridean Partnership on board; However, it appears to have been business as usual, large influential fishing organisations and the well funded salmon aquaculture industry getting the ear.

Two major gaps within the current processes remain:

• The first gap is in the specification of Marine Protected Areas or MPAs as they are known around the world. The problems here are that they have different meanings, different implications depending upon location and view point. MPAs that really work, both in improving fish stocks and protecting habitats and biodiversity are those that include regions of ‘No-Take-Zones’. Currently the Marine (Scotland) Bill is very weak concerning what would be better termed Highly Protected Marine Areas.
• The second gap is that of protecting seals. The need for further protection has at last been recognised. Recent headlines have suggested that the Marine Bill offers significantly better protection for seals. It’s not hard to better one prosecution in 30 years – the actuality that proves how useless the present protection for seals actually is.

Seals will continue to be shot under the new Marine Bill. This will be allowed to continue despite the fact that Scotland has lost almost one third of its Common Seal population in two years.

The number of Common Seals that remain are around 20,000 for the whole of Scotland’s massive sea region.

Scottish seals will continue to be shot despite evidence given by Professor Thomas of the Scottish Salmon Producers Organisation, that Common Seals are too small, too slight to damage fin fish farm nets.

With modern technology, we can prevent seals from becoming a major issue: simply locating the salmon farms away from seal colonies or the routes that seals use from their haul-outs to their feeding grounds. Careful planning, combined with modern materials, design and upkeep all but eliminate the need to kill. Yet killing remains in this new piece of legislation. Why?

Campaigns – last chance to make a difference

There are two online campaigns that only take a few seconds of your time to add your support. They are the Scottish Environmental Link and Advocates for Animals.

The Scottish Environmental Link

The Scottish Environmental Link  – with its Save Scottish Seas campaign, is an umbrella organisation consisting of: World Wildlife Fund; Royal Society for the Protection of Birds; Marine Conservation Society; National Trust for Scotland; Scottish Wildlife Trusts; Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust; and Whale and Dolphin Conservation Trust.

They say: ‘Please make use of our one last chance to change this – when MSPs vote on the issue at the final debate in the Scottish Parliament in the first week of February (the online form makes this easy).

‘We all want our seas to be healthy and productive, a place where wildlife thrives and which can provide a sustainable future for our fragile coastal communities. But Scotland’s seas have been over-exploited and under-protected for decades. We desperately need to help them recover.

‘Now, for the first time ever, we have a chance to improve things, thanks to the Scottish Marine Bill. Scottish Environment LINK has been campaigning for a Strong Marine (Scotland) Act for a number of years that delivers:

• Recovery
• Planning
• Protection

Save Scottish Seas.’

Advocates for Animals

Advocates for Animals have been concentrating on the lack of protection for seals. Its campaign is: Time is running out for Scottish seals.

This campaign says: ‘The fate of seals in Scotland will be decided on Thursday 4th February when a new Marine Bill will be agreed by the Scottish Parliament.

’90% of the UK’s globally important seal populations are in Scottish waters.

‘With just a few simple clicks and 2 minutes of your time you can help prevent these beautiful animals from being shot.

‘Please follow the links and complete the online forms. You’ll sleep better for it. Our kids will thank you for it.’

Mark Carter Environment Editor

The photographs accompanying this article are all by copyright holder, Mark Carter and are all taken on Argyll’s west coast. They represent the many ways in which we live by and enjoy our seas  and waterways – from mussell and fin fish farming to angling; from coastal to cruise shipping; from sailing to kayaking.

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