How Main Players See the Way Ahead

THE three main battlegrounds about our marine environment are likely to be the competing interests of fishermen, those promoting wind and wave power offshore, and conservationists. Here are three views on the future:

Fishing Bertie Armstrong, chief executive of the Scottish Fishermen’s Federation “We were concerned before this document arrived about balance between marine conservation and commercial aspects, between protection of the marine eco-system and the sustainable use of resources.

“What we find in the document is that there is a balance. Notice is taken of the commercial aspects, particularly fishing, but of course the devil will be in the detail. There is still a lot to play for.

“What we would like to see in the end is a presumption that fishing will be permitted in all those areas where it has taken place up until now until such time as it is proven that in specific places fishing is damaging the eco-system. That’s very different to walling off areas before you start.

“What must not happen is for Scotland’s seas to turn into a glorified marine aquarium.”

Renewable energy Gareth Davies of the Scottish Renewables Forum ” Marine renewables are the new kids on the block in terms of the Scottish marine environment. For marine renewables to make the contribution the government is looking for, towards its energy targets, it is going to be necessary to see a considerable amount of development over the next 10-15 years and billions of pounds of investment.

“For that to happen, we need effective marine management, certainty, and a framework So the marine bill will hopefully take the good bits of what we have got, fill the gaps where necessary and put them together in a coherent way for the future.”

Conservation Becky Boyd, representing Scottish Environment Link, a network of 32 voluntary environmental organisations with a total of around 500,000 members “Scottish Environment Link has been campaigning for a marine bill for Scotland for probably about 10 years, so this is very welcome. We think it the best opportunity Scotland has ever had and ever likely to have to protect our marine environment and bring it to life again. There have been too many years of neglect and decline and indiscriminate exploitation.”

In respect of the presumption of use, she said: “I think there should be a test of sustainability, that sees our marine resources as basic resource and not something that should be traded off for short-term economic gain.”

Originally published by Newsquest Media Group.

(c) 2008 Herald, The; Glasgow (UK). Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.