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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Concern over Scottish marine protected areas | Concern over Scottish marine protected areas |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Fishermen's leaders are warning jobs, and even lives, could be lost with the enforcement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around Scotland's coast. | Fishermen's leaders are warning jobs, and even lives, could be lost with the enforcement of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) around Scotland's coast. |
| Environmentalists have described the claims as "exaggerated". | Environmentalists have described the claims as "exaggerated". |
| And creel fishermen have told BBC Scotland they have been subjected to intimidation after speaking out in favour of the conservation measures. | And creel fishermen have told BBC Scotland they have been subjected to intimidation after speaking out in favour of the conservation measures. |
| The network of 30 MPAs has been designed to safeguard fragile habitats and biodiversity. | The network of 30 MPAs has been designed to safeguard fragile habitats and biodiversity. |
| It includes the largest marine protected area in Europe. | It includes the largest marine protected area in Europe. |
| Restrictions will be put in place at the most important sites to prevent damage to the marine environment by scallop dredgers and prawn trawlers. | Restrictions will be put in place at the most important sites to prevent damage to the marine environment by scallop dredgers and prawn trawlers. |
| But it's claimed lives could be put at risk if skippers have to leave their traditional, sheltered winter fishing grounds. | |
| Calum MacLachlainn, of Isle of Mull Scallops, said: "If they take away our winter grounds, we'll be forced out into areas which are more exposed. | Calum MacLachlainn, of Isle of Mull Scallops, said: "If they take away our winter grounds, we'll be forced out into areas which are more exposed. |
| "The way the Scottish government is going with the MPAs and listening to the anti-fishing lobby, I think we'll see funerals before someone changes their mind." | "The way the Scottish government is going with the MPAs and listening to the anti-fishing lobby, I think we'll see funerals before someone changes their mind." |
| Meanwhile, the Scottish Fishermen's Federation has warned the economic impact of the measures could result in "clearances" of west coast fishing communities. | Meanwhile, the Scottish Fishermen's Federation has warned the economic impact of the measures could result in "clearances" of west coast fishing communities. |
| Bertie Armstrong, the SFF's chief executive, said: "It could be, and I'm choosing my words carefully here, devastating. | Bertie Armstrong, the SFF's chief executive, said: "It could be, and I'm choosing my words carefully here, devastating. |
| "If you want to take a local community and result in a clearance, this is the right way to go about it. | "If you want to take a local community and result in a clearance, this is the right way to go about it. |
| "If you take down small businesses when there's only a small number there, then you will devastate a community." | "If you take down small businesses when there's only a small number there, then you will devastate a community." |
| The Scottish government insisted it was striking a fair balance and argued the financial impact on the industry would be limited. | The Scottish government insisted it was striking a fair balance and argued the financial impact on the industry would be limited. |
| Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead, told BBC Scotland: "We believe our restrictions we are proposing to protect these precious marine features are proportionate. | Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Richard Lochhead, told BBC Scotland: "We believe our restrictions we are proposing to protect these precious marine features are proportionate. |
| "Indeed, if you look at the mobile fishing sector, we reckon it's between 1% and 1.6% of the cumulative revenues of the fleets affected. | "Indeed, if you look at the mobile fishing sector, we reckon it's between 1% and 1.6% of the cumulative revenues of the fleets affected. |
| "Of course, hopefully some of these vessels will be able to fish outside of these MPAs." | "Of course, hopefully some of these vessels will be able to fish outside of these MPAs." |
| Environmental campaigners argued the introduction of the Marine Protected Areas should benefit everyone. | Environmental campaigners argued the introduction of the Marine Protected Areas should benefit everyone. |
| Calum Duncan, of Scottish Environment Link, said: "The more diverse and complex the seabed is, the more productive it is. | Calum Duncan, of Scottish Environment Link, said: "The more diverse and complex the seabed is, the more productive it is. |
| "We all need cool heads. We all need to look at where these habitats are distributed, and manage our activity with the grain of that ecosystem. | "We all need cool heads. We all need to look at where these habitats are distributed, and manage our activity with the grain of that ecosystem. |
| "It is that ecosystem that is providing all the employment and all the benefits which the coastal communities enjoy." | "It is that ecosystem that is providing all the employment and all the benefits which the coastal communities enjoy." |
| Ministers have won the support of the Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation, which represents the majority of boats on the west coast. | Ministers have won the support of the Scottish Creel Fishermen's Federation, which represents the majority of boats on the west coast. |
| It said it was time for the seas to be allowed to recover from decades of industrial bottom-towed fishing. | It said it was time for the seas to be allowed to recover from decades of industrial bottom-towed fishing. |
| Alistair Sinclair, the federation's national co-ordinator, believes the introduction of MPAs is simply the "start of a process" and describes any comparison with the Highland Clearances as an "affront". | Alistair Sinclair, the federation's national co-ordinator, believes the introduction of MPAs is simply the "start of a process" and describes any comparison with the Highland Clearances as an "affront". |
| Mr Sinclair is a creel fisherman himself. He fishes the waters of Loch Fyne in Argyll. | Mr Sinclair is a creel fisherman himself. He fishes the waters of Loch Fyne in Argyll. |
| As two young fishermen pulled in a line of creels containing the day's catch, he told me: "The reason we are where are today is the fact that we have had poor governance as far as fisheries are concerned. | As two young fishermen pulled in a line of creels containing the day's catch, he told me: "The reason we are where are today is the fact that we have had poor governance as far as fisheries are concerned. |
| "I am glad to say that Richard Lochhead and Marine Scotland have actually grasped the nettle. | "I am glad to say that Richard Lochhead and Marine Scotland have actually grasped the nettle. |
| "They've decided there has to be a change here if there's to be a future for guys like the two lads working behind us." | "They've decided there has to be a change here if there's to be a future for guys like the two lads working behind us." |