Management Plan Review

The Plan has been developed and operated along with significant cooperation and input from our partners both statutory, community and individuals. Our key strength in achieving these wide ranging outcomes is primarily our partnership with the Western Isles Fishermens Association which allows us at any one time to almost immediately contact and consult with their extensive membership. We are also indebted to SNH NatureScot for their significant levels of advice and professional input as we explore ways of diversifying fishing effort throughout the Islands. The Marine Scotland sponsored Pot Limitation Pilot is a major project for us and at Year 1 review is already demonstrating the benefits that can be achieved with an electronicaly monitored fishery, we are happy to acknowledge both the enthusiastic participation of the creel fishermen in this and of course the excellent innovative development and management input from St Andrews University without which the project could not proceed. We look forward to the widespread use of electronic monitoring equipment on board vessels to allow fishing around protected features as a means of greater harmony between the economic and social presures of the Islands and the preservation of marine features. The Plan has become a live document for us as we have a numbe of projects beyond it which are in the pipeline.

Additional Files