Fisheries Meeting

Cllr Alasdair Macleod, Vice-Chairman of Policy and & Resources and Chairman of Fisheries JCC and Duncan MacInnes, Secretary of WIFA (Western Isles Fishermen's Association) met with Mairi Gougeon, Minister for Rural Affairs and Natural Environment, and a senior official from Marine Scotland in Edinburgh to discuss a number of fishery issues relating to the Hebrides and, in particular, challenges arising from Marine Protected Areas around the Hebrides.

Cllr Macleod said, "The meeting with the Minister was positive and productive and a number of important issues were discussed especially the impact of marine environmental designations on fishing communities in the Outer Hebrides. The Comhairle's desire to ensure local communities are fully involved in future management measures design and implementation was highlighted and also island proofing of potential new marine designations to take account of the Islands Act."

The Minister agreed to continue discussions with relevant stakeholders of the fishing industry at a meeting in Stornoway in July.