Sùil Eile air Sgìrean Glèidhte Mara

Sùil Eile bhon an Daily Record

Cha do mhothaich mòran ann an saoghal poileataigs ach ‘s iad iasgairean an iar-thuath a dh’fheumas a’ phrìs a phàigheadh airson taic nan Uaineach airson buidseat bliadhnail an SNP.

Mar phàirt dhen aonta airson bhòtaichean Uaine, tha an riaghaltas air gealltainn dalladh orra le ceithir Sgìrean Glèidhte Mara (Marine Protected Areas mar a th’ aca orra).

Tha dhà aca far cost Leòdhais agus tè mhor a’ gabhail a-steach nan Eileanan Tarsainn agus Cuan Uibhist.

‘S ann airson dìon nan leumadairean agus nam mucan-mara a-mhàin a tha na sgìrean glèidhte.

Bha dùil ri na sgeamaichean seo co-dhiù ach chan eil sin ag ràdh nach bi iad connspaideach.

Chan eil rian nach bi na sgìrean seo a’ toirt buadh air gnìomhachas an iasgaich. Cho luath ‘s a thogas mi a’ cheist, tha na h-iasgairean a’ dol a-mach air a chèile, na cliabhan an aghaidh nan tràlairean.

Tha fìor-fheum air glèidhteachas, ach le co-obrachadh bho na coimhearsnachdan.

Tha faireachdainn am measg nan iasgairean, ‘s iad a’ gearan nach eil ministearan ag èisteachd riutha, gu bheil barrachd buaidh aig na leumadairean air bhòtaichean na th’ acasan.

Not many noticed in the world of politics but it is the fishermen of the north west who must pay the price for the Greens supporting the SNP’s annual budget.

As part of the agreement for Green votes the government has agreed to press on with four Marine Protected Areas.

Two of them are off the coast of Lewis and a big one takes in the Small Isles and the South Minch.

The protected zones are mainly for dolphins and whales.

These schemes were expected anyway but that does not mean that they won’t be controvesial.

There is no way that these zones will not affect the fishing industry. As soon as I raise that as a question, the fishermen fall out with each other, the creels against the trawlers.

There is a reel need for conservation, but with the co-operation of the communities.

The feeling amongst fishermen, as they complain that ministers aren’t listening to them, is that dolphins have more influence on votes than they do.

ENDS