Islands MP Defends Fishing Fleet in Parliament

I raised with UK Government Ministers the challenges facing the Western Isles fishing industry.

Speaking in a debate on Support for the Fishing Industry I highlighted the devastating impact of new visa rules on crewing, problems with marine fuel supplies in the islands and fears that the SNP Scottish Government wish to revisit the introduction of Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).

Speaking in the Commons I said:

"It is understood the Scottish Government will be consulting on 173 sites and although the Outer Hebrides sites have not been confirmed, it is expected that 20 er cent of sites may be in Hebridean waters".

“In order to sustain fishing communities like mine we need to end the uncertainty - and to ensure that if we have conservation, we need conversation. We need to talk with our fishing communities about sustainable management, these are the communities who are in fact the experts on sustainability. Nobody knows how to steward our waters better than the fishers themselves”.

Along with other coastal MPs I also pressed for changes to the Skilled Workers Visa rules which could have a devastating effect on crewing across the UK with strict new limits on migrant workers.

I also outlined that earlier this week I wrote to HM Treasury to raise serious concerns over the future supply of rebated marine fuel to fishing vessels in his Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency.

In my letter to Treasury ministers, I highlighted the vital role played by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, which operates as the Registered Dealer of Controlled Oils supplying 14 piers across the Western Isles.

I warned that new requirements from HMRC could put these fuel sites at risk, as the council has been told licences may not be approved unless sales can be fully monitored.

I said:

“The remote locations, combined with the physical geography and the need to have fuel supplies available out of normal hours, mean that the sites cannot possibly be physically or remotely monitored.

“The council, more than any other local authority in Scotland, has suffered real term cuts in its budget over the last decade and could not possibly be expected to find resources to set up a 24/7 monitoring operation across 14 sites on ten islands.”

I have requested a meeting with Treasury ministers “to find a resolution and to urge officials to adapt policy so that geography and practicalities of island economies are taken into account when considering licensing”.

Fish landings contributed £16 million to the Western Isles economy last year. However, the industry operates on extremely tight margins due to distance from markets and challenging sea conditions.

In the news:

MP's alarm over visa cuts, fuel rules hitting fishing fleet

Watch the full debate intervention here: