Representatives from the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (C.O.A.S.T) met with the Kintyre fishermen’s representatives on Saturday 10th May at Carradale to discuss the proposals for marine regeneration in Lamlash Bay. Carradale fishing boats have fished Lamlash Bay and the waters around Arran since the development of scallop trawling and a positive, if guarded, response was given to certain aspects of the proposal. Much concern was expressed at the declining stocks of fish and scallops and agreement that urgent action needed to be taken to address the problem.
The proposal was the same as the one presented at the Lamlash public meeting earlier this year and it was emphasized that there was considerable support for this project from the people of Arran.
The skippers representing the Carradale branch of the Clyde Fishermen’s Association told of their voluntary working practice of only fishing 4 days a week and of the frustration they felt at the lack of government backing to enforce restricted fishing to prevent the larger, more industrial fleet from fishing 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. They also stated the fact that with toxic shell fish bans outside the Clyde and the proliferation of fish farming, resulting in ever increasing areas being closed to them, more pressure was being put on fishing within the Clyde
However, all agreed on the benefits of a regeneration or nursery area which could possibly help with the future restocking of decreasing scallops and the virtual disappearance of the once plentiful ‘queenies’, but expressed concern at the whole of Lamlash Bay being closed to trawling. The boats currently fish and shelter in the bay in bad sea conditions and they asked for reassurance that the ban would include all commercial fishing vessels from other ports as well as scallop divers.
The meeting closed with the Carradale skippers saying that they would have further meeting and consultations with their members and will make a formal response in the near future.