 | Western Isles Council
Sandwick Road Stornaway HS1 2BW
Angus M Graham |
Dear Mr Melchett
No doubt you have been following the press coverage of Greenpeace's occupation of Rockall. There are a number of issues associated with this and I will try to deal with them as concisely as is possible.
First of all, I must express surprise that Greenpeace has apparently lost its sense of humour over the tongue in cheek suggestion made yesterday that Westem Isles Council would be enforcing planning regulations in respect of the occupation of Rockall. I shouid stress that this was a light hearted story and was treated as such by the Council. However for the sake of clarity let me say that there is no question at this stage of enforcing planning regulations or of Council Tax liability.
However, there are issues which concern me regarding the occupation of Rockall. There is a very small sea-bird population of the rock and I do hope that they have not been disturbed. In respect of your campaign against oil development in the Atlantic frontier I would point out that I moved a resolution in Council during the consultation by the DTI on the new licensing round that any licenses awarded should be conditional on there being no off-shore loading of oil. I enclose for your attention a copy of the Council minute and the letter which was duly sent to the DTI.
We share your concerns over the threat to whales, porpoises and dolphins in the waters around the Hebrides. But I would suggest that the greatest threat to them is in the overfishing activity now taking place. There is growing evidence that many of the pelagic species on which these magnificent creatures depend are being fished in an unsustainable way.
It is however important for the Western Isles Council to establish administrative responsibilities for the Rockall outcrop. This would enable, amongst other things a local fisheries management group, were it established, to exercise control over the fishing activities within the 6 and 12 limits. As you may be aware, the Western Isles Council has argued for many years that the viability of fishing stocks in the waters around the Hebrides can only be properly protected by local control exercised by local people. Our economic future for generations to come will depend to a large degree on our abilily to conserve the stocks for those future generations. We do not see that the oil developments now being proposed in the Atlantic frontier will damage those fishing stocks to any great degree.
The Council has made it clear that, providing the proper environmental safeguards are established, the new developments to the west of the Hebrides would be of considerable economic significance to the fragile economy of the Western Isles.
Finally, I have to say that as a long time supporter of Greenpeace, once again 1 find myself disappointed that Greenpeace have not bothered to consult those of us who live and work in this fragile eco-system as to the best way of protecting it.
In this regard, may 1 ask that a meeting be held between ourselves as a matter of some urgency in order that these important issues can be fully dissussed.
Yours sincerely
Angus M Graham
Vice Convener