Western Isles Council Press Release 17 June 1997 For use immediately

The Vice Convener of the Western Isles Council, Mr. Angus Graham, has today written to Peter Melchett, Executive Director of Greenpeace, expressing suprise that Greenpeace had apparenty lost its sense of humour over the tongue in cheek suggestion made yesterday that WIC would be enforcing planning regulations in respect of their occupaton of Rockall. Mr. Graham indicated that the Council would not be taking the matter seriously and added "There is no question of Council Tax liability even in the unlikely event of Rockall being registered as a dwelling. It would certainly be difficult to provide our normally high standard of services."

On a more serious note however, the Vice Convener has raised the issue of the small seabird population which has been disturbed by the Greenpeace occupation. Mr Graham pointed out that he had moved a resolution in the Council, following the consultation document on the 17th round, that representations be made that licenses being awarded in the new blocks should be conditional on there being no off shore loading of oil. Representations were made to the Department of Trade & Industry on 14 June 1995 and that remains the Council's position.

On the question of disturbance to the populations of whales, porpoises and dolphins, the Vice Convener said: "I would suggest that the greatest threat to these creatures is the practice of overfishing in the waters of the continental shelf west of the Hebrides. There is growing evidence that many of the pelagic species on which these magnificent creatures depend are being fished in an unsustainable way.

Mr. Graham added "It is however important for the WIC to establish administrative responsibility for the Rockall outcrop. This would enable a local fisheries management group, were it established, to exercise control over the fishing activities within those limits. As you may be aware, the Westem Isles Council has argued for many years that the viability of fshing 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 ability 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.

"With regards to their campaign to stop oil developments in the Atlantic frontler, the Council have made it clear that providing the proper environmental safeguards are established, tha new developments west of the Hebrides would be of considerable economic significance to the fragile economy of the Westem Isles."

Mr Graham added "As a long time supporter of Greenpeace, once again I find myself disappointed that Greenpeace have not bothered to consult those of us who live and work in this fragile ecosystem as to the best vay of protecting it. I am now seeking a meeting with Greenpeace as a matter of urgency to discuss these important matters".