The methodology used by the Scottish Government to prepare new marine environmental designations has been challenged by island leaders and fishermen who fear fragile communities will be decimated.

Following recent announcements from ministers regarding the management of inshore Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), the Western Isles Council along with the Western Isles Fisherman’s Association (WIFA) and others representatives of the fisheries industry, have formed a joint working group to oppose the imposition of these designations.

They want to highlight the “hugely detrimental” impact they will have on the communities of the Outer Hebrides and West Coast of Scotland.

The group has no confidence in any of the processes around the development of marine designations around the Outer Hebrides.

Duncan MacInnes of the WIFA said, “The figures produced by Marine Scotland greatly underestimate existing fishing activity in these areas and proposed management measures will have a huge impact on the fishing and processing sectors with potential jobs losses the result. We believe the designations will decimate coastal communities already on the margins of long term sustainability. From a fishing community perspective there is a total lack of confidence in the data being used by Marine Scotland to demonstrate the minimal impact of the designation management measures and a belief that this is at the heart of a fundamentally flawed and undermined process”.

But Scottish Government spokeswoman said:

“Proposals on new designations and management measures are not taken lightly but based on evidence that we need to act to protect our marine environment and biodiversity. Failure to protect these areas, in the longer term, would result in permanent damage to habitats and the fish stocks they support – that is the real risk for our coastal communities.

“To be clear, while the proposals would mean a restriction of fisheries within certain areas, fishermen will still be able to operate in other neighbouring areas.

“We welcome all representations from interest parties on the proposed designations – which is why we extended the period during which submissions can be made.” She said that to date no submission from the council or the WIFA had been received. “We would certainly encourage them to make a contribution given their interest,” she said.