Carbon Capture

I'm not displeased that the plan to pump Carbon Dioxide from Longannet into empty oil wells under the North Sea has been rejected.

I have serious technical questions about the sanity of pumping toxic gasses into a subsea cavity, where various chemical reactions will take place, unobserved, unmonitored and uncontrolled.


Add water to carbon dioxide, and what do you get?  Carbonic Acid and vast underground caverns. 

Add in all the other toxic compounds n the smoke.....

However, let's pose a simple question to all supporters of Carbon Sequestration:

What is the practical difference between pumping gaseous waste from Longannet into holes under the North Sea and putting nuclear waste into holes in the ground?

As far as I am concerned, there is no difference. In both cases you are hiding the problem, not sorting it.

If Longannet is pumping out such a toxic mess, then close the damn place, and end the dependence on dirty coal.  Don't leave it for future generations to resolve.

Salmon exports to China

Whilst it is undoubtedly Good News that salmon exports to China are growing, the real reasons behind the growth are much less savoury.

These reasons bear some consideration, and the implications for Scotland are much less obvious and savoury than we might like.


It is not that Scotland has succeeded, but more that Norway has been punished.  Norway, you may recall, is held up as a model that Scotland should try to emulate.

So what did Norway do?

Well, the Norwegians had the temerity to award the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident, Liu Xiaobo, a move that the Chinese Government didn't like in the slightest.

The end result was a vast hike in import taxes, increased import controls, and a serious attempt at economic payback against a country that only hosts - not awards - the Nobel Institute.

I for one am concerned that Scotland is so happy to be seen to benefit from a superpower trying to gag opponents, and that we are allowing/encouraging the Chinese Government to repeat this effort should anyone else try to raise issues about human rights, executions or economic jiggery-pokery.

Alex Salmond has effectively allowed himself to be boxed into a corner, whereby condemning the abuses of the population in China or Tibet will be met by threats of economic sanctions.

It was not edifying to see Tony Blair cosy up to Gadaffi.  This is no different, and sells the moral high ground to the Chinese; a position we should try to occupy beside the Norwegians.

SNH deceit

The most obvious factor to be extracted from the duplicity of SNH over the designations in Barra is the almost total lack of involvement of Europe in the process.

Sure, Europe asked for nominations to cover a wide range of marine habitats, and yes Europe did give the final approval for the designations to go ahead, but the leaked emails indicate that SNH were deciding upon the areas to be designated before they undertook the appraisal and without evaluating the facts.

Contrast and compare the real situation as established by Cllr Manford, with that portrayed by Yesman1 and Yesman2.

The SNH consultation phase ploughs on regardless

Angus Brendan MacNeil said: ‘The people and fishermen of Barra and Uist did not want this environmental designation and it is an example of the uncontrollable freight train that is EU Commission bureaucracy.  Once they have decided on a course of action governments in either Edinburgh or London or their attendant civil servants are powerless to do much about it.

and

“I appreciate that the process of designation is driven by the European Commission and backed by the very real threat of fines on countries who do not comply, but I reiterate my opposition to these unwanted designations.”

When the reality as unearthed by Cllr Manford was that SNH were lying left right and centre:

“As I am confident the minister at the time can confirm she was unaware of these actions, it falls to Ian Jardine to explain why he unnecessarily offered-up the Sound of Barra for designation while he was insisting the opposite to the minister and the community.”

Any politician worth their salt would be outraged at being lied to by a senior official, and should be demanding a head on a stick pour encourage les outres.  Unless, of course, they were party to the deceit.

The silence is rather telling, isn't it.

SHAMED are angry (and quite right too) - press release

Time to name and shame those who have conceded two marine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC's) in the Southern Hebrides

The recent announcement from Environment Minister, Stewart Stevenson, that the Government has approved a marine SAC at East Mingulay and that the site will be forwarded to the EU for approval, has prompted an angry reaction from SHAMED, a local campaign which is opposing plans to designate two marine SAC's in the sea east of Mingulay and in the Sound of Barra.

The Minister has also stated that proposals for the Sound of Barra will be going out to public consultation in the near future. SHAMED has noted the political statements simultaneously issued by the MP and MSP for the Western Isles alongside the Minister's announcement.

Reacting to these statements, Angus MacLeod, chairman of SHAMED and a crofter-fisherman from Barra, said :

"It is with utter disbelief that I read what Angus MacNeil MP has again been saying about EU requirements. He has been quoted as stating that once the EU 'have decided on a course of action, governments in either Edinburgh or London or their attendant civil servants are powerless to do much about it.'

Mr MacLeod explained : "Early in 2009, our MP issued a press release saying he was writing to the EU to demand that Brussels bureaucrats come to Barra to explain to us why the designations were needed. At the same time, our MSP went to Brussels to tell EU officials face-to-face that the designations were not wanted. Both were clearly told by the EU that the selection and designation of SAC's is up to the member states and regions within member states, a fact that was well known within the community. So, whatever spin politicians try to put on this, the decision to consult on East Mingulay and now the Sound of Barra is entirely a Scottish Government matter."

After almost three years of research and campaigning, SHAMED has gained an insight into how the SAC designation process works and, thanks to information received under Freedom of Information, it can be seen that it is SNH that drives the selection process in Scotland.

"Certainly it is true to say that the EEC Habitats Directive of 1992 compels Member States to set aside areas as SAC's but how this is handled within the UK and how UK policy affects Scotland is a local issue but one that has never been raised by our parliamentary representatives or, indeed, the Scottish Government," added Mr MacLeod.

Given that Richard Lochhead, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, has been prepared to speak out for Scottish fishermen and farmers at UK and EU level, SHAMED can only speculate as to why no-one in power is prepared to do the same over environmental issues.

"It is now apparent," continued Angus Macleod, " that the SNP government has bowed to pressure from environmental lobbies, with the local MP and MSP making empty promises in the run-up to elections. Clearly their policies are no different from any previous government. Thankfully at least our local SNP councillor, Donald Manford, has the backbone to stand up and publically voice his dissatisfaction; for this we applaud him and for giving us the proper representation that this community deserves."

As to what the group's next steps would be, Mr MacLeod reports that SHAMED has twice been refused a meeting with Richard Lochhead but that in the Cabinet Secretary's last response, he confirmed that the Environment Minister would meet with them and that a date was be set. One of the issues for discussion with the Minister and Marine Scotland officials would have been evidence previously submitted to them showing their data on vessel activity within the Mingulay site was inaccurate.

"We were under the impression that the Minister was to be supplied with the corrected data and that we would have had the opportunity to discuss the issues with him before he made his decision. We therefore feel betrayed by the Scottish Government for taking such a misinformed decision," added Mr MacLeod.

He confirmed that SHAMED was stepping up its fight and that no stone would be left unturned in order to expose what the campaign group feels are the irregularities within the designation process for the two SAC's.

Barra fishermen sold out

It is a disgrace that a Marine SAC has been imposed on the area South of Barra, against the wishes of the fishermen.

The site was already being preserved and looked after by the fishermen, but now their livelihoods have been significantly affected, by a decision that was flagged up as having been taken before the Government started the assessment process.

Indeed, the proponents of the designation were the very ones who undertook the "independent" assessment, and reported back to Government.

Nice work if you can get it, as SNH now stand to get extra funding to protect the seabed from ......?

Of course, this was a process started and controlled by the Scottish Government; overseen by the Scottish Government; and only run under EU rules.

This point was previously conceded by our elected representatives only under great pressure for the Barraich,but let's not let that stand in the way of a series of faux-angry press releases which promise no action what so ever.

Roll-on the empty wilderness of the Western Isles where humans won't get in the way of "conservation".

BTW: Cllr Manford's views might be quite interesting.....

Equateq

Good news from the Breasclete factory, where they have signed a long-term supply agreement with a Nasdaq listed company, the Amarin Corp.

I understand that this is worth $20m and will secure the future of the plant for many years to come.

These are exactly the sort of highly-skilled jobs that these islands can deliver, and the type of product - fresh, pure and healthy - that we should be encouraging to develop in the islands.

Coastguard Station saved?

The announcement today that the scale of the Coastguard closures will be reduced is very welcome, and a long overdue realsiation of the complexity of the work that is done, and particualrly the need for local knowledge.

Hopefully the Select Committee will be able to put some minds at rest today, but the real push - an old acquaintance tells - has come from the Civil Servants, who have finally persuaded the Minister that the potential downside was too great, for what was going to be a limited level of savings.

I'm not certain that Stornoway is saved, yet, but I'm advised that it seems a very high probability according to the current briefing for the Minister.

I'm pleased to see KIMO continuing it's marine campaigning role, and the contacts I made during my period of involvement have proved lasting and very useful!

Emergency Tug provision

Angus MacNeil (Na h-Eileanan an Iar, Scottish National Party)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what steps he plans to take to ensure adequate marine emergency coverage for the Highlands and Islands following the removal of the Anglian Prince tug boat in 2011.

Michael Penning (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Roads and Motoring), Transport; Hemel Hempstead, Conservative)

holding answer 4 November 2010

The current contract for the provision of emergency towing vessels at public expense will not be renewed when it expires in September 2011. Between now and the end of the contract, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency intends to work with the shipping and wider maritime industries, and also with local interested parties, local authorities and the Scottish Government, to explore options for ensuring the effective operation of commercial arrangements could operate in the future.

----

Good question, detailed (if unsatisfactory) response.  Now can someone keep me appraised of what actually happens and who actually meets with whom.  Is it all bluster and waffle, or is there a cunning plan?

Barra and Mingulay SAC proposals

The Scottish Government sneaked out the Economic Impact Report into the above without any announcement or linkage to any other documents.

Any guesses why that might be?

The value of catches in the proposed dSAC in the Sound of Barra is £787,000 and in East Mingulay is £86,000.

Para 3.5.8 summarises the restrictions likely to be placed on new developments:

In summary, any aquaculture development proposed in the Sound of Barra and East Mingulay is likely to be affected by SAC designation due to the potential impact on the integrity of the sites. However, harvesting of seaweed is unlikely to be affected.

Para 3.8.5 and 3.8.6 summarise the position for offshore renewables:

The precise nature of short and long term impacts of noise and vibration on some of these receptors (dolphins, whales, seals, otters) is poorly understood at present and would need to be factored in all applications using a precautionary approach as well ensuring adequate research into the topic.

In summary, while there are currently no proposed offshore renewable developments planned or proposed in the vicinity of the two dSAC, any proposals for future marine renewable development in or adjacent to the Sound of Barra and East Mingulay could require HRA but this is already likely to be required to satisfy protection requirements of existing Natura sites.

Which in plain English means that any offshore developments that might affect seals will need to operate on the precautionary principle, and subject to veto by SNH.  As I guessed.

And sub-sea cables will be forbidden, so say goodbye to broadband cables.

Overall the expected impact of the proposals are a loss of £2,180,000 to the fishing sector and a direct cost of £836,00 to the Government if both areas are closed.  That will result in the loss of 58 jobs.  And you can guess where these jobs will be lost.

Perhaps others can read this report and take something better out of it, but it is a bigger kick in the teeth than we thought.

Wave power in the islands

With a seal conservation area announced today and covering the entire Western Isles, I think we can probably kiss goodbye to any significant wave power developments off the coast.

Yet another expensive hoop for developers to jump through.  Or go elsewhere, where the hoops (and the seals?) don't exist.

Any chance of an assessment of the conservation zones on the human population?

Listening to the public (not!)

So after careful consideration and advice from the quango that will benefit from the decision, the Scottish Government have undermined the local fishing industry, once again,.

The Scottish Government has approved the case for a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) at East Mingulay, south of Barra, while vulnerable Western Isles seal populations are to be better protected.

As Guth Bharraigh reported it in early 2009:

Na h-Eileanan an Iar SNP MP Angus MacNeil has written to Scottish GovernmentEnvironment Minister, Michael Russell MSP, asking that no consultation be held with any view to making the Sound of Barra or east of Mingulay an special area of conservation. Mr MacNeil said: “I met with a local representative group at the weekend, who just feel that they are being strangled by conservation and designation orders. “

They simply do not feel that any consultation should happen or SAC designation made which would take in most of the Sound of Barra and complete encircle the Island of Eriskay. People are frankly sick tired of the perennial conservation industry that comes their way.” He also stated that he was trying to find the person or group responsible in Brussels for this latest conservation bureaucracy to come to the affected islands and state why and explain just what threats they wield if the designation does not take place.

It is with some relief that I note that the second designation has not been approved.  Yet.

Further investigation in seal populations are - apparently - required.

Any sign of a study into the decline in the human population in the islands?

The future for the tugs

Even before Cpt Magoo drove the RNS Titanic into the Isle of Skye, the future for the tugs wasn't quite as black as it was being painted by some.

How do I know this?

Well, I still have my old contact books, and I was able to get in touch with a very senior civil servant in the right department who was able to tell me all about the financial machinations that are going on behind the scene.

This civil servant has a soft spot for the islands and has pushed some policies and decisions that have been highly beneficial to us.  During drinks after one meeting, his Minister candidly admitted not to understanding the marine aspects of his brief, and deferring to my friend (amongst others) when it came to making decisions.

I am told that the MCA want to keep some or all of the tugs, and they have been offered up in the hope that the offer will be refused, and extra funding made available to keep the service going.  Sometimes known as "shroud waiving", it is a familiar and well known negotiating stance.

Having given my views on the matter, influence really lies with the current political leadership in the islands to make a coherent case for retention of the tugs, as there does appear to be an open door reading for pushing.

The events of last week only strengthen the case, and whilst no-one wants a disaster, the security and reassurance provided by the Minch tug is an essential element of the argument that needs to be made to the Minister.

Petty point scoring won't do it; the clever approach might yield benefits.

Coastal erosion in Uist

Just why were Oxfam chairing a meeting in South Uist this week about the threat of Coastal Erosion?

The potential threats have been well known for many years, and there are a number of extant reports about the issue, with the Council have commissioned and paid for some major scientific studies. In deed, the Council representatives and the Storas Uibhist representatives were in the audience, of bemused locals, who were unable to ascertain the purpose or outcome of the meeting.

If the reports that reach me are correct, the thrust of the talk (or was it a lecture?) was that volunteers were needed to do some work in planting Maram Grass along the coast as a starting point and that the public would have to be involved in working voluntarily to prevent further erosion and water ingress from occurring.

Neither the Comhairle nor Storas were able to offer any direct input.

Yet they are both able to find large sums of money for large future projects which may become white elephants if the sea breaches the sand dunes. Make that WHEN the sea breaches.

We are looking at a situation where large areas of South Uist may become uninhabitable and uninsurable, and where fine crofting land is lost, which will lead - inevitably - to large scale depopulation.

I know this has been discussed by the Council, as I was Chair of some of those meetings, and I know what the reports state, and there is a very serious a major debate to be had about:

1. Is it cost-effective to prevent all coastal erosion?
2. What will be the impact of sea breaches?
3. How are those breaches dealt with?

The answer to question 1 was hugely negative, as the sums involved to try to plug one area were unaffordable, and would simply result in leakage elsewhere.

The answer to question 2 was more nuanced, with specific areas receiving immediate preventative support - Stoneybridge and Stinky Bay are two examples - whilst the cemetery are at Baleshare could not be protected in any conceivable manner, and continues to erode into the sea.

Question 3 remains unanswered, as it is a scenario no-one will discuss - at least not in public - as it will involve almost inevitably sacrificing large areas of land to protect others.

But as the meeting realised, no-one is addressing these issues, and a blind faith that Something Will Be Done (by someone else) and that future developments will be unaffected is leading to a situation where nothing seems to be being done, beyond the bare minimum.

This was a point put eloquently at the meeting by David MacPherson, whose personal experience of family tragedy has spurred the limited and delayed works that have occurred to date.

"Please do anything rather than nothing", was his plea to those who can actually fund and direct the necessary projects, but unless Oxfam are planning a fund raising telethon, it appears that the ball has been passed to them, with a view to it being kicked into the long grass.

Perhaps the new marina at Lochboisdale may come into its own when the sea breaches at Kilphedar and cuts the island and the communications network.

"No roads but somewhere to moor your yacht" isn't much of a marketing slogan, and doesn't hold out much hope for the residents.

Wave power

The plans for wave power announced today are exciting, innovative, and long overdue, and hold the prospect of potentially great direct and indirect benefits for Scotland.

It is fantastic to see the Government taking such a proactive approach towards wave power, and the machines will literally be tested to destruction in one of the most difficult areas of sea.

If even one of these devices can live up to its promise, then the possibilities for marine energy start to become real, and have the possibility of coming to fruition much earlier than expected.

Having had a very minor involvement with the Pelamis 'snake' project which was built in Arnish, I think it holds great promise as a possible winner.

However, the downside is that the plans to test the snake off the coast of Lewis must surely be being moved back (if not cancelled) while the company concentrate on the Pentland Firth.

The renewable energy debate moves on apace, with the options changing fairly rapidly. However, the technologies have yet to prove themselves, and the drop-off of conventional energy production is still looming, leaving a potential energy shortage on the horizon and looming closer.

Today's announcement is a huge and very welcome step in the right direction.

Out of the mouths of children.....

The children of Barra have had a long and illustrious history of activism, and successful activism, on community issues.

It was thanks to sustained pressure from the school children that Barra got mobile phones; and they even went to the House of Commons to campaign for the retention of the air service to Barra.

They know their community and are not scared to make their views known. Model children for the future in other words.

Or not, as the case may be if you are a Quango.

Sources in the Education Department have told me that when Scottish National Heritage heard that the school children of Barra were going to demonstrate yesterday against SNH and the possible designation of the Sound of Barra as a Marine Special Area of Conservation, then SNH jumped into action.

Phone calls, faxes and assorted threats later, the Education Department instructed the two Barra schools not to allow their children to show their views on the possible designation, as it wasn't the media image that SNH wanted to give.

SNH are, of course, happy to go into schools and give their perspective, but any contrary view meets with this heavy handed approach. It looks like democracy only works one way in their mind.

Does the Minister know what is being done by the organisation is is nominally responsible for?

The actual meeting in the Craigard was full to overflow, but SNH refused to discuss the issues, clkaiming that they were there to have only an informal chat, mingle and make small talk. Which required about 75% of the attendees to leave the room so that SNH, assorted hangers-on, and the vast coterie of officials, could have cheese and wine and make meaningless noises.

All at vast public expense.

SNH is held in such huge contempt by large sections of the public that it claims to represent that the need for it's very existence is questioned by most of those directly affected. This reflects very, very, badly on the entire process and consequently upon the Government itself, who seem unable - or perhaps unwilling - to take any action to bring the organisation under control.

This cavalier behaviour cannot be allowed to continue, but we've been saying this for a decade, and it is only getting worse, not better.

If they can't debate with the children who will be directly affected by the decisions they want to bring in, then why should they be trusted that what they are doing is the right thing?

Business developments in Barra

Just why are Marine Harvest calling an urgent meeting in Barra on Tuesday?

A meeting to which the Community Councillors, as well as Councillors and the public are being invited to attend by Platform PR of Edinburgh.

Inside information to the usual address please....

An uneasy, but necessary, truce

It seems like everyone is now pulling together to fight the decision intention to close the rocket range in Uist.

With cross-party delegations to Westminster and a united front to attack the decision, the only people out of step are the MOD and their puppet, Qinetiq.

You know, of course, that the unusual agreement is just a truce until situation resolves itself, and you can see the daggers being slipped in and the lies of attack are being drawn up just in case the campaign doesn't succeed, but let's hope that a united front is successful in this instance.

Through this blog the community have highlighted certain apparently improper waste practices, and these need urgent attention. If there is contaminated land, or worse still, contaminated seas, then these must be remedied and those costs recognised before any decision is taken.

Wouldn't it be right for the Council to immediately undertake contaminated land surveys on the range and consider investigating any marine dumps? We all remember the problems with chemical weapons appearing on the beaches in Barra; which is probably not the welcome we want to give to tourists.

Older hands in the Council will remember the views and knowledge of Cllrs Roddy MacKinnon (Barra) and Jimmy MacArthur who each brought their different experiences to the Environmental Services Committee of the Comhairle. That information needs to be drawn back out again, as after Qinetiq leave it is going to be too late - they may have to pay to clean it up, but the work and the future will have gone.

Bio-security

Biosecurity literally means ‘safe life’. If you work or come into contact with farm animals, biosecurity means taking steps to make sure that good hygiene practices are in place. This will help prevent the spread of animal disease.

Good biosecurity is a vital part of keeping new disease away from animals.

Source: Defra website.

Area Management Agreements were put in place in many locations across the Western Isles after the council officers sweated blood (as did many others, not least the Fisheries Trust) to broker deals between fish farmers, mussel farmers, fishermen, anglers, conservation bodies and many others. The most complex and most important was the deal in Loch Roag.

A key part of the plan was to ensure bio-security for the various parties by securing, as far as possible, the different uses into different sectors, to reduce cross-contamination issues.

As is common with politicians, I took most of the glory for the hard work of others, and I do not want to see that thrown away.

That is why the proposal to import nets to Scalpay from many different areas is a potentially disastrous plan, and one that should be opposed until such time as the disease prevention controls are clearly documented, tested and approved. One suspicion of ISA in the islands could destroy much of the salmon-farming industry, and shatter the 'quality' marketing strategy of environmentally-friendly, sustainable production.

Those who have welcomed a Norwegian multi-national in to the islands to transport contaminated products in a way that they aren't allowed to do in Norway, and whose party used to complain about the lack of support for the indigenous salmon farmers.

I so hope this is true......

I was told this third hand a few weeks back, and I wanted to speak to the apparent first hand source before putting it in the public domain.

My recent posting about the Scalpay factory has attracted much comment from people with an obvious inside track on the matter, and some with a considerable degree of animosity towards the proposal.

This blog has attracted the wrath of Marine Harvest a a consequence, so much so that I am told that it was the subject of discussion at the recent Scottish Board/Management meeting.

A number of the attendees were so irate about the matter that they suggested hacking into the blog to find the identities of those who are making the comments. No seriously!

Look guys, the names or email addresses aren't stored in my blog. If you were trying to find the mole/a mole by feeding misinformation, then forget it as my lips are sealed about the person in Marine Harvest who told my source first hand, as well as everything else.

Coincidentally, someone tried to reset my three different passwords at 2:32 am this morning. The IP log shows unusual activity around that time which seems characteristic of an attempt to hide a trail. Still, I'll keep it as evidence should I ever need it.

Barra Marine SAC

A correspondent forwards two press releases, a mere two hours apart, but with a veritable ocean of failure obvious between the tone (or 'piss poor effort' as an interested party commented):

At 11:23am it was all guns blazing.....

SNP MSP TAKES BARRA'S SAC FIGHT TO BRUSSELS

Western Isles SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, is today (Wednesday) taking the fight against the European Commission proposals for further environmental designations around Barra direct to Brussels.

Dr Allan has obtained an urgent meeting with European Commission officials to make clear the extent of opposition that exists in Barra to their proposals to place a Marine Special Area of Conservation designation on the Sound of Barra and Mingulay.

Dr. Allan commented:

"The previous Labour/LibDem Executive was designation-mad and the last thing we now need is Brussels forcing Scotland into designating Barra even more tightly.

"Today I will be meeting Micheal O'Briain of the European Commission's Directorate General, Environment, Nature and Biodiversity Unit in Brussels and making it clear to him that the community in Barra is already highly constrained by designations.

"The community needs serious guarantees that existing fishing practises, as well as future economic developments can go ahead.

"Barra and South Uist councillor, Donald Manford, and myself have already met Scottish ministers about this issue and it is very clear the SAC is being pushed from the European Commission - not from Scotland.

"The initiative comes, from a European Commission which shows little understanding in this instance of how difficult it is to maintain the human population in Europe's most fragile communities.

"When in Brussels I will be making these points forcefully, along with SNP fisheries spokesperson in Europe, Ian Hudghton MEP."

At 13:20 the same day, and surrender was the order of the day.....

SNP MSP COMMENTS AFTER BARRA SAC MEETING IN BRUSSELS

Western Isles SNP MSP, Alasdair Allan, has today held a meeting in Brussels with representatives of the European Commission to discuss with them the implications of the possible Barra marine SAC designation and to pass on the concern many of the people of Barra have about this designation.

Dr Allan commented:

"I had a frank meeting today with Michael O'Briain of the European Commission's Directorate General Environment, Nature and Biodiversity Unit about the prospect of a marine SAC in the Sound of Barra and Mingulay. The meeting was constructive, but I made very clear the strong feeling of the people in Barra and indeed the real anxieties which islanders have about this possible designation.

"I remain unconvinced of the case for the SAC and will now be pursing the issue further with Scottish Natural Heritage to establish what scope they have to decide the location of SAC's in Scotland in the coming year. I will also be pursuing it with Roseanna Cunningham, the new Environment Minister.

"The Commission were able to offer some assurances about the SAC if it comes to pass - namely that it could be managed locally, and that it could be phrased to explicitly ensure existing crofting and fishing activity can continue, however, I remain concerned about the implications for future economic activity, and will be raising this further both with Edinburgh and Brussels.

"I will be back in Barra in the next few weeks and hope to report back to fishermen and others about this."

So what changed between:

The community needs serious guarantees
And
I remain unconvinced of the case for the SAC?

The initiative comes, (sic) from a European Commission
And
[I] will now be pursing the issue further with Scottish Natural Heritage?

And the final sad, little, comment

I will be back in Barra in the next few weeks and hope to report back to fishermen and others about this.

The apparent absence of Iain Hudghton seems to have left the little boy at the mercy civil servants who have convinced him to give up the fight, as they promise, really promise, not to do anything adverse.

He is now going to SNH to try to stop the 'designation-mad' Scottish Government from 'designating Barra even more tightly'.

He hopes to report back in the next few weeks, presumably hoping that anger about his failure will have faded. I would have expected at least an immediate visit or update.

As did the people of Barra; who are now expecting to be sold out by the Government, who will duly blame Europe for all the problems.