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1 Introduction

 

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Managing the sea for birds – Fair Isle and adjacent waters

Background

Fair Isle's rich marine environment has a long history of supporting both its human community and its internationally important seabird populations (see Appendix 1 and 2). However, during the 1980s, in common with the rest of Shetland, a series of seabird breeding failures prompted serious concern amongst the island community. This concern was augmented by anecdotal evidence of reductions in the size, numbers and variety of fish caught offshore.

In 1989, the Fair Isle community unanimously passed a motion that steps be taken to draw attention to the issue and to press for a measure of protection for Fair Isle waters. This was addressed by the Council of Europe, which in renewing its Diploma awarded to the Isle in 1985, made the following resolutions:
bulletResolution 3. Protection should be reinforced and extended to the seas around the island, if possible through the creation of a total marine reserve, and there should be scientific study of the development of the sandeel population near the island;
bulletResolution 5. The educational role of the area should be developed, with the help of an activity leader; the natural environment section of the museum should be developed if possible, particularly on the subject of the interrelationship between the island and the marine environment.

In addition, the following resolution was adopted by the Council of Europe when the Diploma was renewed in 1994:
bulletResolution 1 – Improvement in the conservation of the marine environment. The possibility of applying a 10 mile "Voluntary Exclusion Zone" for oil tankers, as applies to other parts of Shetland, should be examined, as well as the restriction of fishing to island inhabitants within three miles of its coasts, limited to artisanal and selective methods. The sandeel fishery should remain closed.

 

In 1996, the Fair Isle Committee & Community Association launched the Fair Isle Marine Environment and Tourism Initiative (FIMETI), in partnership with the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust and The National Trust for Scotland. The aim of FIMETI is to show the importance of the marine environment to Fair Isle’s heritage, and to illustrate how its quality continues to be a factor in sustaining the island economy. FIMETI will provide a resource for education, conservation and public awareness of the marine environment. It is hoped to develop more integrated management of Fair Isle waters, involving the local community in partnership with other users, for sustainable use of the marine resource.

This report has been written to illustrate the range of measures that may be required to achieve FIMETI's aim.

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Copyright © 1999 Fair Isle Marine, Environment & Tourism Initiative
Last modified: February 05, 2002