In January 1 was invited to attend a meeting in Edinburgh aimed at establishing a steering group to promote the Fair Isle Marine Environment and Tourism Initiative. The meeting came about as the result of proposals within the R.S.P.B. report - 'Managing the sea for birds - Fair Isle and adjacent waters' which recommends a steering group or similar for the initiative.

It is apparent that to secure funding, achieve recognition and ultimately a marine protection area for Fair Isle we must go down the route of steering groups and management plans to meet the requirements. Various groups were invited and those who attended include the following

Anthony Bryant, Andrew Bachell, James Fenton - N.T.S.
Helen & Paul Baker, Roger Riddington - FIBOT
Ruth Briggs, Paul Harvey - S.N.H.
Caroline Davies - R.S.P.B.
Nick Riddiford, Fiona Mitchell - Fair Isle

Apart from plenty of good discussion and reports from Nick and Anthony re. FIMETI progress and funding difficulties, the main points are as follows.

The purpose of this initiative is to establish the long term protection and sustainable management of the marine environment around Fair Isle to the mutual benefit of the community of Fair Isle, users of the marine area and for the education and enjoyment of visitors. - It was agreed that 1 should be chairman of the partnership. - The work of the partnership at present would be to

1. Write a management plan which could form an agreement between all those using the sea.

2. Produce a priority list taken from the summary of 'Managing the sea for birds' and identify who would take a lead in exploring and obtaining any agreements.

3. Publicise and promote "Managing the sea for birds' and the second report planned to fully address wider issues. Launch the reports and approach the government minister concerned.

The fact that the chairmanship is with Fair Isle holds the focus of the initiative here. This and local support, at whatever level, are the strongest elements required to see the protection area established. However the involvement of relevant groups and authorities is going to be essential.