Hans J Marter

25 April, 2006

SHETLAND MSP Tavish Scott has called on Scottish environment minister Ross Finnie to ensure that Shetland receives fair treatment in the ongoing selection process for Scotland's first marine and coastal national park.

In a letter, Mr Scott points the minister's attention to what he describes as "oversights" in Scottish National Heritage's initial assessment of potential sites for a marine national park.

Representatives of Shetland's tourism industry expressed "surprise and disappointment" earlier this month when it emerged that the isles had scored low in comparison to five different west coast areas.

In a letter to SNH chairman John Markland, Shetland Tourism Association chairman Jonathan Wills said he was "mystified" and "bewildered" as to why Shetland had received a low ranking in the categories for 'Cultural Heritage' and 'Enjoyment and Recreation'.

He said: "The 'low' rating for Shetland is inexplicable. Shetland's cultural heritage is extremely rich, particularly the history of human interaction with the sea and the shore over 7,000 years. This culture is exceptionally well documented.

"This 'low' designation is factually incorrect and not a solid basis for the recommendation made by SNH."

The assessment also states that the isles 'enjoyment and recreation' is of low value and it is difficult to travel to Shetland.

Yesterday, Mr Scott backed to Dr Wills' calls for a more accurate assessment of Shetland's national park qualities.

He said: "The letter basically is a reiteration of the arguments as to why Shetland should be considered as an area for a national park.

"It goes over the details of the initial scoring exercise and points out what I think are a number of oversights in that exercise."

He said that Shetland had good travel links and added: "Shetland is not anymore geographically disadvantaged as the Ardnamurchan peninsular."

With a view to the low cultural scoring, Mr Scott said: "Culturally, I have the pleasure and the great honour of opening the 26th Shetland Folk Festival this week, and we are just about to send around a dozen musicians to North America."

He said his letter was a call to "purposely use the consultation that is now under way to reach an objective decision based on the actual merits of the area."

However, the isles fishing industry has so far voiced only concern and scepticism about Shetland becoming a national park, and Shetland Islands Council has yet to make up its mind on the issue.

Mr Scott added: "The consultation does allow time for other Shetland bodies, notably the council and industries such as fishing and aquaculture, to look at this and to objectively consider the merits of the case.

"You have got to take the community with you on something as significant as this and look at the opposition that exists in many parts of the west coast of Scotland.

"Shetland needs to consider it not just from the nature conservation perspective but also from the perspective of industries that have to develop. What we can't do is strangle economic activity."

The formal consultation on a future Scottish coastal and marine national park is to be launched early this summer.