Islanders are invited to a public meeting in the new high school on Monday to hear proposals for a marine management zone in Lamlash Bay.
Scottish cabinet secretary for rural affairs Richard Lochhead is due to speak at the meeting, which will be held in the auditorium starting at 7.30pm.
He has been invited by MSP Kenneth Gibson who said he could not reveal details of the proposals but added that they would be ‘warmly welcomed’.
Mr Lochhead will have a number of engagements on the day, when he will also meet representatives of Arran Council for Voluntary Services, National Farmers Union and A Taste of Arran. ‘It should be a very positive day for Arran,’ Mr Gibson said.
Mr Gibson said he had been pursuing for some months now the setting up of a marine management zone in Lamlash Bay with the new Scottish government spurred on by Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST), Isle of Arran Community Council, Clyde Fishermen’s Federation and others.
COAST has for several years now been calling for a no-take zone and marine protected area within Lamlash Bay in order to regenerate and enhance local fish and shellfish populations, particularly scallops.
