Ministry of Defence plans to expand its submarine testing site off the west coast of Scotland will be the “death knell” for a local fishing community, it is claimed.
New bylaws will be required for the proposed extension of layouts in the Sound of Raasay, between Applecross and Rona.
The sound is the home of the British Underwater Test and Evaluatation Centre (Butec) site which trials submarine weapons systems.
A public consultation will start on Wednesday, according to notices published yesterday.
Maps showing the area of land and sea to which the proposed bylaws apply will be available to view from the start of the consultation.
Alasdair MacLeod, chairman of Applecross Community Council and a local creel fisherman, said: “The fishermen are very concerned.
“It is going to be a huge displacement of ground. It is going to effect upwards of 30 boats and is going to put huge strain on the area.
“They are asking for an area of ground which is used by scallop divers, crab and lobster creelers as well as prawn men. We are pretty devastated about it all.
“It is very sad times. They are just turning the whole place into a Navy base.
“One or two boats will come out of the water, it is not going to be worth their while carrying on. Our fleet has already gone down from 10 boats to three. This could be the death knell of this way of life in this place.
“I have been fishing here for 30 years. I will continue fishing but it is going to get harder and harder.”
Councillor Audrey Sinclair, of the Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh ward, said: “I am aware that Butec is a very useful source of employment in the area, on the other side, if the expansion is as big as people fear, it will have a detrimental impact on the fishermen in the area.
“I would hope that the MoD will listen carefully to any concerns that are raised.”
A spokeswoman for the MoD said: “The consultation is already underway with a range of stakeholders, including local communities and sea users, regarding the proposed expansion of the Raasay Ranges. We have been clear that we are committed to proper engagement as part of the MoD bylaw review, and no decision on the ranges will be made until this is complete.”