Plans to ban commercial fishing in ten per cent of Scottish waters have prompted two fishermen to write a protest song comparing it to another Highland clearance.
Donald MacNeil from Vatersay in the Outer Hebrides and Angus MacPhail, who is the founder of the Scottish group Skipinnish, have recorded “The Clearances Again” to highlight the impact of introducing highly protected marine areas (HMPAs).
“Farewell to the Cliffs of Mingulay
And the shores of the Sandray Sound
And the glow of a boat well laden
Steaming north when you’re homeward bound,” the song starts.
Scottish government proposals for HMPAs would limit fishing and aquaculture in around ten per cent of Scottish waters.
The original Highland clearances involved forced eviction of residents in the Highlands and Scotland’s western islands from the mid-18th century to mind 19th century to allow for grazing sheep.