ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL EXECUTIVE CORPORATE SERVICES 20 MARCH 2008 ARGYLL MARINE SAC FORUM 1. SUMMARY The purpose of this report is to draw to the attention of the Executive the existence of the Argyll Marine Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) Forum and to invite the Executive to appoint representatives from the Council. 2. RECOMMENDATION The Executive is invited to consider appointing one Member from each of Wards 5 and 2, and appoint one of those to Chair the Forum. 3. BACKGROUND Argyll and Bute Council has taken the lead on the management of the Loch Creran and the Firth of Lorn Special Areas of Conservation. These are marine SAC’s. Scottish Natural Heritage identified possible marine SAC’s and after consultation with the owners/occupiers and users of these areas the Scottish Executive designated these sites in terms of the EC Habitats Directive. Management plans for the Firth of Lorn and Loch Creran Marine SAC’s have been prepared and the Argyll Marine SAC Management Forum brings together organisations with an interest in the activities that have the potential to impact on the conservation of each marine SAC site and the management of these activities in a sustainable manner. A list of the organisation members of the Forum is attached at Appendix 1. The Forum generally meets once a year. 4. It is appropriate to consider the Members to be appointed to the Forum with reference to the ward boundaries established in May 2007. The whole of the Loch Creran site lies within Ward 5 (Oban North and Lorn). The coastal waters comprising the Firth of Lorn SAC lie partly off Ward 5 and partly off Ward 2 (Kintyre and the Islands). 1 5. It is suggested, therefore, that perhaps one Councillor from each Ward might represent the Council on the Forum, with one of those Councillors to be appointed as its Chair. Nigel Stewart, Director of Corporate Services 4 March 2008 APPENDIX 1 Argyll Marine SAC Management Forum Members Argyll and Bute Council Ardchattan Community Council Argyll Charter Boat Association Awe & Creran District Salmon Fishery Boards Caledonia Oyster Company Clyde Fishermen’s Association Creran Moorings Creran Oysters Dalriada Diving Forest Enterprise Foster Yeoman Ltd Hebridean Whale & Dolphin Trust Heriot-Watt University (Serpulid Research) Isle of Eriska Hotel Lakeland Marine Ltd Local Fishing Industry Representatives Local Commercial Diving Industry Representatives Luing Community Council Mallaig & North West Fishermen’s Association Marine Resource Centre Northern Lighthouse Board Oban Port Users Ltd Porpoise Dive Charters Rubha Mor Oysters Scottish Association for Marine Science Scottish Environment Protection Agency Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department (SEERAD) Scottish Executive Development Department Scottish Natural Heritage Scottish Sea Farms Ltd Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary Scottish Water Sea.fari Adventures (Oban) Seil Community Council Shian Fisheries Ltd The Crown Estate West Highland Anchorages and Moorings Association 2 .