Comann na Mara welcomes the 28 yachts of the Royal Highland Yacht Club who are sailing in company to arrive in Lochmaddy on Friday 4th July. This will be an historic occasion as, never before, have so many yachts come here as a group. We hope they enjoy their first evening in Lochmaddy Hotel, their visit to Taigh Chearsabhagh, the coach tour of North Uist and their evening in Lochmaddy Village Hall where there will be a welcoming dram from Comann na Mara and a small exhibition of our work before they sit down to their buffet dinner catered by Stepping Stones of Benbecula and dance to the music of the Uist Accordion and Fiddle Club. See News page.

The Stornoway Gazette of 27.3.2008 carried the announcement of the engagement of Alicia Maclean (Nova Scotia) to Matthew Macdonald ( Lochmaddy and Stornoway). They met while she was here doing her study on Seaweed under the Comann na Mara, Runrig scholarship. All Good wishes to them both from Comann na Mara.

Esmee Fairbairn Trust have awarded us £10,000 for our feasibility study ( see link to Marine Centre)

For a report on the 6th Comann na Mara annual lecture see News page.

For photographs of the Lochmaddy Bay sea eagles click on Lochmaddy link on left

The Outer Hebrides have a unique culture and environment. They are situated in an exposed location on the edge of the British Isles, off the west coast of Scotland, bounded to the East by the Minch, and to the West by the Atlantic. These seas are both friend and foe to those who inhabit them. As well as shaping the landscape of these islands, the waters that surround us cause our mild maritime climate, providing work and enabling a rich source of food. These factors have long been recognised and are preserved in a rich heritage of folklore and song.

A voluntary group called Comann na Mara (Society of the Sea) has been formed, based in North Uist, but open to all. This group is made up of those who work on the seas, enjoy the sea as a leisure activity and who recognise the important part that the sea plays in island life. Forming the group was seen as a tangible way of recognising the value of the sea and promoting it to a wider public. In particular the group wishes to acknowledge the past, make the most of the present and secure the future. One of the main aims of the group is to establish a marine centre. This will not be just a working museum, but will form a focal point for the wider aims of the group. These aims include education on the value of the rich waters that lap these shores, promotion of responsible stewardship, encouraging research into the sea and marine life and securing the future of this valuable resource. Research has shown this project would be unique in Scotland.

The current committe is composed of a marine biologist, two full time fishermen, a retired G.P, two social workers, a civil engineer, a retired teacher, an estates manager, a retired manager and an assistant harbourmaster.

MORAL SUPPORTERS.

Our project has roused a lot of interest and all the organisations that we have approached so far consider it to be a novel and much required scheme. They have all sent letters of support.

LOCAL.

164 North ist signatories, Angus B Macneill, MP ; Local Fishermen; North Uist Community Council; Uist Boat Club; Lochmaddy and Trumisgarry Community Hall; North Uist Estates; Grimsay Boat Shed; Sgoil Lionacleit; Scottish Crofters Foundation (Uist Branch); Uist 2000; Southern Isles Amenity Trust; Uist Buildings Preservation Trust; North Uist Angling Club; The Wee Pier Trust (fishermen and leisure users); Uist Outdoor Centre; Taigh Chearsabhagh Trust.

AREA. Western Isles Council; Western Isles Enterprise; Fisheries Officer, Western Isles Council; Western Isles Fishermens Association; Western Isles Fisheries Trust; Hebridean Whale Watchers; Lewis Castle College

NATIONAL.Scottish Crofting Foundation, Scottish Natural Heritage; Scottish Environment Protection Agency; Fisheries Research Laboratory, Aberdeen; Scottish Fresh Water Laboratory, Pitlochry; Scottish Association of Marine Scientists, Dunstaffnage; Oban Seal and Marine Centre; The National Maritime Museum, Greenwich; Northern Lighthouse Board; The University of Wales, Bangor; University of Glasgow; University of Reading; Marine Biological Station, Millport; University of St. Andrews; St. Andrews Aquarium; Clyde Cruising Club; National Lobster Hatchery, Padstow, Runrig Band, University of Cornwall, Marine Conservation Society, University of Nottingham, Royal National Mission to Deep Sea Fishermen,

INTERNATIONAL

The Bedford Institute, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada www.bio.gc.ca

Bermuda Biological Station

The University of Iceland; Chief Coastguard, Iceland; Marine Station, Rhodes, Greece; The Atlantic Salmon Trust;

Sherkin Island Marine Station, Eire - http://homepage.tinet.ie/~sherkinmarine/station.htm

International Otter Survival Fund

PERSONAL.. The late Magnus Magnusson KBE, Pres. Institute of Contemporary Scotland, Calum Macdonald previous MP (Western Isles) Alasdair Morrison previous MSP (Western Isles)

Any interested parties from outwith Uist who would like to support us can join our list of "Off Island" supporters by contacting Dr John MacLeod ( see bottom of this page)

LINKS OF INTEREST

www.mcsuk.org - The Marine Conservation Society embraces most aspects of Marine Conservation. Their team did a tour of the Hebrides last May with a model of a Leatherback Turtle.

.www.fishonline.org is a text book of the world`s main fishes. Gives brief details of each and rates their current risk status.

http://www.communityland.org.uk/ The Scottish Community Land website

www.taigh-chearsabhagh.org

www.frs-scotland.gov.uk

www.uistoutdoorcentre.co.uk

The Mother of All Maritime Links - http://www.boat-links.com/linklists/boatlink-01.html (an American site but you can find links to practically anywhere)

Contact :

Comann na Mara
Taigh na Hearradh
Lochmaddy
Isle of North Uist
HS6 5AE

Tel 01876 500224