Episode 21

Tha an aimhreit is am fòirneart ann an ceann-a-tuath Afraga air a bhith dol airson còrr is mìos a-nis. Am measg nan cosgaisean daonna, tha na mìltean de dh'imrichean a tha air Tunisia fhàgail agus feuchainn ri faighinn a-steach tarsainn air a' chuan dhan Roinn Eòrpa. 'S ann tron Eilean bheag Eadailteach Lampedusa, mu 70km an ear air Tunisia, a tha a' chuid is motha air siubhal. Gu ruige seo, tha còrr is 6000 air an t-slighe a dhèanamh, a' cleachdadh Lampedusa mar a' chiad cheum gu beatha ùr Eòrpach. Tha Darren Linc an t-seachdain-sa a' toirt sùil air an t-suidheachadh is a' faighneachd dè tha san amhairc fhathast.

The violence and unrest in North Africa has been going on for over a month now. Amongst the human cost are thousands of migrants who have left Tunisia, attempting to make their way across the sea to Europe. Their route most often takes them via the small Italian island of Lampedusa, around 70km east of Tunisia. So far more than 6000 have made the crossing, using Lampedusa as a stepping stone to a new life in Europe. This week, Darren Laing reports from Lampedusa, asking how the situation has been handled, and what the future holds.

Tha Buidheann Gnìomh na Mara is nam Maor Cladaich (an MCA) agus an riaghaltas a' moladh atharrachadh ann an structair seirbheis nam maor-cladaich. Fo na molaidhean ùra cha bhi ach ochd stèisean faire ann am Breatann seach an ochd deug a th' ann an-dràsta, agus bidh a dhà dhiubh sin ann an Alba. A rèir an MCA thig neartachadh agus nuadhachadh air an t-seirbheis ri linn nam molaidhean, ach tha iasgairean is comhairlean ionadail air teagamhan a thogail, ag ràdh gun toir iad buaidh air sàbhailteachd aig muir.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) and the government are proposing to restructure the coastguard service. Under the proposed changes Britain would see its eighteen coastguard stations decrease to eight, two of those in Scotland. The MCA says that the proposals would improve and modernise the service, but fishermen and local councils have expressed their concern about the proposed changes, saying that they could compromise safety at sea.