Project funded by Historic Enviroment Scotland
UNESCO (Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage 2003) has highlighted the potential for intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) to be rekindled in order to provide potential sustainable development in communities. 

This feasibility study will examine the potential for creating future livelihoods in fishing communities by copying heritage fishing baskets from the late 19th/ early 20th century. Urgency for action became apparent from feedback from UNESCO, national government, Zero Waste Scotland and fishing communities. Sustainable livelihoods could rejuvenate coastal communities where fishing has declined, draw on cultural heritage and address plastic waste in the oceans.

Sustainably made fishing baskets and lobster creels from willow ”withies” offers the opportunity of creating a future legacy for eco-tourism and provision of sustainable options for future non-plastic creels and baskets for the future fishing industry. 
The project will explore the integration of economic, environmental and community factors and will disseminate the results back to these communities via multi-media teaching tools.