Holyrood ministers are being urged to deliver “proper protection” for Scotland’s marine protected areas (MPAs) – with campaigners insisting “destructive” fishing practices have no place in such zones.
Marine conservation groups spoke out after the Scottish Government implemented new fisheries management measures in 20 offshore MPAs in a bid to protect sensitive habitats and species.
A consultation on introducing similar measures at inshore MPAs – described as being the jewel in the crown of Scotland’s marine ecosystem – is now due to get under way in the coming weeks.
Campaigners are now urging ministers to use this to prevent trawling and dredging from these “precious ecosystems”.
Bally Philp, national co-ordinator for the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation, said: “You cannot count any seabed as protected if it still can be dredged and trawled.
“These fishing methods have their place, and can continue in areas where there are no sensitive species or a lower-impact alternative.
“But the ongoing destruction of the precious ecosystems and fish nursery habitats within our inshore and marine protected areas has to end.”
He added: “Scottish ministers have an obligation to bring our seas up to good environmental status, and right now we all know this is not happening.”
Meanwhile, Charles Millar, executive director of the Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust (Sift), said: “These marine protected areas were designated many years ago, and the fact that they’re still being dredged and trawled has undermined both our creelers and our marine ecosystems.”
He stressed MPAs are “vital” to helping fish stock recover, as he insisted: “The right place for dredging and bottom trawling is outside marine protected areas.”
Giverny Fitzgerald, co-ordinator of the Our Seas coalition, meanwhile demanded there must be “proper protection provided for all marine protected areas”
She stated: “Above all, the Scottish Government need to recognise that nature restoration is actually the foundation of strong coastal economies, both in terms of sustainable fishing and other economic activities.”
Joe Richards, Scotland project manager for Blue Marine Foundation, said that Sir David Attenborough’s Ocean film had shown “dredging and trawling have no place in marine protected areas”
He added: “Scotland’s inshore waters have suffered from destructive bottom trawling for far too long.
“This has damaged not only vital habitats and species but also the health of our inshore fisheries and the livelihoods that depend on them.
“The Scottish Government must act now to restrict bottom-towed gear from our inshore MPAs and allow our seas to recover and thrive once again.”
Meanwhile, Aine Purcell-Milton, executive director of the Community of Arran Seabed Trust (Coast), said the waters there were “one of only a few Scottish MPAs” where bottom trawling and dredging has been limited.
She added: “We are seeing first-hand the benefits that meaningful protection of our seas can bring to both nature and to coastal communities.
“But this must extend beyond South Arran. When we properly protect our marine environment it can recover – we just need to give it a chance.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Putting in place the remaining fisheries management measures for inshore marine protected areas and the 11 priority marine features most at risk from bottom trawling will help to support healthy marine ecosystems and the industries that rely on them.
“We aim to launch the public consultation on the measures for these sites by the end of November.
“We will continue, as we have done from the very start of this process, to reach out and engage with all stakeholders and to support our coastal communities.”
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