The Trust has welcomed ambitious proposals to protect fragile areas of seabed from damaging fishing practices. Draft legislation announced by the Scottish Government yesterday for four Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) includes plans to exclude scallop dredging from the entire Wester Ross MPA, which covers the areas of Loch Broom, Loch Ewe and the Summer Isles.
The announcement comes in the wake of strong public support for more ambitious management of protected areas in Scottish seas. In Wester Ross, this was aided by a Trust-supported survey of the coral-like seaweed maerl, which provides nursery areas for young cod, scallops and crabs.
The Trust, Fauna and Flora International and Scottish Natural Heritage jointly organised a survey in the Wester Ross MPA in November 2014, which used an underwater camera system to capture video evidence of the locally known but unrecorded maerl beds.
Several new maerl beds were recorded thanks to the help of a Coigach-based fishing boat and crew who were able to draw on years of experience to point out where the slow-growing and fragile habitat was likely to be found. The discoveries were made off the coast of Ben Mor Coigach, the largest of the Trust’s 120 wildlife reserves, and around the Summer Isles archipelago.
The Ullapool-based Scottish Wildlife Trust Living Seas Communities Officer, Noel Hawkins, said: “It’s great to know that the Trust-supported survey has played a part in improved management of the Wester Ross MPA. The success of any MPA relies on the local involvement and support that is clearly evident here, and although there is a great deal of local interest at the moment, there has also been concern over the effectiveness of their management.
“The Trust and other local groups now want to see these strong plans for legal protection from damaging fisheries get the backing of the Scottish Parliament to ensure benefits to the environment and all those who live, work and visit here.”
The Scottish Wildlife Trust Living Seas Manager, Alex Kinninmonth, said: “The Trust is pleased to see that the Scottish Government has considered the clear evidence and listened to public opinion. As our survey showed, even within protected areas the true extent and condition of important seabed habitats is still coming to light.
“Site wide closure to bottom-dredging is a proportionate response to that uncertainty, is simple to comply with, will allow habitats to recover from historic pressures, and most importantly has public backing.”
To see the Scottish Government’s announcement on MPA management, please click here.