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”…
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.”
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