Seabed damaged by fishing showing signs of recovery

Early signs of recovery have been found on an area of protected seabed which was destroyed by illegal fishing in the Summer Isles near Ullapool .

Conservationists say it shows the marine ecosystem is able to repair itself if properly shielded from trawlers and dredgers which drag their gear along the seabed to scoop up catch.

The Our Seas coalition of scientists, activists and some fishermen accuse ministers of delaying action to protect at least 30% of Scotland's inshore waters, and are preparing to present a petition at the Scottish parliament.

Fishing leaders say banning some boats is too "simplistic" while the Scottish government says it takes protecting the marine environment seriously.

Dredging is regarded by conservationists as one of the most damaging fishing methods. It involves dragging heavy gear along the seabed to scoop up scallops which bury themselves in the mud.

It can destroy everything in the boat's wake and multiple incidents have shown significant damage to the marine ecosystem.

The Wester Ross Marine Protected Area (MPA) was introduced in 2016. It covers about 231 sq miles (600 sq km) of inland waters including Loch Broom, Grunard Bay and Loch Ewe.

The seabed, which was shaped by retreating glaciers from the end of the last ice age, provides a habitat for flame shells and maerl (hard seaweed) beds which in turn create shelter for other plants and animals including sea cucumbers, scallops and sea urchins.

But in 2019 a dredger illegally dragged its gear through the MPA while fishing off the small island of Eilean Dubh. Subsequent dives to the site documented extensive damage.

Experts say it may take at least a decade to recover fully but observations using a remotely operated underwater drone are proving encouraging.

Significant numbers of sea cucumbers - which can bury themselves under the sand to escape fishing gear - have been observed in the recovery zone.

Cat sharks, cushion sea stars and crabs have been spotted along with the return of some algaes, but more complex eco-systems are still some years away from emerging.

In a different part of the MPA which has never been disturbed, the seabed is seen to be abundant with life in a more complex, three dimensional setting.

Phil Taylor, director of Open Seas, says those areas are important nursery grounds for young fish, such as cod, where they can hide from predators.

"Cod, of course, is one of the species we all want to see recovered in these areas. Cod once were here in such abundance that they were caught commercially and landed into the harbours all around the coastline," he said.

"They don't really exist in those kinds of abundance any more so we all need to band together and figure out how we can recover it."

Campaigners are planning to gather outside the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday to call for ministers to speed up the introduction of more effective MPAs.

They want to see fishing restrictions covering at least 30% of Scotland's inland waters.

Although there are more than 240 MPAs now in place, many of them still contain no actual restrictions on fishing.

Many of those due to take part in the protest are calling for an urgent consultation to restrict fishing in more areas.

Joe Richards, Scotland Project Manager at the Blue Marine Foundation, said: "The Scottish public is tired of waiting. More than 16,500 people have added their names to a simple call - stop delaying and start protecting Scotland's coastal seas.

"Our coastal waters are becoming devoid of life and we are losing fishing boats and coastal jobs as a result."

A report by the independent watchdog Environmental Standards Scotland criticises ministers for failing in their duty to protect and restore the sea floor.

Its assessment says they have been "non-compliant and ineffective" in delivering on regulations for the marine environment and that there is a "persistent gap between ambition and delivery."

It adds that progress has been "slow, inadequate and falling short of key targets."

The Scottish government's Marine Minister, Jim Fairlie, said:

"Scottish ministers take the protection and restoration of the marine environment seriously, and I am happy to meet with representatives to receive their petition and hear their concerns.

"I appreciate that there will be differing views about how best to manage the incredible natural resources we have and I and my colleagues across government will work with all partners to ensure that we are responsible custodians of our seas."

The campaign group Greenpeace has also announced that it intends to take more direct action to better protect MPAs further out to sea.

It will use one of its ships to drop boulders onto the seabed creating physical barriers to restrict access.

It has not said which sites will be targeted but it has previously targeted offshore sites in the southern North Sea, the English Channel, and off the south-west coast of England.

Fishing boats tend to avoid areas containing large rocks because they can catch onto nets and other gear.

The UK government dropped a legal case it had taken against Greenpeace in an attempt to stop the direct action.

The Scottish Fishermen's Federation insists that "everyone wants healthy seas, abundant marine life and thriving coastal communities."

Chief executive Elspeth Macdonald said the call to ban trawling and dredging in 30% of inshore waters "is based on an arbitrary target rather than scientific evidence, and takes little account of the diversity of Scotland's coastline, seabed habitats, fisheries and fishing communities."

She believes the fishing industry is now heavily regulated and that management measures need to be "proportionate".