Scottish Government proposes trawling bans at 20 fishery sites

The Scottish Government has proposed banning certain types of fishing equipment in an effort to boost protection in certain areas around the country.

Twenty fishery sites in Scotland’s offshore waters have been named Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), which ministers say they have a long-standing commitment to protect.

The Scottish Government has proposed either zoned or full bans on the use of demersal mobile and static gear, better known as trawling equipment, in 15 of the 20 sites.

A full ban has been proposed at the remaining five sites, as the proposal argues this is the only way to ensure the areas are preserved.

The consultation on the matter will run until Monday October 14.

Cabinet Secretary for net zero and energy Gillian Martin said: “Scotland has beautiful and diverse marine ecosystems.

“However, the twin biodiversity and climate crises mean we must act now to support the recovery and resilience of our marine environment, and the sustainability of the communities and industries that rely on it.

“MPAs already provide focused protection for the species and habitats in our waters.

“By implementing proposed fisheries management measures, we can further guard against further biodiversity loss, help to restore high priority marine features and make a greater contribution to supporting and maintaining the marine ecosystem, which in turn supports our long-term food security.”

She added: “This will help ensure our seas remain a source of prosperity for the nation, especially in our coastal and island communities.

“These proposals are the result of many years of development and we will continue to consult very closely with industry and coastal communities to hear their views.”

There are now more than 230 MPA protected sites for nature and conservation across Scotland, covering 37% of the country’s seas, and each individual area has specific targets to ensure conservation is kept up to the appropriate standard.

Various species that are protected by the MPA network include deep sea sponges and ocean quahogs, a thick-shelled species of clam that can live for more than 400 years.

Ellen Last, MPA and fisheries advice manager at the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), said: “Scotland’s offshore MPAs protect a range of important habitats and species, which provide a range of ecosystem services, including carbon sequestration and food provision.

“JNCC has provided statutory advice to the Scottish Government, taking into account available scientific evidence on the designated features and potential impacts of activities, to help develop management measures that will contribute towards meeting the conservation objectives of these MPAs so that they can continue to benefit future generations.”

Oceana UK, a sealife protection organisation that has long campaigned for a ban to trawling, welcomed the consultation.

Hugo Tagholm, executive director of Oceana UK, said: “These ocean havens are home to some of Scotland’s most incredible marine wildlife, and this is our chance to restore, replenish and regenerate Scotland’s seas.

“The Scottish Government’s consultation on this vital issue is welcome and much-needed.

“The value of protecting the entirety of each marine protected area, rather than a piecemeal ‘features-based’ approach, should not be underestimated.

“Scottish offshore MPAs suffered almost 6,000 hours of suspected bottom trawling last year, Oceana’s analysis showed. If tiny patches of reef survived the onslaught that’s great, but encircling those fragments in a ring of industrialisation forestalls any chance of real recovery.”

The organisation says research in Lyme Bay in England has shown that where reef features alone were protected from bottom trawling, the abundance of marine life increased by a small amount: 15%.

But in areas where the entire seabed was protected across the whole site, that figure was 95%.

Mr Tagholm continued: “The truth is, bottom trawling is brutal. So-called protected areas are decimated, as the living seabed is destroyed and along with it vital refuges for wildlife and the foundations of ocean health.

“From ancient corals to rare sharks – almost nothing escapes the weighted nets.

“Scottish seas are already under pressure from the climate crisis, pollution and overfishing – they urgently need areas that provide a chance to regroup and build resilience. Bottom trawling has no place anywhere in MPAs.”

The Scottish Conservatives criticised the proposal.

Buckie-based Scottish Conservative MSP Tim Eagle said: “This consultation comes when our fishing industry is already worried that the SNP’s reckless Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMA) proposals will reappear under a different guise in the future.

“The Scottish Government must work with the sector to conduct an evidence-based approach to marine planning decisions at a time when 37% of Scottish waters are already protected under the existing MPA network.

“Spatial squeeze is among the biggest fears within the fishing industry which is why it’s vital as many people as possible respond to this consultation.”

“Living along the North East coastline myself, I know, like many, that fishing helps to form the lifeblood of our coastal communities and it’s imperative the industry has a voice at the table for shaping policy.”