Scotland’s coastal waters ‘better protected when David Attenborough was born’

A campaigner who appears in Sir David Attenborough’s latest film has said Scotland’s coastal waters were better protected when the veteran broadcaster was born almost a century ago

Don MacNeish, co-founder of the Community Arran Seabed Trust, saw his environmental efforts included in the movie Ocean – which stars the 99-year-old natural historian.

Speaking as marine campaigners from the Our Seas Coalition came to the Scottish Parliament to share their concerns with MSPs, Mr MacNeish, 78, said: “David Attenborough is nearly a hundred years old and when he was born, Scotland actually had better protections in place than we do now.”

The group, of which Mr MacNeish is a member, claims just 5% of Scotland’s coastal waters are protected from bottom trawling and dredge-fishing methods.

The coalition – which brings together more than 150 organisations including businesses, coastal communities and environmental groups – wants that figure to be increased to at least 30%.

And more than 14,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Scottish Government to act.

Mr MacNeish said: “By properly protecting our seas, we will not only witness benefits to the environment and nature but also to coastal low impact fishermen, wildlife tourism and local communities.”

He added: “Politicians have got to take a stand and back those within our society trying to make a difference.”

Fisherman and fellow coalition member Duncan McAndrew urged politicians to “prioritise low impact fishing” to help seas recover.

Laws preventing bottom trawling were removed more than four decades ago, on June 26 1984, and Mr McAndrew said this has “impacted the health of our seas and fisheries”.

Rea Cris, of the campaign group Open Seas, which is also a member of the Our Seas Coalition, said: “A well-managed marine environment can guarantee more fish, more jobs and more protection for our marine environment.

“We stand alongside many thousands of people who are calling for at least 30% of Scotland inshore seas to be protected from bottom-trawling and scallop dredging.”

Meanwhile, Joe Richards, of the Blue Marine Foundation, said: “The Ocean with David Attenborough film has exposed the destructive and wasteful nature of bottom-towed fishing activity like never before.

“This method of fishing in inshore waters and in Scotland Marine Protected Areas cannot and should not continue.”

He added: “The solutions are simple – if we protect more we will see more fish and more jobs and benefits to fishing and coastal communities”.

A Scottish Government spokesperson said:  “Our marine environment is one of Scotland’s most important natural assets and we are committed to protecting it for future generations.

“Management measures for the most vulnerable sites in the Scottish Marine Protected Area (MPA) network were implemented in 2016.

“Putting in place the remaining fisheries management measures and further measures for the 11 Priority Marine Features (PMF) most at risk from bottom trawling remains a top priority.

“Fisheries management measures will be implemented in 2025 for offshore MPAs. For inshore areas we are aiming to launch a public consultation in November.”