|
|
Eco-campaigners triumph in Scotland
|
The Scottish Executive has moved to outlaw scallop-dredging in the marine Special Areas of Conservation in the Firth of Lorne and Loch Creran. The unexpected move follows a four-year campaign by environmentalists.
|
|
England and Wales have already designated scallop-dredging as a 'plan or a project', which means that it can take place only if it can be proved that no damage to marine life will result. Now this designation also applies to Scotland.
Scallop-dredging involves towing steel teeth and chains over a seabed at high speed. 'The ecological impact is devastating and has been likened to desertification,' says campaigner Andy McLeod. 'Entire habitats are destroyed or drastically modified. The death rate for all species approaches 100%.'
The Firth of Lorne has a rich array of rocky reefs and their biological communities. The conservation area is home to species including dolphins and porpoises and minke whales and basking sharks visit to feed there.
Loch Creran contains serpulid reefs built by marine worms (pictured) that are otherwise found only in one Norwegian fjord, and are the nursery ground for many other species. Both lochs are on Scotland's west coast, in Argyll and Bute. |
Start a Forum discussion on this topic
|
Archive | 
