Scallop dredging banned

Following a lengthy and sustained campaign led by Scottish divers, some damaging fishing methods have finally been banned within two Scottish Special Areas of Conservation. Divers officially complained to the European Union that the Scottish (British) authorities were allowing highly destructive fishing methods to continue despite the EU designation they had applied to two marine areas as Special Areas of Conservation. This was a highly detailed and carefully executed campaign using substantiated evidence to back it and has had a major result. The UK still has many other marine Special Areas of Conservation which are still subjected to extensive trawling and dredging and it is to be hoped that this will be a breakthrough in convincing the authorities that action must be taken to properly protect all of them from damaging fishing practices such as trawling and dredging.

Congratulations to all involved, Paul. That's wonderful news.