Look after valuable seabed ecosystems

SIR, – I was very interested in a recent report (Press and Journal, October 29) about a lobster fisherman, from the west coast, who described the damage to whole fleets of his lobster pots.

He is permitted, and indeed fishes within a Marine Protected Area (MPA), in the Firth of Lorn I believe. He was convinced that the damage to his gear is caused by scallop dredgers fishing illegally within this restricted zone. Of course, the scallop fishers in that area have denied any responsibility for damage caused to any lobster pots, nor to fishing within the MPA.

On Channel 4 news last Friday (November 1) a team of divers were filming the damage done to the sea bed of the Firth of Lorn by scallop dredgers, and were clearly able to show whole tracts of scarred seabed, completely bare of any sign of the valuable coral or indeed any sign of living sea creatures. I don’t think, nor did the divers, that the scarred seabed happened naturally.

Historically, the setting up of MPAs in Scotland was done some years ago to protect the valuable seabed ecosystems, which were being damaged by overfishing. There was some objection to MPAs, but most were willingly agreed by the major fishermen’s associations and federations.

It is sad there are still certain fishermen unwilling to abide by the rules, and continuing to fish regardless of restrictions within an area where a MPA exists. Why?

Ken Watmough, Broomhill Terrace, Aberdeen