A CONSERVATION charity has called for action to protect marine life after a rare flame shell reef was devastated by scallop dredging.
The seabed at the Loch Carron reef near Plockton in the Highlands has been badly damaged by a commercial dredger and it may take years, if not decades, for marine life to recover, conservationists said.
The Scottish Government said the reports are “worrying” and that an investigation will be carried out.
Flame shells – bivalve molluscs with a fringe of orange tentacles – build nests from shells, stones and other materials, and live completely hidden inside them on the seabed.
Hundreds of nests can combine to make a dense bed that supports myriad other species, including young fish and scallop spat.
Flame shell beds are vulnerable to mechanical disturbance, particularly from bottom trawls and dredges, and extensive beds are now rare, according to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).
Conservation charity the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) has expressed shock at the damage.
Dr Richard Luxmoore, NTS senior nature conservation adviser, said: “They [flame shells) protect their nests under a fragile roof of bits of shell and other material held together with fine byssus threads.
“Ripping through this with the heavy metal teeth of a scallop dredge is like dropping a bunker-busting bomb on a nursery school. The destruction is just appalling.
“Two years ago, the Scottish Government commissioned an economic study of the impacts of fishing in the inshore zone which concluded that the use of trawls and dredges in these waters caused damage that was totally disproportionate to the profits that it brought to a relatively small number of fishermen.
“The clear outcome of this research was that Scotland would be economically far better off if all such damaging fishing methods were banned within 3km of the shore.
"It is time the Government took heed of this advice."
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here