GREENPEACE activists have boarded a Dutch-owned supertrawler in Scottish waters in a fishing protest.
The North Sea action took place north-east of Aberdeen.
Greenpeace claims the Helen Mary vessel was fishing in the protected Central Fladen waters.
Activists from its Esperanza vessel boarded the 117 metre-long boat and hung a banner reading: "Ban supertrawlers now."
They placed fishing deterrents in the supertrawler's nets before the Germany-registered Helen Mary left the area.
The huge vessel is equipped to process its catch onboard.
In 2019, the same vessel was detained at sea by Marine Scotland on suspected fishery offences. This investigation is understood to be ongoing.
Now it's emerged it has been detained at sea amidst an investigation for suspected fishery offences.
The ship was engaged by the fishery protection vessel Jura to the west of Shetland.
The Scottish Government said: "We can confirm Marine Scotland is escorting a vessel into Lerwick for suspected fishery offences.
"It would be inappropriate to comment further as an investigation is ongoing."
Supertrawlers are high intensity fishing vessels, capable of catching hundreds of tonnes of fish each day using nets up to a mile long.
Greenpeace say the intensity with which they fish negatively impacts the entire marine ecosystem.
Legal protections in the Central Fladen Marine Protected Area extend to the seabed but there is no long-term condition monitoring in place, Greenpeace states.
Chris Thorne, a Greenpeace UK oceans campaigner on board Esperanza, said: "Supertrawlers have no place in our protected areas.
"What use is a protected area, when the highest intensity industrial fishing vessels are allowed to operate inside it?
"Regardless of whether a protected area protects the seabed, or marine life like porpoises which are directly threatened by supertrawlers, the operations of a supertrawler in a supposedly protected area make a mockery of the word protected."
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 hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel