Conservation groups in Scotland are sounding the alarm as they uncover the disturbing practice of discarding at sea by bottom trawlers. Recently, a video shared with Sky News revealed a grim scene on Scotland’s west coast, showing thousands of lifeless prawns covering the seafloor, alongside five shark species and the critically endangered mature flapper skate. The footage shines a light on the hidden problem that causes significant harm to marine life, sending shockwaves through the conservation community.
Devastating Impact on Marine Life
Lauren Smith from Shark and Skate Scotland expressed grave concern over the impact of discarding at sea on marine life. She emphasized the distressing sight of critically endangered flapper skate and stressed the urgency to address the issue. Flapper skate populations have drastically declined over the years, largely due to overfishing, making Scotland’s inshore waters a vital sanctuary for the species. The continuous practice of bottom trawling, resulting in the accidental catch of such endangered marine creatures, is both heart-wrenching and alarming.
While some practices, such as ‘tailing’ prawns on the boat and discarding the prawn heads, are permitted on the west coast, dumping bycatch fish like cod is illegal. The 2019 ‘Landing Obligation’ mandates that most fish must be landed and declared at port. However, accidental bycatch itself is not considered a crime. To protect skates and rays, the law requires their immediate release when there is a higher likelihood of survival. Unfortunately, the video footage captured by marine ecologist Peter Hume of Sea Kintyre hints that this discarding is taking place illegally. Hume observed discarded skate suffocating, indicating a flagrant waste of valuable marine life.
Peter Hume, who filmed the distressing video after being alerted by Shark and Skate Scotland, expressed his deep dismay over the situation. He described the scene around the pier, witnessing piles of discarded skate and langoustines, as “sickening.” Hume condemned both the waste and the apparent disregard for life in the sea, as this fishery’s inefficient practices undermine the fishing opportunities for the local community. The visual evidence captured in the video serves as a rare revelation of the true extent and consequences of discarding at sea.
Bottom-trawling nets, commonly used to sweep the seabed, often unintentionally catch large volumes of fish and marine life. This unintended bycatch poses a significant problem in the prawn trawl fishery, as the small mesh size of the nets contributes to a higher likelihood of catching non-target species. The discarding of these bycatch species frequently occurs at sea, making videos such as Peter Hume’s footage a rarity. Nick Underdown, Head of Campaigns at Open Seas, a Scottish marine sustainability charity, highlights the environmental cost of bottom trawling and the lack of awareness among the general public. He emphasizes the need for stricter regulations and improved vessel tracking to curb these destructive practices.
Open Seas urges the Scottish government to take action by implementing mandatory vessel tracking for bottom trawlers to prevent poor fishing practices. They also emphasize the importance of incentivizing and promoting more sustainable alternatives to trawling. The continuous havoc wreaked on fish stocks and the health of Scotland’s seas by poorly regulated prawn trawling cannot be ignored any longer. It is crucial to address this issue and protect the fragile marine ecosystems before irreversible damage is done.
In response to the incident captured in the video, Peter Hume has reported the matter to Marine Scotland and Police Scotland, drawing attention to the urgent need for intervention and stricter enforcement of existing regulations. The critical situation highlighted by this footage has ignited a sense of urgency among conservation groups and the wider public, emphasizing the dire need for change and sustainable practices in the fishing industry. The fate of Scotland’s marine life hangs in the balance, and immediate action is imperative to safeguard its future.
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