US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
In Scotland, fishing trawlers scrape the seabed despite protection promises
Despite protections, about 95% of Scotland’s coastal waters allow damaging industrial trawling, while only 13% of inshore protected areas currently restrict such fishing, officials said.
- On Nov. 20, 2025 Bally Philp was photographed hauling baited traps off the Isle of Skye while industrial bottom trawling and scallop dredging remain permitted in about 95% of Scotland's coastal waters, including designated protected areas.
- Scientists say heavy nets crush seabed habitats, triggering wider ecosystem loss, while bottom trawling burns nearly three times more fuel and tourist demand complicates sustainable sourcing.
- Local catches show dramatic declines in once-productive inshore waters, with fish landings in areas such as the Clyde plummeting and small-scale fishers like Bally Philp confined to shrinking viable areas.
- With the consultation delayed, small‑scale fishers face more years before stronger protections take effect, while the Marine Conservation Society analysis estimates banning trawling could yield up to 3.5 billion pounds over 20 years.
- A Europe‑wide report shows protected sites are still trawled extensively; conservationists urge a coastal limit to protect at least 30% of Scotland's seas, while restoration teams design recovery projects amid delayed measures.
Insights by Ground AI
16 Articles
16 Articles
Associated Press News+9 Reposted by 9 other sources
In Scotland, fishing trawlers scrape the seabed despite protection promises
Scotland has designated 37% of its waters as marine protected areas, but destructive fishing methods like bottom trawling continue in most of these zones.
·United States
Read Full Article
Coverage Details
Total News Sources16
Leaning Left7Leaning Right0Center6Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Left
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources lean Left
54% Left
L 54%
C 46%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
