Environmental protection for Arran

The South Arran Nature Conservation MPA was designated as part of a Scotland-wide network of 30 MPAs including two more in the Clyde. Arran’s MPA aims to protect and restore sea grass and maerl beds as well as many other sensitive habitats and species which have functional importance as fish nurseries and breeding grounds. COAST has claimed that Arran’s marine ecosystems are being severely degraded by fishing practices such as scallop dredging and bottom trawling.

COAST manager Andrew Binnie told Maritime Journal: “COAST is delighted the Scottish Government has designated the South Arran MPA. This is a real testament to the people of Arran and our supporters and partners further afield. They have shown once again that coastal communities can play a powerful role in regenerating their marine ecosystems. It is encouraging to see the Government beginning to show the sort of leadership the Clyde has long needed. Marine Scotland and Scottish Natural Heritage deserve praise for designating the Arran MPA as part of the Scottish MPA network. However, there is still much to be done.

Clyde-wide measures are required to rejuvenate and revive our waters. The management measures envisaged by the government for the South Arran MPA look likely to allow scallop dredging to continue over many fragile habitats within the MPA. This will undermine the MPAs potential to contribute to a healthier more productive Clyde.”

In light of the announcement, COAST plans to continue campaigning for rigorous management measures for the entire MPA, not just patchwork areas as currently proposed. Throughout the process COAST have advocated the complete exclusion of scallop dredgers and bottom trawlers from the MPA in favour of more sustainable fishing methods such as scallop diving and creeling.

MPAs have long been a feature of overseas coastal marine management with the USA (Georges Bank), New Zealand (Leigh Marine Reserve) and Australia (Great Barrier Reef) being prominent examples. Most are legally enforceable. In 2012, COAST submitted a third-party proposal for the designation of an MPA to establish a ban on bottom trawling and scallop dredging around south Arran. In 2013, during the Government MPA public consultation, COAST gathered over 1,300 responses of which 99% were in favour of the MPA. The South Arran MPA was one of 33 proposed Scottish MPAs considered by the Government for its network of MPAs.

By Jake Frith