Dredging in crucial habitat sparks row over UK marine protected areas

The person is Madeleine Cuff.

There is a new row over the effectiveness of the UK's marine protection schemes after evidence emerged of a seabed in protected Scottish waters.

The isle of Rum on Scotland's west coast has a marine protected area.

The area of maerl, a slow-growing form of coral, is thought to have been destroyed by dredge activity.

According to the groups, the evidence shows that the Small IslesMPA is not protected from destructive fishing methods.

Despite protests by environmental groups, it is currently legal for scallop dredgers and bottom trawlers to fish in this area.

Phil Taylor is the head of policy and operations at Open Seas. They are a type of paper park. This is not a good example of a paper park.

One of the most important marine habitats in the UK is the Small IslesMPA.

Two years ago, a carpet of maerl was found in the area of the sea. The site looks like aloughed field now.

Studies show that maerl beds are damaged by scallop dredges.

The European equivalent of a coral reef is called Maerl.

They only grow 1 millimetre a year and have a hard time recovering from dredge activities. He says the habitats are thousands of years old. It won't grow back if you damage it.

Open Seas wants the Scottish government to ban the practice of scallop dredge within itsMPAs.

More than a third of the UK's coastline is covered by a marine protected area.

The Scottish government said in response to the findings that it will introduce measures to manage fish in all of its marine protected areas by the year 2024.

Good environmental status for all of Scotland's seas is a priority for the Scottish Government. It's our responsibility to protect the marine environment.

Tougher fishing rules will improve the UK's marine biodiversity, according to campaigners. Trawling and dredges were banned in the area in 2008 and the area has seen a resurgence of marine life.