A leading marine conservation charity has accused the Scottish Government of overseeing a “national scandal” by continuing to allow damaging fishing practices within marine protected areas (MPAs), in breach of international environmental agreements.
Open Seas, which campaigns for sustainable fishing and ocean preservation, made the claims as it published its latest Ocean Witness report – a detailed study examining the health of Scotland’s seabeds. Conducted in collaboration with Greenpeace UK, the report is based on over 300 seabed surveys carried out over a five-month period and released ahead of the upcoming UN Ocean Conference in Nice this June.
The findings paint a troubling picture. The report states that key marine habitats such as maerl beds and seagrass meadows – vital ecosystems that support biodiversity and absorb carbon – are still being harmed by industrial fishing activities including bottom trawling and scallop dredging, even within areas supposedly designated for protection.
“These so-called ‘protected’ areas are merely lines on a map with little real-world impact on marine conservation,” the report concluded.
Open Seas accused the Scottish Government of failing to follow through on both its domestic environmental commitments and international obligations under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity. In particular, the charity highlighted the continuing lack of effective management within several MPAs, which it said rendered the protections “meaningless”.
One stark example cited is the Papa Westray MPA in Orkney. Despite being officially recognised as a protected site, Open Seas found that there are still no restrictions on bottom trawling or dredging in or near the area. The report also identified serious degradation in other MPAs including Loch Creran in Argyll and Bute and the Sound of Jura, raising alarm about the overall effectiveness of Scotland’s marine conservation framework.
Open Seas, which previously won a legal case against the Scottish Government in 2023 over marine protections, said that despite repeated promises, ministers have “broken their own pledges to safeguard the most sensitive and important parts of our marine environment”.
Phil Taylor, Director of Open Seas, said:
“Scotland’s marine protections are failing by design. Despite public statements and legal commitments, the Scottish Government is allowing destructive fishing inside supposedly protected areas. These failures are not only national scandals – they breach Scotland’s international obligations to halt biodiversity loss and restore the health of our seas.”
He added: “We’ve had endless pledges to deliver for our seas and coastal communities – but those promises have been broken just as regularly. This is not a matter of oversight. These are deliberate policy choices that endanger our environment, weaken Scotland’s credibility, and risk long-term damage to marine life and livelihoods.”
Greenpeace UK also condemned the ongoing harm to marine ecosystems. Will McCallum, co-executive director of the organisation, said:
“Allowing destructive industrial fishing practices like bottom trawling in marine protected areas is causing lasting damage to fragile marine ecosystems. It’s not just bad for nature, it’s bad for everyone who relies on healthy seas.”
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However, McCallum added that the research also offers a glimmer of hope. “Where areas are meaningfully protected, marine life can recover and flourish. That should give us optimism and a reason to act more urgently.”
Responding to the criticism, a Scottish Government spokesperson said:
“Management measures for the most vulnerable sites in the MPA network were implemented in 2016. Implementing the remaining fisheries management measures for MPAs and further protections for 11 Priority Marine Features remains a top priority.”
The Government confirmed that new offshore fisheries management measures are scheduled for 2025, with inshore site protections to follow, pending statutory assessments and public consultation.
But for campaigners and coastal communities alike, many believe that unless urgent action is taken now, Scotland risks falling behind on its environmental ambitions – while its once-thriving seabeds continue to deteriorate.
