What’s the problem?
Scallops are large shellfish that mostly lay on the bottom of the seabed – though they can be quite mobile propelling themselves through the sea in a fascinating way by expelling jets of water. Many people like eating them and they are a luxury item in restaurants. Harvesting them is a lucrative business. Scallop dredging goes on around much of the coast of the UK – from Scotland, to the Isle of Man, to the West Country coast and Scillies, and in Cardigan Bay.
But, the methods used to harvest scallops are destructive. They involve pulling heavy metal frames through the seabed surface to dislodge scallops into the water and into attached nets behind. The number of boats operating has grown rapidly and so has their power and the number of dredges that are pulled. With large numbers of boats operating for many hours a day the damage to the seabed becomes potentially massive. The process of dredging destroys many other species in its wake and leaves a barren landscape. In Cardigan Bay, as in many other areas around the coast, the level of scallop dredging is unsustainable. If it carries on as it is, the Bay may be damaged irreparably, and so many other species – including fish and marine mammals –will be badly affected through harm to their environment. In the long term current levels of activity may also destroy potential for scallop fishing in the future.
healthy seabed with anemone healthy seabed with scallop
 
dredges dredge track
 
Photographs courtesy of Jason Hall-Spencer
What about regulation?
Different parts of Cardigan Bay are the responsibility of different authorities. Within six miles, fisheries committees are responsible – for most of the Bay, the North West and North Wales Sea Fisheries Committee, for a small area of the Pembrokeshire Coast, the South Wales Fisheries Committee. Beyond six miles, the responsibility lies directly with the government. Scallop fishing is generally allowed between November and the end of May – though for a small section of the coast the season runs currently only from January. It is restricted for some parts of the coast out to six miles, for others out to three, and for others out to one and a half miles. Much of the current Cardigan Bay Special Area of Conservation is not restricted. The main regulation in place effectively allows unrestricted licensing of boats – currently about 50 are. However, additional unlicensed boats operate within the Bay, swelling numbers, reports suggest, to as many as seventy. While there are official restrictions on size of scallop that can be taken, there are virtually no restrictions on the approach used – and destructive dredging methods are allowed.
A UK Marine Bill is likely to be enacted towards the end of the year. This may help regulation. Responsibility for the whole of Cardigan Bay will fall directly under the Welsh Assembly Government and there are likely to be greater requirements on the Government for taking responsibility for conservation as well as for commercial fishing.
What is happening elsewhere?
Scallop dredging has become a major environmental issue around the UK coast. With evidence of much damage to the seabed, in Lyme Bay, Dorset an agreement has been reached to stop dredging in an area of 60 square kilometres to allow recovery. In Lamlash Bay, near Arran in Scotland, a no-take zone has now been established. Many fisherman there have supported this knowing there future livelihood was being destroyed. Around the Scilly Isles, and the in the Special Area of Conservation off the Fal and Helford Estuaries in Cornwall, restrictions have now been imposed. But what is happening as a result? Boats are moving around the coast and increasing activity in Cardigan Bay - this is even acknowledged in local Fisheries Committee minutes. There is no coherent national plan.
What does SOS want?
SOS have a clear set of demands :
- An immediate stop to all scallop dredging within Special Areas of Conservation.in the Bay.
- A moratorium on scallop dredging throughout the Bay, pending full analysis of impacts and development of a coherent and sustainable management plan.
- The management plan to include :
- sustainable limits to the number of boats that can operate
- requirement that least harmful methods of harvesting are used
- ongoing data collection and monitoring of impacts
- monitoring of vessel location and activity (eg through tagging)
- fallow periods for recovery
- an integrated UK national plan that includes allowance for fallow periods
- adequate resources for enforcement
What is happening now?
SOS is actively campaigning to raise awareness of the damage being done by scallop dredging in the Bay. It is raising issues with local political representatives, with the Welsh and UK government, and with other bodies – such as fisheries committees. It is working actively to get press and media publicity. It is seeking to get support and backing from local people and visitors to the area. Our friends in other organisations (see below) are doing this too.
The Countryside Council for Wales, under pressure from environmental groups, asked the fisheries committee to suspend activity in Special Areas of Conservation. They declined to do. Along with other concerned organisations, particularly Friends of Cardigan Bay, the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society, and the Cardigan Bay Marine Wildlife Centre, a formal complaint has now been made to the European Commission. This complaint states that the Welsh Assembly Government is in breach of the Habitats Directive by failing to adequately assess the potential for harm to the conservation status of the Cardigan Bay SAC from scallop dredging.
The Commission is now progressing the matter with the Welsh Assembly Government. But there is no cause for complacency – apart from anything else scallop boats operate throughout the Bay – not only in the conservation areas, and do so without effective restriction.
What action can I take?
Let the Welsh Assembly Government and Countryside Council for Wales know what you feel.
Write to :
Ms Elin Jones,
Minister for Rural Affairs
Welsh Assembly Government
5th Floor
Ty Hywel
Cardiff Bay, CF99 1NA
Or email to Correspondence.Elin.Jones@wales.gsi.gov.uk
The Chief Executive
Countryside Council for Wales
Maes y Ffynnon
Penrhosgarnedd
Bangor
Gwynedd, LL57 2DW
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