Could strange finds on Reiss beach be casualties of dredging?
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Today is World Oceans Day and we look at how scallop dredging could be affecting the seabed off the Caithness coast in light of recent finds at Reiss beach.
Bottom feeders such as a giant skate and starfish, broken shells, squid eggs and buoy floats have washed ashore over the space of a short time and could all be casualties of invasive scallop dredging that tears up the seabed around our coasts.
Nick Underdown has 10 years experience in advocacy and campaigning for sustainable management of marine resources in Scotland and works as an executive staff member of the Open Seas charity.
Nick said: "The vast majority of marine life impacted by scallop dredging is left damaged or dead on the seabed – some of which inevitably washes up on our beaches. Scallop dredging damages marine organisms living on the seabed, as well as biogenic habitats, species like horse mussels and oysters that can form reefs that carpet the seabed."
Nick adds that studies have found that "over 75 per cent of large benthic invertebrates" impacted by dredging, like flapper skate, remain damaged on the seabed, rather than being hauled onto deck in the dredges.
When shown some of the pictures from Reiss beach he said it was possible that dredgers may be adversely impacting the seabed around the Caithness coast. Scallop dredging has been happening around the far north but the area around Sinclair's Bay is protected and strictly off limits to the boats.
Nick said: "Storm events can also cause disruption to the seabed, but cleanly cracked shells of large bivalves can be evidence of recent dredging. If dead marine life is being washed onto the beach, it’s possible this is connected to scallop dredging. The tell-tale signs of dredge scars on the seabed are generally visible only to scuba divers or underwater ROVs or sometimes satellite imagery, so these remain the best ways to investigate dredge damage."
According to Open Seas, dredging generally leads to a flattened, less varied habitat on the seabed – the diversity of it being important for a healthy marine ecosystem.
"Unfortunately illegal dredging is known to occur in Scotland and this unfairly undermines other more sustainable local fisheries. Open Seas is calling for urgent regulation of scallop dredging to limit its damaging footprint in our coastal waters."
Open Seas has published a blog highlighting sustainability issues present in Scottish coastal waters which can be found at www.openseas.org.uk/news/a-seaspiracy-in-scotland-fishing-for-the-truth/
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