Report to Scottish Environment Link Oct 2009

Recovering Scotland’s Marine Environment is an independent report by Dr David Hughes and Dr Thom Nickell from the Scottish Association for Marine Science. Focusing on features for which there is good evidence of decline, the report makes a strong case that Scotland’s marine environment is in a far from pristine state and is in real need of recovery.

Many habitats and species have been seriously depleted over a long period as a result of human activities, fragile habitats are particularly vulnerable to some mobile fishing gear, while the discharge of organic waste and water-borne chemical contaminants can also lead to the depletion of certain species.

Unsustainable fishing practices have led to the decline of some fish stocks. There is no doubt that a healthy marine environment is an ecologically and economically productive one. Therefore the case studies presented in the report, including the destruction of seabed habitats like oyster and maerl beds, that once supported entire ecosystems and provided nursery grounds for scallops and fish, have ultimately damaged the engine house of our marine economy including fisheries.

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