Conservationists have condemned the Scottish Government’s authorisation of a controlled trial of controversial electro-fishing for razor clams, which has been outlawed by Europe for nearly 20 years.

Razor clams, or 'spoots', are a gastronomic delicacy, which can attract high prices in Europe and the Far East.

Electro-fishing involves electrode probes being slowly dragged across the sea bed, from a fishing vessel. The electric pulse causes the clams to suddenly emerge from their burrows and they are then collected by divers.

Many in the industry see it as the easiest, safest and sustainable method of harvesting the clams, particularly when compared to the alternative of dredging.

But there have been frequent reports of boats ignoring the ban, and it has been particularly difficult to police as electro-fishing is often done at night. A variation to fishing licences was brought in prohibiting the carrying of cables or a generator on a boat fishing for razor clams. This didn’t work either. Then special licences were introduced.

But three years ago a Scottish Government study found the use of electric current in fishing for razor clams did not cause the environmental damage widely feared.

Since then the Scottish Razor Clam Fisherman’s Forum has been calling on the the Scottish Government to use the document to seek a derogation from the European Commission on electro-fishing, similar to that enjoyed by 80 Dutch beam trawlers.

A consultation between industry, environmental organisations and local communities has now concluded, and a trial has been announced by Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing, at a site yet to be decided. Mr Ewing said: “Scotland has a rich and diverse natural environment with a coastline that is world renowned – not only for its unique habitats but also for high quality seafood.

“Responses to our consultation and previous research suggests that, where properly applied, electro-fishing can be a sustainable and safe method of harvesting razor clams in a way that is less intrusive than traditional methods like dredging.

“We will now undertake scientific trials in specified areas to ensure we fully understand the potential of the industry, and how we best access the economic possibilities in this area.”

Permissions to undertake electro-fishing would require the Scottish Government to inform, but not seek permission, from the European Commission.

But Nick Underdown, Campaigns Manager for Open Seas organisation, which works to improve sustainability of fisheries, said

“Illegal electro-fishing has been going on for the past decade. Many people, fishermen included, rightly expressed serious concerns about making it legal. Fergus Ewing and Marine Scotland have effectively given up on enforcement, choosing instead to create legal routes to market which would enable illegal electro-fishing fishing to continue damaging the seabed.

“It’s revealing that Marine Scotland concludes electro-fishing to be less damaging than scallop dredging, a practice it permits, with only a few exceptions, throughout our seas and even inside some Marine Protected Areas. This is a poor start to our Scottish Government’s control of the Crown Estate and our seabed."

But Alex Kinnimouth, RSPB Scotland’s head of marine policy, said the present illegal, unregulated and unreported razor clam fishery was clearly unacceptable. The authorities seemed to have lost the battle to stamp it out. So there was a real risk that this highly efficient fishing method could cause 'spoots' to be wiped out in areas that were being repeatedly targeted.

He told the BBC "Alternative capture methods such as dredging are highly disruptive to the seabed. So on the basis of the most recent published research, a closely regulated fishery using electricity, perhaps on a pilot basis, with tight controls on method, quantity of catch, and where it can occur could be seen as the least worst option."