ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners have welcomed a move from ministers to protect fragile areas of the seabed against damaging fishing practices.

The Scottish Government has announced that it is putting in place ambitious management measures for Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), unveiling new conservation order proposals for Loch Sunart to Sound of Jura, Small Isles, South Arran, and Wester Ross.

They include plans to exclude scallop dredging from the entire Wester Ross MPA, and follow evidence gleaned from an underwater camera that recorded video proof of the locally known but unrecorded maerl beds, the coral-like seaweed that provides nursery areas for young cod, scallops and crabs.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust, which organised the surveys with Fauna and Flora International and Scottish Natural Heritage, backed the proposals which Cabinet Secretary for the environment Richard Lochhead has insisted with offer long term benefits to the fishing industry.

The Scottish Wildlife Trust living seas manager, Alex Kinninmonth, said: "The Trust is pleased to see that the Scottish Government has considered the clear evidence and listened to public opinion. As our survey showed, even within protected areas the true extent and condition of important seabed habitats is still coming to light.

"Site wide closure to bottom-dredging is a proportionate response to that uncertainty, is simple to comply with, will allow habitats to recover from historic pressures, and most importantly has public backing."

Mr Lochhead said: "Scotland's seas hold a huge range of species and habitats which are important in UK, European, and global terms. They also provide a significant fish and shellfish resource, which are important to the rural economy of Scotland. All of these commercial and non-commercial species are dependent on a healthy, clean and diverse environment. Taking action to maintain or improve the marine ecosystem will deliver long-term benefits to society, including the fishing industry.

"We have already designated those marine features we need to protect such as maerl beds and fan mussel aggregations and now we are proposing management regimes, including limits on certain fishing activities, within each MPA. The impact in the vast majority of cases will mean modest changes to fishing patterns with very limited economic impact given the ability of vessels to fish elsewhere."