SCOTTISH ministers must protect ecosystems and ban “destructive” trawling and dredging from the country’s marine protected areas (MPAs), campaigners have demanded.

The call comes as the Scottish government prepares to consult on expanding the protections it afforded to 20 offshore MPAs to their inshore counterparts where dredgers are still allowed to operate.

National co-ordinator for the Scottish Creel Fishermen’s Federation Bally Philp said: “You cannot count any seabed as protected if it still can be dredged and trawled.

“These fishing methods have their place, and can continue in areas where there are no sensitive species or lower impact alternative.

“But the ongoing destruction of the precious ecosystems and fish nursery habitats within our inshore and marine protected areas has to end.

“Scottish ministers have an obligation to bring our seas up to good environmental status, and right now we all know this is not happening.”

Joining the call, Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust’s Charles Millar warned that “the fact that they’re still being dredged and trawled has undermined both our creelers and our marine ecosystems,” continuing: “The right place for dredging and bottom trawling is outside marine protected areas.”

Blue Marine Foundation’s Joe Richards said: “Scotland’s inshore waters have suffered from destructive bottom trawling for far too long.

“The Scottish government must act now to restrict bottom-towed gear from our inshore MPAs and allow our seas to recover and thrive once again.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “We aim to launch the public consultation on the measures for these sites by the end of November.

“We will continue, as we have done from the very start of this process, to reach out and engage with all stakeholders and to support our coastal communities.”