Ask your MSP to protect Scotland's seas from damaging discarding
Unfortunately, in Scotland some of our biggest fisheries have evolved with bycatch and discards built into their business model.
Every year, thousands of tonnes of fish are estimated to be caught in trawl nets and then thrown back into the sea dead. Trawl nets and dredges also rake the seafloor, destroying underwater habitats. This practice was once banned within three miles of our shores, but it is now legal across 95% of our coastal seas. New Scottish Government plans will not tackle these problems. Current proposals risk unravelling European environmental standards and will allow trawling and dredging to continue business-as-usual to damage our coastal marine environment and undermine other more sustainable methods of fishing.
Please take a minute to send an email to your MSP to voice your concern.