Man fined for scallop diving in designated No Take Zone
A 40-year-old man from John o’ Groats has been fined £4,175 for diving for scallops in the No Take Zone in Lamlash.
The fine was issued after he pleaded guilty to the charge, which took place between November 29 and 30 last year, at Kilmarnock Sheriff Court last week.
Prosecutors said the man was the master of a vessel and that he repeatedly fished for scallops by diving in the area.
The Lamlash Bay No Take Zone was the first community-led marine reserve of its kind in Scotland when established in 2008. It covers 2.67 sq km and was the result of 13 years of campaigning by Community of Arran Seabed Trust (COAST).
The area is home to one of the largest locations of maerl beds in Scotland and no fish or shellfish can be taken from its waters or seabed by any method.
The Lamlash Bay No Take Zone now forms part of the wider South Arran Marine Protected Area (MPA) which was designated in 2014 and legally enforced in 2016. It covers an area of approximately 280 sq km.
Various levels of protection and fisheries management measures are in place in the South Arran MPA which was established to protect vulnerable habitats including maerl beds and seagrass, which support a diversity of sea life.
Marine Scotland Compliance is responsible for enforcing this legislation and the penalty for not complying with MPA regulations is a fine of up to £50,000 and a possible jail sentence.
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