SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT PROBES ALLEGED ILLEGAL DREDGING IN PROTECTED WATERS

The footage shows the Dawn Maid, and one other boat, hauling up its gear after being challenged in Loch Alsh between the Scottish mainland and Skye.

Environmental group Open Seas says it shows that monitoring of protected waters isn’t working.

The boat’s owner says the skippers chose the area after advice from the local fishery officer and left when they realised their mistake.

Dredging is regarded by conservationists as one of the most damaging fishing methods.

It involves dragging heavy gear along the seabed to scoop up scallops which bury themselves in the mud.

It can destroy everything in the boat’s wake and previous incidents have shown significant damage to the marine ecosystem.

The activity was spotted on Sunday morning by a creel fisherman who said the scallop dredging had been happening for many hours.

He approached the boats on a rib to inform the skippers that the area was closed to mobile fishing and had been for the past ten years.

One skipper told him he believed fishing was allowed until 1 October.

After a short time, both boats hauled up their dredging equipment and left the area.