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- Campaign for change in the management of the sea.
- Demand sustainable fisheries management.
- Create legal protection for marine life in specific areas.
Scallop and Prawn Fisheries
Of particular concern to COAST is the detrimental impact of Scallop dredging and Prawn trawling to the seabed. Unlike water column fisheries these fishing techniques entail the raking of the seabed to dislodge and collect scallops and prawns. This is a destructive process that damages the complex marine habitats which are essential nursery grounds for juvenile fish. In contrast traditional methods using lobster and prawn pots (creels) have far less impact on the seabed. Modern methods of collecting scallops by hand diving are also far less destructive, though, of course, all methods of fishing do require controls and management measures to ensure long term stocks.
Principles for the Management of Inshore Scallop Fisheries around the UK |  | 
Bryce D. Beukers-Stewart & Joanne S. Beukers-Stewart, Environment Department, University of York Executive Summary: Fisheries for scallops, particularly the great scallop Pecten maximus and to a lesser extent the queen scallop, Aequipecten opercularis, are of considerable economic importance to the United Kingdom (UK) fishing industry. Landings of great scallops have been growing steadily since the 1970s and now consistently place this fishery in the top five most valuable species in the UK. Queen scallop catches have been much more variable over the same time period. Great scallops are predominately taken using Newhaven scallop dredges while queen scallops are mostly captured with otter trawls.
A very small percentage (< 5 %) of the great scallop catch is taken by hand by SCUBA divers.
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