Visiting marine biologist Leigh Howarth is currently (July -Aug 2010) conducting the first diver scallop survey in Lamlash Bay to monitor the health of the scallop population since the introduction of Scotland’s first No Take Zone (NTZ). This will hopefully provide an important baseline for future monitoring of the Lamlash Bay NTZ.

"Preparation for the scallop survey has been hands-on. My first working day began with learning how to operate the dive boats and planning our survey procedures. We have since then been out diving every day, weather permitting of course."

"My first dive on Arran took place within Lamlash Bay NTZ. It was beautiful. The water was clear and not very cold, around 12°C, and the sealife was abundant. Just a few sights include: velvet swimming crabs, hermit crabs, squat lobsters, soft corals, sea pens, sea squirts, jellyfish, hydroids, dog fish, and interestingly, many commercially important species such as scallops, queenies, edible crabs, pollack, juvenile cod and juvenile flat fish. Lamlash Bay is clearly an important area worthy of its protected status."

“Interestingly, a week after my first dive, a scallop dredger was witnessed fishing very close to the boundaries of the No Take Zone over the course of a few days.  Once it had left the area, myself and COAST Chair, Howard Wood.  decided to investigate the state of the seabed after the dredger had left the area. Within seconds of reaching the seabed, the destruction brought about by the dredger was unmistakable. The seabed had literally been raked, leaving behind nothing but smashed up shellfish and sand. The scallops that had not been caught were left dead and broken by the teeth of the scallop dredge. Whilst crabs and lobsters had been torn to pieces, and delicate organisms that normally attach to boulders, cobbles and pebbles such as hydroids and sea squirts, were now free floating and dying. I have read many times about the destruction scallop dredging can bring, though I had never seen it first-hand.

Picture: Scallops  recovered during the dive, left broken after the pass of the dredger.

"After much planning, the scallop survey within Lamlash Bay is well under way, facilitated by COAST members. I have been shown an island hospitality ever since I stepped foot on Arran and want to say thank you to everyone I have met so far who have helped in the making of this project and made my experience here a very enjoyable one. The finalised report will be available in October.”

Please click here to read about the 'science behind the survey' And if you have any questions or comments please email me: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .