Save our Seas environmental coalitions claims the Scottish Government is not doing enough to protect vulnerable sea beds

Scotland's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) will be undermined by government management plans that don't do enough to encourage the recovery of damaged sea beds.

Envrionmental campaigners are calling on Scots to back the Don't take the P out of MPAs campaign, which urges the Scottish Government to create a more robust management programme for MPAs.

A video explaining the issue is being shared on social media and the public are being urged to sign a petition.

Save Our Seas, run by the Scottish Envrionment Link coalition, claims current proposals, which are under consultation until 2 February, will not adequately protect marine habitats and species from damaging fishing activities, such as scallop dredging and bottom trawling.

It argues MPAs and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) should be managed to help protect and recover damaged seas. Every year, scientists are discovering new areas which retain some fragile habitats but which current plans would put at risk.

Calum Duncan, convenor of Scottish Environment LINK’s marine taskforce, said: "Amazingly, Scottish Government proposals could allow scallop dredging and bottom trawling to continue largely unchanged in many areas of Scotland’s inshore MPAs.

"We have two choices. We can either stick with the status-quo by zoning off just a few, small patches of our sea from damaging activities. Or we can follow ecological science – and common sense – and manage our MPAs for recovery by properly protecting our seabed and marine species. The Scottish Government needs a clear message that people in Scotland want to see real change in the health of our seas.

"This won’t happen unless coastal communities speak up and tell the Scottish Government: Don’t Take the P out of MPAs."