Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the level of destruction and damage caused by scallop dredging; and if he will review that practice in order to limit its potentially detrimental effects..

A number of studies have been carried out over the years by a variety of research bodies and individuals, which have looked specifically at the impacts of dredging on the marine environment.

For example, in 2015 the Government funded a three-phase project which is considering the impacts of towed fishing gears on mobile sediments against the background of natural variability. The report of the first phase of this project is available here (Natural variability phase 1 report).

There are a number of management measures in place, both nationally and locally, which are aimed at reducing the impact of dredging on the marine environment. Measures are reviewed regularly to ensure they remain effective and enforceable. This will continue as we work to ensure our future fisheries management is robust and effective in protecting the sustainability of our fisheries and the marine environment.