Brussels, 21/08/2003 (Agence Europe) - The WWF welcomes the ban imposed by the European Commission on trawling in the Scottish coral reef area called the Darwin Mounds. The Commission decided on Wednesday to immediately ban trawling in this zone for six months, pending the preparation of a proposal of regulation for a more permanent solution (see yesterday's EUROPE, p.4). The nature protection organisation is "delighted that the Darwin Mounds are finally receiving the protection they sorely deserve" and is pleased that the European Commission will shortly be tabling a proposal for a permanent ban on the use of bottom trawling gear in the area.
WWF specifies that the last study carried out in the area in 2000 "showed photographic evidence of smashed and fragmented corals and damage where linear channels have been cut into the reefs by fishing trawlers". Discovered in 1998, these cold water coral reefs are "unique", WWF states. Just 185 km off the Scottish coast, at one kilometre in depth, they cover nearly 100 square km.