New water quality protection areas have been announced today, in a bid to guarantee sustainable fishing grounds and quality shellfish stock for fishermen.

Four new sites have been designated, with three existing areas being extended to offer protection over a greater area. Five of the areas are in Shetland, with one in Highland waters and the other a Loch Fyne coastal strip.

The move follows an assessment of possible protection areas, which was subject to a public consultation at the beginning of this year.

"The shellfish industry in Scotland is an excellent example of sustainable development, providing employment in some of Scotland's most remote areas. Worth around £5 million every year, it is also a significant asset to rural economies," said Michael Russell, Environment Minister.

"Scotland's water quality gives our shellfish growers a competitive edge when selling mussels, oysters and scallops worldwide.

"The designation of these seven new sites will not only offer protection to shellfish growing in these waters, but also to other flora and fauna, which depend on a clean and healthy water environment.

"I believe these new designations will assist the industry in growing sustainably but also be a positive move for the wider marine environment," he added.

The designations fall under the Surface Water (Shellfish) (Classification) (Scotland) Regulations, which implemented the EU Shellfish Waters Directive in Scotland.

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