Scottish ministers are being urged to implement targeted measures to protect carbon stores found within the country’s sea lochs. Environmental campaigners emphasized the importance of safeguarding these underwater ecosystems, which serve as significant carbon sinks by trapping carbon that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere.

Advocates from the Sustainable Inshore Fisheries Trust highlighted recent wildfires affecting peatlands as a parallel demonstration of the vulnerability of natural carbon reservoirs. They stressed that similar attention is necessary for marine environments, where certain activities threaten to disrupt stored carbon.

Research cited by the Trust indicates that seabed trawling—a common fishing method involving dragging heavy nets along the ocean floor—can cause rapid and significant carbon losses after a single disturbance. These findings have led campaigners to call for bans on seabed trawling in specific areas within sea lochs to minimize disturbance and preserve their carbon storage capacity.

Sea lochs, fjord-like inlets found along Scotland’s coastline, contain sediment layers rich in organic carbon. When disturbed, these sediments can release stored carbon dioxide and methane, greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.

The calls for protection come amid growing recognition of the role coastal and marine ecosystems play in mitigating climate impacts. While peatlands on land have received substantial conservation focus, campaigners argue that underwater ecosystems warrant similarly coherent policy responses.

Scottish government officials have yet to announce specific plans addressing the issue but face increasing pressure from environmental groups to take prompt action. Implementing protective regulations in sea lochs may form part of broader commitments to combat climate change and promote sustainable fisheries management.