Flame shell champion honoured by Ullapool pupils
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LOCAL marine conservationists have recognised a Highland MSP for her support of Scottish flame shell beds.
Maree Todd, the SNP MSP for Highlands and Islands, became a Species Champion through the award-winning Scottish Environment LINK Species Champions programme. It involves MSPs championing different wildlife species that need extra help to ensure their long term future.
The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) nominated flame shells and Ms Todd took up their cause.
Aptly named for their bright orange tentacles which emerge from their shells to collect food, flame shells also produce sticky threads which combine small stones and shell debris to create a nest.
When many of these nests form together, a flame shell bed is created, able to house hundreds of other organisms in a reef-like structure, suitable as nursery grounds for many species of fish and shellfish.
Whole beds may be demolished by mechanical disturbance from scallop dredgers and bottom trawlers, killing many of the organisms and young fish which make their home there.
Ms Todd was presented with a framed certificate to acknowledge her support of flame shells by pupils from Ulapool Primary School and members of the Ullapool Wildlife Watch Group.
After being presented with the certificate at her old primary school, Ms Todd said: "It’s an absolute pleasure for me to come back to Ullapool Primary School, the school I went to as a child. "Because I grew up in a fishing village, I was very aware of the importance of the sea to our community and the need for good stewardship. "Herring fishing built the village, but overfishing meant that there was very little left by 1977 when I started school.
"There’s a flame shell bed at the narrows of Loch Broom so I’m pleased that the children in Ullapool have been learning about the flame shell, and how important it is to commercial fish stocks and indeed the whole ecosystem in our Loch."
Jenny Grant, Highland Council Wester Ross ranger, said: "Flame shells are a rare species found in the waters around the west coast and I’m keen to teach the children living locally about these wonderful animals and the beauty and importance of the underwater world as a whole."
Calum Duncan, MCS head of conservation in Scotland, said: "We are delighted that the local community and Maree Todd recognise the importance of these humble but striking marine ecosystem engineers.
"After many years of hard work, protection for many flame shell beds has been ensured in several of Scotland’s nature conservation Marine Protected Areas designated in 2014, including the Wester Ross MPA."
