Page "Darwin Mounds" Paragraph 6

After the discovery of the mounds, three well documented surveys of the area were undertaken, one in June 1998 ( Bett 1999 ), August 1999 ( Bett & Jacobs 2000 ,) and twice during summer 2000 ( B. Bett, pers.

comm .).

Instruments deployed during the studies have included side-scan sonar, stills and video cameras and piston corers.

However, we will never know the entirety of what was lost during the period of time when the heavy netted fishing trawlers were operating above the mounds.

On 22 March 2004 EU Fisheries Ministers in Brussels finally agreed to give permanent protection to Scotland's unique cold-water coral reefs, recognising the Darwin Mounds as an important habitat.

As of 2004 deep-water bottom trawling in the area has been made illegal.