Loch Carron flame shells recover after habitat damage

A 2017 survey found flame shell nests in Loch Carron broken and flattened with scallop dredge tracks; researchers returning four years later after a Marine Protected Area designation recorded signs of recovery and NatureScot said beds have since suggested expansion.

Flame shells in Loch Carron have shown signs of recovery after earlier habitat damage, according to a new report. A 2017 survey suggested nests of the bivalve molluscs had been broken up and flattened, and tracks consistent with scallop dredging were found in the area. Researchers from Heriot-Watt University returned four years later after a Marine Protected Area designation and recorded signs of recovery. NatureScot said further surveys suggested the flame shell beds have expanded. Key findings: - A 2017 survey suggested flame shell nests had been broken up and flattened and identified tracks consistent with scallop dredging. - Researchers returned four years later, after a Marine Protected Area designation, and recorded signs of nest recovery. - NatureScot reported that subsequent surveys suggested the flame shell beds have expanded. - Flame shells build nests from shells and stones that form dense beds, support other species and help stabilise the seabed; Loch Carron holds Scotland's largest known flame shell bed. Summary: The observations point to a positive response in seabed habitat following the Marine Protected Area designation and indicate recovery of a local flame shell community. Undetermined at this time.