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Final West Coast scallop catching ban removed

The Press & Journal, Friday March 30th 2001

By Arthur Macdonald

Eight months of scallop fishing bans on the west of Scotland came to an end yesterday.

The Food Standards Agency announced that the final area of water closed to scallop fishing had reopened. The bans were put in place to protect consumers from harmful shellfish toxins. These have now fallen to a level that is no longer regarded as a risk.

George Paterson, director of The Food Standards Agency Scotland, said: "The closures along the West Coast over the past eight months have been vital to the protection of public health.

However, we are aware of the impact they have had on the scallop fishing industry and I am therefore pleased that we are able to lift the final ban.

He added "While the protection of public health will continue to be our primary goal, we are examining possible changes to the regulatory system for controlling shellfish toxins so that measures taken are proportionate to the food safety risk."