Significant loss of marine life on renowned conservation site
The National Marine Aquarium has confirmed that the Scylla Reef
- an artificial reef close to Whitsand Bay, Cornwall - has
suffered significant damage and loss of marine life. What could
be an illegal fishing net was found caught on the reef by a team
of professional divers yesterday (12 January), who began the
process of removing the net and helping to free a number of
marine animals which remained tangled. However, marine experts’
worst fears were confirmed when various species, including
numerous crabs and fish were found trapped in the net, alongside
a cormorant which had perished after becoming stuck. It is
thought that the 100m fishing net may have been illegally set
close to the reef by unlicensed fishermen, before drifting onto
the renowned conservation site, destroying a large section of
the reef. Home to more than 250 species of marine life - many of
which have not been found on other dive sights around the UK -
the reef had recently been