Falmouth scallopers accused of endangering rare seaweed

Conservationists in the west country have gone head-to-head withC ornish fishermen over the future o...

Conservationists in the west country have gone head-to-head withC ornish fishermen over the future of what has been described as "the south-west's equivalent of the coral reefs".

Scallop fishermen have long dredged the River Fal for their catch, but therare coral-like seaweed known as maerl is also found in the river's estuary.

Now English Nature claims that the fishing vessels are damaging the maerl and endangering a rare ecosystem.

Fishermen from Falmouth and St Mawes deny their boats are causing