To mark 15 years of expeditions to carry out scientific research on less known and deep waters, and gathering data on threatened habitats and species often protected under European laws, the NGO Oceana has  published a report presenting proposals for 15 Marine Protected Areas in biodiversity hot spots in European waters. It includes a site off Aberdeenshire in the area of the Southern Trench, one of several potential Nature Conservation MPAs subject to a consultation by Marine Scotland last year. Click here to read the report. At the same time Greenpeace report 11 supertrawlers (trawlers over 100m) fishing in the Wyville-Thomson Ridge Special Area of Conservation. Click here. The fleet is operating legally, according to the Scottish government, as its designation has not led to a ban on commercial fishing in the area.