The report was funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation but carried out by Professor Philip Leather of London's South Bank University and Professor Moira Munro of Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.

BBC: Cowboy fears stop essential maintenance

But according to Dr Paul Kingston, from the Centre for Marine Diversity and Biotechnology at Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, the problems are minimal.

BBC: Oil spills: What is the long-term damage?

Marine biologists at Edinburgh's Heriot-Watt University report the cable could cross deep water mud habitats.

BBC: Western Isles sub-sea cable 'could affect' mud life