Draft Fisheries Assessment – Anton Dohrn Seamount SAC: Fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Executive Summary

The scope of this fisheries assessment is the Anton Dohrn Seamount Special Area of Conservation (SAC), located approximately 230 km west of the Outer Hebrides, in the offshore region (12-200 nautical miles, nm).

The site is designated for Annex I Reef; stony, bedrock and biogenic reef. The conservation objectives for the site are for the feature to be in favourable condition thus ensuring site integrity in the long term and contribution to favourable conservation Status of Annex I Reefs. JNCC’s conservation advice (2018) states the site’s qualifying feature is in ‘unfavourable condition’ and therefore needs to be restored to favourable condition.

In Part A, fishing activities currently occurring within the site (data from 2015 – 2019) were screened and grouped into aggregated gear types. Throughout this draft fisheries assessment the data from 2015-2019 is referred to as the current levels of activity. The gear types considered relevant to the Annex I reef feature was demersal trawls. Based on the pressures associated with these fishing activities and the sensitivity of the reef feature showed potential for likely significant effect for abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the seabed, penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed (including abrasion), smothering and siltation rate changes, removal of target species, and removal of non-target species. These pressures were found to be exerted by demersal trawl and were taken through to Part B of the assessment.

In Part B, the assessment of fishing activity with the potential for likely significant effects within the site determined that, at current fishing levels, demersal trawl was not considered compatible with the conservation objectives of the site and an adverse effect on site integrity for Anton Dohrn Seamount SAC could not be ruled out. Scottish Ministers concluded that management measures were required to restrict demersal trawl fishing within Anton Dohrn Seamount SAC.

In Part C, the in-combination assessment considered the effects of fishing activities considered as compatible with the conservation objectives of Anton Dohrn Seamount SAC identified in Part A in combination with other offshore region activities happening in and near the site. As no other activity was identified within, or near the site, there was no further fishing activity to take further for assessment in-combination with other plans or projects. Subsequently, there were no likely significant effects identified within the in-combination assessment. Considering the absence of likely significant effects, the assessment did not identify any in-combination activities that could adversely affect the site integrity of Anton Dohrn Seamount SAC. Therefore, Scottish Ministers concluded that demersal trawl, in-combination with other known activities, are compatible with the conservation objectives of the site and will not result in an adverse effect on site integrity of Anton Dohrn Seamount SAC.

Considering the need for management measures for demersal trawl activity, as identified in the assessment, proposed measures were developed using further evidence and advice from the relevant Statutory Nature Conservation Body (SNCB), Joint Nature and Conservation Committee (JNCC). This advice which was developed using best available evidence outlined the risk of an adverse effect from all demersal mobile gears and demersal static gears should they occur within the site. One option was identified and is under consideration by Scottish Ministers which is a full site exclusion of mobile demersal and static demersal gear. This option would be considered sufficient by Scottish Ministers to prevent an adverse effect on site integrity. The option of zoned management is not considered sufficient for consideration by Scottish Ministers.

The decision as to the management being be taken forward will be made following a statutory public consultation exercise and will be taken in the light of all relevant obligations incumbent upon the Scottish Ministers in relation to the exercise of their functions