Draft Fisheries Assessment – The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount NCMPA: Fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

6. Management options conclusions

Scottish Ministers consider that adopting no additional management for demersal trawls and longlines would, or might, hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount NCMPA. Scottish Ministers considers that both the zoned management measures and the full site exclusion option for demersal trawls and longlines outlined above would further the conservation objectives of the site. At current activity levels, fishing using pelagic gear is not considered to pose a risk to hindering the achievement of the conservation objectives for The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount NCMPA, and no additional management is currently required for this activity.

The decision on which management option is to be taken forward will be taken in the light of all relevant duties incumbent upon the Scottish Ministers in relation to the exercise of their functions and following upon a statutory public consultation exercise in which views on the options under consideration are invited.