Draft Fisheries Assessment – Firth of Forth Banks Complex NCMPA: Fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Executive Summary

The scope of this fisheries assessment is the Firth of Forth Banks Complex Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (NCMPA), located to the east of Scotland, adjacent to the offshore limit of UK waters.

The protected features of the site are ocean quahog aggregations, offshore subtidal sands and gravels, shelf banks and mounds, and moraines representative of the Wee Bankie Key Geodiversity Area. The ocean quahog aggregations and Offshore subtidal sands and gravels features are considered to be in unfavourable condition. The shelf banks and mounds and moraines representative of the Wee Bankie Key Geodiversity Area are both considered to be in favourable condition.

The conservation objectives for the NCMPA are that the protected features:

• so far as already in favourable condition, remain in such condition; and
• so far as not already in favourable condition, be brought into such condition, and remain in such 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 protected features were grouped into the aggregated gear types of demersal trawls, dredge, demersal seines and traps and creels. Based on the pressures associated with these fishing activities and the sensitivity of the protected features, the following pressures were identified as potentially being capable of impacting the protected features of the site; abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed; changes in suspended solids (water clarity), penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion; smothering and siltation (light) and removal of non-target species. These pressures were taken through to Part B of the assessment.

In Part B, the assessment of fishing activities capable of impacting the protected features within the site determined that, at current fishing levels, demersal seines and traps and creels would not hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives for Firth of Forth Banks Complex NCMPA. However, the achievement of the conservation objectives might be hindered where demersal trawling and dredge fishing activities occurred. Scottish Ministers concluded that management measures were required to restrict demersal trawling and dredging within Firth of Forth Banks Complex NCMPA.

In Part C, the in-combination assessment considered the residual potential impacts of all fishing activity occurring within the site alongside other relevant offshore region activities happening in and near the site. An offshore wind farm partially overlapped with the site and three decommissioned well heads occurred within the site; however these were not deemed to have the potential for in-combination effects. Therefore, Scottish Ministers concluded that the remaining fishing activities in-combination with other relevant activities would not hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives for Firth of Forth Banks Complex NCMPA.

Considering Scottish Minsters conclusion for the need for management measures for mobile demersal gear, two management options have been identified and are under consideration by Scottish Ministers:

• Zoned management would reduce/limit pressures within the site. Under this option 58% of the site would be closed to all demersal mobile gear (including demersal trawls and dredge) other than demersal seines. Scottish Ministers do not consider that the introduction of zonal measures would hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives for the Ocean Quahog and Offshore subtidal sands and gravel features within Firth of Forth Banks Complex NCMPA; rather it would further the achievement of said objectives.
• Full site exclusion of demersal mobile gear (including demersal trawl and dredge) other than demersal seines across the whole site. Scottish Ministers consider that this management option would not hinder the conservation objectives for the Ocean Quahog and Offshore subtidal sands and gravel features within Firth of Forth Banks Complex NCMPA; rather it would further the achievement of them.

The decision as to which management option is to 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