Draft Fisheries Assessment – North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA: Fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Executive Summary

The scope of this fisheries assessment is the North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA located to the far north-east of Scotland. This marine protected area (MPA) covers a large part of the north-eastern reaches of the Faroe-Shetland Channel in Scottish waters and is one the largest designated Nature Conservation MPAs.

The protected features of the site are offshore deep-sea muds, offshore subtidal sands and gravels, deep-sea sponge aggregations, continental slope, quaternary of Scotland - prograding wedge, submarine mass movement - slide deposits, marine geomorphology of the Scottish deep ocean seabed - contourite sand/silt; and cenozoic structures of the Atlantic margin – mud diapirs. The conservation objective for the NCMPA is to restore or maintain the protected features 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 protected features were demersal trawls Pelagic fishing was not considered in the assessment as there is no interaction with the seabed and protected features. Based on the pressures associated with the demersal mobile activities and the sensitivity of the protected features, the pressures considered capable of affecting the site were abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed; penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion; removal of non-target species and smothering and siltation rate changes (light). All four of these pressures were taken through to Part B of the assessment.

In Part B, the assessment of fishing activities capable of affecting the protected features within the site determined that, at current fishing levels, there was the potential that achievement of the conservation objectives might be hindered where demersal trawling occurred. Scottish Ministers concluded that management measures were required to restrict demersal trawling within North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA.

In Part C, the in-combination assessment considered the residual potential impacts of remaining fishing activity alongside other relevant offshore region activities happening in and near the site. As there was no fishing taking place in the site that was assessed as not requiring management, no assessment took place. Therefore, Scottish Ministers concluded that there were no in-combination effects with other relevant activities that would hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives for North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA.

Considering the need for management measures for mobile demersal gear (including demersal trawls), as identified in the assessment, two management options were identified. This was done using further evidence and advice from the relevant Statutory Nature Conservation Body (SNCB) and the Joint Nature and conservation Committee (JNCC). This advice was developed using best available evidence and outlines the risk of an adverse effect from demersal mobile gears should they be used within the site. Two management options have been identified and are under consideration by the Scottish Ministers:

• Zoned management to reduce/limit pressures within the site, through a partial prohibition to demersal mobile and demersal static gears. This would involve the exclusion of demersal mobile gears from the majority of the site; and the exclusion of all demersal mobile and demersal static gears from the entirety of the site where deep-sea sponge aggregations are known to occur. Scottish ministers do not consider that this zonal management option would hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives for North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA, rather it would further the achievement of said objectives.
• Full site exclusion of demersal mobile gear and demersal static gear activity from the whole site. Scottish ministers consider that this management option would not hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives for North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA, rather it would further the achievement of them. Although no demersal static gear activity was found to occur within the site, due to the sensitivity of deep-sea sponge aggregations, measures were identified to restrict this activity as a preventative measure.

The decision as to which management option is to be taken forward will be made following 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.