Draft Fisheries Assessment – North West Rockall Bank SAC: Fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

These assessments look at the fishing activity occurring within each offshore MPA and SAC and assess the potential impacts of this activity on the protected features within each site. This assessment is for North West Rockall Bank SAC.


2. Part A assessment – Fisheries screening

2.1 Fisheries screening overview

Part A of this assessment meets the ‘likely significant effect (LSE)’ test under Article 6(3) of Council Directive 92/43/EEC of 21 May 1992 on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (the Habitats Directive); for sites within the offshore region under Regulation 28 of the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017. The test for likely significant effect under Regulation 28(2)(b) of the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 is not required for activities which are directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site. Fishing activities are not considered to be directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site unless otherwise indicated.

In line with the guidance within EU Commission guidance on the Assessment of plans and projects significantly affecting Natura 2000 sites; a methodological guidance on the provisions of Article 6 (3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC, this assessment considers an LSE as any effect that may reasonably be predicted as a consequence of a plan or project that would negatively and significantly affect the conservation objectives established for the protected habitats and species of the protected area. If any likely significant effect of a plan or project cannot be excluded beyond reasonable doubt, then a full appropriate assessment should be undertaken.

In Part A of this assessment the pressure-feature interactions were assessed to determine the potential for LSE and risk to the conservation objectives. This section looks at the pressures exerted by the fishing activity occurring in the site (within the assessment period) in relation to the sensitivities of the protected features. The potential for an LSE was identified where there was both a medium-high risk of a pressure arising from the fishing activity and if any of the features were considered sensitive to that pressure. These pressure-features interactions were then taken forward to the appropriate assessment stage (Part B) to determine whether the plan or project would have an adverse impact on site integrity.

For each activity assessed in Part A, there were two possible outcomes for each identified pressure-feature interaction:

  • The pressure-feature interactions were not included for Part B:
    • If the feature is not exposed to the pressure, and is not likely to be in the future; or
    • If the effect/impact of the pressure is not likely to be significant.
  • The pressure-feature interactions were included for assessment in Part B:
    • If the feature is exposed to the pressure, or is it likely to be in the future; and
    • If the potential scale or magnitude of any effect is likely to be significant; or
    • If it is not possible to determine whether the magnitude of any effect is likely to be significant.

Part B of the assessment aligns with the requirements for an Appropriate Assessment under the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended) and considers the potential impact to site integrity by assessing the impact of fishing gears identified in Part A. This involves determining the potential level of interaction between the feature and the fishing activity, assessing the potential impact on the feature, and subsequently if fishing activities are liable to affect the conservation objectives of the site and thus the integrity of the site.

This involves determining the level of interaction between the feature and the fishing activity, assessing the potential impact on the feature, and subsequently if fishing activities are liable to affect the conservation objectives of the site and thus the integrity of the site.

Consideration of exposure to and the effect of a pressure on a protected feature of the SAC includes the consideration of exposure to and the effect of that pressure on any ecological or geomorphological process on which the conservation of the protected feature is wholly or in part dependant.

The JNCC conservation advice package for North West Rockall Bank SAC has been used to inform this assessment. This is the most recent package available.

Where appropriate, this advice has been supplemented by information on the pressures associated with fishing activity from the JNCC Marine Pressures-Activities Database (PAD) v1.5 2022.

2.2 Activities taking place within North West Rockall Bank SAC

To screen out fishing activities that were not taking place within the site or likely to take place in the future, vessel monitoring system (VMS) data within North West Rockall Bank SAC from 2015 – 2019 were analysed to identify the gear types being used in the site and the aggregated gear method (Table 1). The gear types identified from 2015 – 2019 VMS data align with those included in the North West Rockall Bank SAC Conservation Advice package from the JNCC Site Information Centre. The fishing gears screened out at this stage were not taken forward to Part B of the assessment.

Table 1. Gear types recorded from the site based on VMS data from 2015 – 2019.
Gear type Specific gear type Gear code Aggregated gear method
Towed Bottom otter trawl OTB Demersal trawls
Bottom trawls (not specified) TB
Multi-rig trawls OTT
Pair trawl PTB
Anchor seine SDN Demersal seines
Static- fixed nets Set gillnets GNS Anchored nets/lines

2.3 Potential pressures exerted by site fishing activity on protected features

The potential pressures that could be exerted by fishing activities considered capable of affecting the Annex I reef feature (demersal trawls, demersal seines and set gillnets) were determined using information on activity-pressure relationships in the JNCC Marine Pressures-Activities Database (PAD) v1.5 2022. The potential pressures that could be exerted by demersal trawls, demersal seines, boat dredges, and static traps are summarised in Table 2.

Within the PAD, the above water noise and collision above water pressures both had low risk profiles for all fishing activity types, however these were not considered capable of affecting the reef feature and were excluded.

Table 2. Potential pressures from the JNCC Marine Pressures-Activities Database (PAD) v1.5 2022 and their risk profiling of pressures score, based on the general risk the pressures pose to the environment under normal conditions. Pressures are considered to pose a medium/high risk (dark blue), low risk (light blue), or are not relevant to the activity (white).
PAD Pressure Fishing activity
Demersal trawls Demersal seines Anchored nets/lines: Set (fixed) net fishing)
Transition elements and organo-metal (e.g. TBT) contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC Low Low Low
Hydrocarbon & PAH contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC. Low Low Low
Synthetic compound contamination (incl. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals). Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC. Low Low Low
Deoxygenation Low Low Low
Nutrient enrichment Low Low Not relevant
Organic enrichment Low Low Low
Physical change (to another seabed type) Low Low Not relevant
Physical change (to another sediment type) Low Low Not relevant
Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed Medium-high Medium-high Medium-high
Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion Medium-high Medium-high Low
Changes in suspended solids (water clarity) Medium-high Medium-high Not relevant
Smothering and siltation rate changes (Light) Medium-high Medium-high Not relevant
Litter Low Low Low
Underwater noise changes Low Low Low
Introduction of light Low Low Low
Barrier to species movement Not relevant Not relevant Low
Collision BELOW water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g. boats, machinery and structures) Low Low Low
Visual disturbance Low Low Low
Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS) Low Low Low
Removal of target species Medium-high Medium-high Medium-high
Removal of non-target species Medium-high Medium-high Medium-high

2.4 Significance of effects/impacts to protected features

To determine whether each pressure is likely to have a significant effect on the site’s features, the sensitivity assessments and risk profiling of pressures from the JNCC conservation advice package and the JNCC Marine Pressures-Activities Database (PAD) v1.5 2022 were used. The Annex I Reefs subtypes are assessed separately due to the differences in sensitivity to various pressures and activities.

Table 3 identifies the pressures from particular gears that could have a likely significant effect on each feature sub-type. Where a pressure from a particular gear is identified as not having a likely significant effect on a feature, justification is provided. To ensure the effects of fishing activities in-combination with other activities (including other fishing activities) are fully assessed, the pressures from fishing activities which were not identified as having a likely significant effect but which do interact with the feature are considered in the in-combination aspect of the assessment (Part C).

Table 3. Extract of the Advice on Operations for North West Rockall Bank SAC, showing the pressures from specific activities (demersal trawls and demersal seines) and the potential sensitivity of the protected feature. The features are categorised as having High Sensitivity (dark blue), Medium Sensitivity (dark blue), Sensitive (light blue), Not Sensitive (white), Not Exposed (white), Not Assessed (white), and Unknown (white). Further details on these categories are available in the associated methods document.
Potential pressures Protected feature sensitivity
Annex I Reefs: Biogenic reef Annex I Reefs: Stony and bedrock reef
Cold-water coral Deep-sea bed*
Above water noise Not relevant Not relevant
Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed Sensitive Sensitive
Barrier to species movement Not relevant Not relevant
Changes in suspended solids (water clarity)** Not Sensitive Not relevant
Collision ABOVE water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g., boats, machinery, and structures) Not relevant Not relevant
Collision BELOW water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g., boats, machinery, and structures) Not relevant Not relevant
Deoxygenation Not sensitive Not sensitive
Hydrocarbon & PAH contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC. Insufficient evidence Insufficient evidence
Introduction of light Not assessed Not assessed
Introduction or spread of non-indigenous species Not assessed Sensitive
Litter Insufficient evidence Not assessed
Nutrient enrichment** Not sensitive Not sensitive
Organic enrichment Sensitive Sensitive
Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion Sensitive Sensitive
Physical change (to another seabed type)** Sensitive Sensitive
Physical change (to another sediment type) Unknown Sensitive
Removal of non-target species Sensitive Sensitive
Removal of target species Not assessed Sensitive
Siltation rate changes (Low), including smothering (depth of vertical sediment overburden)** Sensitive Sensitive
Synthetic compound contamination (incl. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals). Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC. Insufficient evidence Insufficient evidence
Transition elements & organo-metal (e.g. TBT) contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC. Insufficient evidence Insufficient evidence
Underwater noise changes Not sensitive Not sensitive
Visual disturbance Not relevant Not relevant

*The information provided here is based on sensitivity assessments for deep-sea bed habitat, which is the best available information at this time.

**Pressure not applicable for anchored nets/lines

Considering both the information on the pressure activity association (Table 2) and the sensitivity of the reef feature (Table 3), pressures with the potential to cause likely significant effects are summarised in Table 4.

Pressures that are not relevant to demersal trawls, demersal seines, and anchored nets/longlines (pressures that are not exerted by that fishing activity: ‘not relevant to the activity’ in Table 4) do not need to be considered further in the assessment. According to the PAD methods document, pressures with low risk profiles (i.e. ‘low risk profile for the activity’: Table 4) generally do not occur at a level of concern and should not require consideration as part of an assessment, unless there are evidence-based case or site-specific factors that increase the risk, or there is uncertainty on the level of pressure on a receptor. Pressures with ‘medium-high’ risk profiles are commonly induced by the activity at a level that needs to be considered further as part of an assessment.

Pressures that were not relevant to the feature, do not need to be considered further in the assessment (Table 2). Pressures where the feature was ‘not sensitive’ (Table 3) can also be screened out. Any pressures that do not have a sensitivity assessment (either ‘not assessed’ or ‘no evidence’) should be considered as this does not mean that the feature is not sensitive, only that there is insufficient evidence to make an assessment.

Pressures with a medium-high risk profile in PAD and to which the Advice on Operations identified the feature as being sensitive would meet the definition of a likely significant effect (“any effect that may reasonably be predicted as a consequence of a plan or project that would negatively and significantly affect the conservation objectives established for the habitats and species significantly present on the site”: EU Commission, 2021). Of the pressures considered, there are five which have medium-high risk profiles and to which the feature is sensitive (Table 4); 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; smothering and siltation rate changes (light); removal of non-target species and removal of target species.

These five pressures are subsequently considered to the have the potential to have likely significant effects (LSE) on the Annex I reef feature. These pressures are exerted by all three fishing activity types assessed; demersal trawls, demersal seines, and anchored nets/lines.

Table 4. Summary of pressures that have the potential to cause likely significant effects, based on pressure-activity associations and sensitivity of the Annex I habitat. Pressures with the potential to cause likely significant effects are in dark blue.
Potential pressure Fishing activity
Demersal trawls Demersal seines Anchored nets/lines: Set (fixed) net fishing)
Transition elements and organo-metal (e.g. TBT) contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC No – insufficient evidence to assess sensitivity, but low risk profile for activity.
Hydrocarbon & PAH contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC. No - insufficient evidence to assess sensitivity, but low risk profile for activity.
Synthetic compound contamination (incl. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals). Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC. No - insufficient evidence to assess sensitivity, but low risk profile for activity.
Deoxygenation No – feature is not sensitive and the pressure has a low risk profile for the activity.
Nutrient enrichment No - low risk profile for demersal trawls and seines, not relevant for anchored nets/lines, and feature is not sensitive.
Organic enrichment No – although feature is sensitive to this pressure, the risk profile is low
Physical change (to another seabed type) No – although the feature is sensitive to this pressure, the pressure has a low risk profile for demersal trawls and seines, and is not relevant for anchored nets/lines
Physical change (to another sediment type) No - although the Deep-sea bed (Stony and bedrock reef) feature is sensitive to this pressure, the pressure has a low risk profile for demersal trawls and seines, and is not relevant for anchored nets/lines
Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed Yes – the feature is sensitive and the pressure has a medium-high risk profile
Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion Yes – the feature is sensitive and the pressure has a medium-high risk profile for demersal seines and trawls, and is a low risk for anchored nets/lines
Changes in suspended solids (water clarity) No – although the pressure has a medium-high risk profile for demersal trawls and seines (not relevant for anchored nets/lines), this pressure is not relevant for Deep-sea bed (Stony reef) and Cold-water coral (biogenic reef) is not sensitive
Smothering and siltation rate changes (Light) Yes – the feature is sensitive and the pressure has a medium-high risk profile for demersal trawls and seines. No - this pressure is not relevant
Litter No – although there is insufficient evidence to assess sensitivity for cold-water coral and it is not assessed for deep-sea bed, the risk profile for this activity is low.
Underwater noise changes No – the feature is not sensitive and risk profile is low
Introduction of light No – although the sensitivity is not assessed, the risk profile for the activity is low
Barrier to species movement No – sensitivity is not assessed, however the pressure is not relevant for demersal trawls or seines No – sensitivity is not assessed, however there is a low risk for anchored nets/lines
Collision BELOW water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g. boats, machinery and structures) No – the risk profile for the pressure is low and this pressure is not relevant to the feature
Visual disturbance No – the risk profile for the pressure is low and this pressure is not relevant to the feature
Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS) No – although Deep-sea bed (Stony reef) is sensitive to this pressure, and Cold-water coral reef (Biogenic reef) is not assessed, the risk profile for this pressure is low
Removal of target species Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile and Deep-sea bed (Stony reef) is sensitive to this pressure and Cold-water coral reef (Biogenic) is not assessed.
Removal of non-target species Yes – the pressure has a medium-high risk profile AND the feature is sensitive to this pressure.

2.5 Part A Conclusion

Considering the information on pressures and sensitivity above, and guidance within the EU Commission guidance on the Assessment of plans and projects significantly affecting Natura 2000 sites; a methodological guidance on the provisions of Article 6 (3) and (4) of the Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC in relation to European sites, demersal trawls, demersal seines, and anchored nets/lines have the potential to have a likely significant effect (LSE) on the reef feature within North West Rockall Bank SAC through, 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; smothering and siltation rate changes (light); removal of non-target species and removal of target species. These five pressures will be taken through to Part B of the assessment.

Contact

Email: marine_biodiversity@gov.scot

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