Draft Fisheries Assessment – Scanner Pockmark SAC: Fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Executive Summary

The scope of this fisheries assessment is Scanner Pockmark SAC, located in the Northern North Sea Regional Sea, approximately 185 km off the north-east coast of Scotland near the centre of the Witch Ground Basin in the offshore region (12-200 nautical miles, nm).

The protected features of the site are the Annex I Submarine structures made by leaking gases. The conservation objective for the SAC is to restore the feature 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 feature were grouped into the aggregated gear types of demersal trawls. Based on the pressures associated with this fishing activity and the sensitivity of the protected feature, the potential for likely significant effects was identified for the pressures of 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, smothering and siltation rate changes (light) and changes in suspended solids (water clarity). These pressures found to be exerted by demersal trawl were taken through to the next stage of the assessment.

In Part B, the assessment of fishing activities with the potential for likely significant effects within the site determined that, at current fishing levels, an adverse effect on site integrity could not be ruled out where demersal trawl activities occurred. Scottish Ministers concluded that management measures were required to restrict demersal trawling within Scanner Pockmark SAC.

In Part C, there were no other fishing activities occurring within Scanner Pockmark SAC which needed to be considered in combination with other plans/projects occurring at the site.

Considering the need for management measures for mobile demersal gear (including demersal trawls), one management option has been identified and is under consideration by the Scottish Ministers:

• Full site exclusion of all demersal mobile and static gear activity would avoid and adverse effect on site integrity from fishing activities using these gear types. Scottish Ministers consider this management option would avoid an adverse effect on site integrity from fishing activity at current levels.

The decision as to the management 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.