Draft Fisheries Assessment – Stanton Bank Reef SAC: Fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Executive summary

The scope of this fisheries assessment is Stanton Bank SAC, located in the Scottish Continental Shelf south of the Outer Hebrides and lies approximately 124 km west of the UK mainland, 43 km west-south-west of Tiree and 83 km north-north-east of Malin Head, Ireland. The entirety of the site lies within the Scottish offshore.

The protected features of the site are the Annex I reef sub-types 'bedrock' and 'stony' reef. The conservation objective for the SAC is for the reef feature to be restored to favourable condition thus ensuring site integrity in the long term and contribution to Favourable Conservation Status of Annex I Reefs.

In Part A, fishing activities 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 reef feature were demersal trawls, demersal seines, and static traps/creels. Based on the pressures associated with these fishing activities and the sensitivity of the reef 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; changes in suspended solids (water clarity); smothering and siltation rate changes (light); and removal of non-target species. Two pressures were exerted by all three aggregated gear types, three were only associated with demersal trawls and seines. All five pressures were taken through to the Part B 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, static demersal gear (traps/creels) alone was compatible with the conservation objectives of the site and will not result in an adverse effect on site integrity for Stanton Banks SAC. However, an adverse effect on site integrity could not be ruled out where mobile demersal fishing (demersal trawl and demersal seine) activities occurred. Scottish Ministers concluded that management measures were required to restrict mobile demersal fishing within Stanton Banks SAC.

In Part C, the in-combination assessment considered the residual potential impacts of static demersal gear (traps/creels) alongside other relevant offshore activities happening in and near the site. There was no potential for likely significant effects from other relevant offshore activities. Therefore, the Scottish Ministers concluded that demersal static gear (traps/creels), in-combination with other known activities, are compatible with the conservation objectives of the site at current activity levels and will not result in an adverse effect on the site integrity of Stanton Banks SAC.

Considering the need for management measures for mobile demersal gear, as identified in the assessment, two management options are under consideration by the Scottish Ministers:

• Zoned management would exclude mobile demersal gear from almost all of the site, covering most of the reef feature (99.7%) within the site. Considering the very limited extent of the reef feature (0.3%) that has the potential to be exposed to mobile demersal gear. Scottish Ministers consider this management option would avoid an adverse effect on site integrity from mobile demersal fishing activity at current activity levels.
• Full site exclusion of mobile demersal fishing activity would exclude mobile demersal gear from the whole site. Scottish Ministers consider this management option would avoid an adverse effect on site integrity from fishing activities using mobile demersal gears.

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.