Draft Fisheries Assessment – Turbot Bank NCMPA: Fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Executive Summary

The scope of this fisheries assessment is the Turbot Bank NCMPA (Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area), located off the east coast of Scotland.

The protected feature of the site is sandeel and is considered to be in favourable condition. The conservation objective for the NCMPA is that the protected features so far as already in favourable condition, 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 feature were grouped into the aggregated gear types of pelagic fishing, demersal trawls, demersal seines and boat dredge. Based on the pressures associated with these fishing activities and the sensitivity of the protected feature, the pressures considered capable of impacting 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 target species, and smothering and siltation rate changes (light). 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, pelagic fishing, demersal trawls, demersal seines and boat dredge, alone would not hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives for Turbot Bank MPA. Scottish Ministers concluded that no management measures were required to restrict fishing activity within Turbot Bank 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. No activities were found to occur within the site however an offshore region wind lease site bordered the MPA, and a site for Innovation and Targeted Oil and Gas (INTOG) was located within 5km of the site. For both these areas, no infrastructure was in place, or yet proposed, subsequently these were not deemed to be potential for in-combination effects. Therefore, Scottish Ministers concluded that the remaining fishing activities in-combination with other relevant activities will not hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives for Turbot Bank MPA.

Considering the conservation and fisheries management advice from the statutory nature conservation bodies, and the wider evidence contained within this assessment, Scottish Ministers consider that no further management is required to enable progress to be made towards achieving the conservation objectives for the Turbot Bank MPA.

The decision of any 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.