Fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): consultation analysis

West of Scotland MPA

Overview

The vast majority of responses indicated support for full site fisheries management measures for the West of Scotland MPA.

However, there was opposition from 12% of non-campaign responses and 15% of organisations who responded to this question.

General Support for Full site Fisheries Management Measures

Many respondents strongly supported the full site fisheries management measures proposed for the West of Scotland Marine Protected Area (MPA).

They emphasised that these measures were developed with substantial input from stakeholders who participated in relevant workshops.

Additionally, some acknowledged the significance of a whole-site closure to mobile and static demersal gear, which would offer comprehensive protection for important marine features such as coral gardens, deep-sea sponge aggregations, cold-water coral reefs, and seamount communities. These features are considered crucial by some respondents for the ecological health of the area.

Importance of the West of Scotland MPA

Many stakeholders argue that enforcing full site fisheries management measures on the West of Scotland MPA as essential to facilitate the recovery of the designated features on the site:

"The West of Scotland MPA has been designated for 12 different PMFs, 11 of which have been identified as being in unfavourable condition. It is therefore essential that full site fisheries management measures are enforced in this area to facilitate the recovery of these features and the area as a whole." [Organisation]

One respondent explained the importance of deep-sea sponges and cold-water corals, stating that they increase habitat complexity and are crucial for providing habitats for a wide range of species. They claim that these habitat-forming species are at significant risk from demersal mobile and static gear, which can disrupt the benthic environment and the species that depend on these habitats.

Concerns About Social and Economic Impacts

Despite general support for the full site closure, some respondents, particularly those from the French fishing industry, have raised concerns about the potential social and economic impacts. For example:

"This measure will have an unprecedented social and economic impact on some of our fleets. In fact, some vessels will suffer cumulative sales losses of up to more than €2 million if this option is adopted." [Organisation]

They further emphasised that the dependency of these fleets on the MPA is high, noting that the rate of dependence on this zone in terms of value per vessel per year is between 19.3% and 20.3%. This, they argue, could lead to the closure of fishing operations, affecting livelihoods and local economies.

These organisations summarised their remarks by saying:

"This measure will have an unprecedented social and economic impact on some of our fleets... the consequences that will go with it (impact on fishermen's activities, on employment, on the processing chain, etc)." [Organisation]

Support for Ecological Benefits and Carbon Storage

On the other hand, many environmental stakeholders strongly support the full site closure, highlighting the significant ecological and climate benefits. One respondent cited new evidence from the Blue Carbon Mapping Project (2024) which reveals that the West of Scotland MPA stores nearly 40 million tonnes of organic carbon in the top 10 cm of the seabed, demonstrating the importance of full site protection for these vast carbon stores.

One respondent remarked that the full site fisheries management measures are crucial for safeguarding these vast carbon stores. Full site protection is also considered vital for seabirds, as the MPA is within the foraging range of significant breeding colonies, including European storm-petrels and Leach's storm-petrels, which have seen a drastic population decline.

The importance of protecting these species was argued, with a response stating, that the West of Scotland NCMPA is crucial for seabirds, as it is within the foraging range of some of the largest breeding colonies for seabirds in the UK.

Concerns Regarding Static Demersal Gear

Some respondents have raised objections to including static demersal gear in the proposed full site closure, arguing that the current level of activity from these gears does not pose a significant threat to the conservation objectives of the MPA.

One respondent claimedthat for species like orange roughy and roundnose grenadier, as well as habitats like burrowed mud and offshore sands, "anchored net/lines, at current activity levels, have indicated that... the activity would not hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives for the West of Scotland NCMPA."

Additionally, the UK offshore line fishery targeting hake was considered to have minimal impact on seabed features of conservation interest.

Summary

Despite differences in opinion on specific aspects, the general consensus among most respondents is that a full site closure to demersal mobile and static gears is the most effective way to meet the conservation objectives of the MPA. As one comment summarised, "The full site fisheries management measures are crucial for reversing the condition of features from unfavourable to favourable."

Several respondents have stressed the urgency of implementing these measures to prevent further ecological degradation. Indeed, one response concluded:

"We urge the Scottish Minister to implement these management measures as soon as possible so that Scotland can start to experience all the benefits from effectively managed and properly protected MPAs." [Organisation].