Management proposals for Small Isles Marine Protected Area (MPA): EIR release

Information requested

“I came across the priority marine feature surveys, and I was wondering if you have any information regarding the proposed fisheries management measures.

Would you be able to give me some information on the current status of the Small Isles MPA and it proposed management measures.

I hope to hear from you and any help is much appreciated”.

Response

The Scottish Government is committed to delivering fisheries management measures for existing MPAs where these are not already in place, and key biodiversity locations (PMF’s) outside of these sites.

We are considering the environmental protection required for over 160 individual sites and areas in the inshore area alone, including the Small Isles MPA. We are making sure that we take the appropriate management measures.

For the 11 priority marine features most at risk from mobile bottom contacting fishing gear proposed fisheries management approach is to prohibit those gears within specific zones around records of those PMFs. Which is our preferred policy option from the screen and scoping public consultation held in 2018. Improving protection given to Priority Marine Features outside the Marine Protected Area network - Scottish Government consultations - Citizen Space

For the Small Isles MPA there are 2 fisheries management proposals which will be consulted upon in due course;

Zonal. This represents fisheries management measures that have been informed with the best available evidence and advice from the appropriate Statutory Nature Conservation Body and developed with stakeholders. These measures have been developed with a focus on protecting features to enable conservation objectives to be met whilst allowing sustainable fishing activity and practices to continue where possible.

Full site closure. This restricts specified fishing activity from the full site. This option does not account for the geographic distribution of features and presents a more precautionary level of environmental protection through greater levels of fisheries restrictions.

A map of the zoned proposal is available from https://consult.gov.scot/marineconservation/smallislesmco2016/supporting_documents/SMI_measures_impact.png

Further information can be found within our stakeholder bulletin. If you wish to be included, you can send a request to Marine_biodiversity@gov.scot.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have the information you have requested.

Therefore, we are refusing your request under the exception at regulation 10(4)(a) of the EIRs. The reason for this is that information on the current status of the Small Isles MPA is held by Nature Scot.

Some of the information you have requested is available from SiteLink - Small Isles MPA(NC) (nature.scot). Our understanding is that further information regarding the Small Isles will be published within a few weeks.

You may wish to contact NatureScot at ENQUIRIES@nature.scot who may be able to help you further.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at https://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.