Partial Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment - Amendment of the West of Scotland Nature Conservation Marine Protected Area (NCMPA) site boundary

Competition Filter Questions

Will the proposal directly limit the number or range of suppliers? e.g. will it award exclusive rights to a supplier or create closed procurement or licensing programmes?

It is unlikely the amendment of the West of Scotland MPA boundary will directly limit the number or range of suppliers.

Will the proposal indirectly limit the number or range of suppliers? E.g. will it raise costs to smaller entrants relative to larger existing suppliers?

Limited / No Impact: amendment of the West of Scotland MPA boundary is not likely to affect the spatial location of commercial fisheries activity and or restrict the output capacity of this sector.

Amendment of the West of Scotland boundary is not likely to affect the preparation of applications, location of marine developments and activities, or requirements for marine developments which would apply to any developer of an affected licensed activity when preparing and submitting an application, as the MPA is already in existence. Any additional costs potentially incurred by developers submitting new licence applications, applying to both new entrants and to incumbents looking to expand or alter their operations, was captured within the initial BRIA of the original site designation and does not change with this boundary amendment proposal.

Will the proposal limit the ability of suppliers to compete? e.g. will it reduce the channels suppliers can use or geographic area they can operate in?

No. Amendment of the West of Scotland MPA boundary will not directly affect firms’ route to market or the geographical markets they can sell into.

Will the proposal reduce suppliers' incentives to compete vigorously? e.g. will it encourage or enable the exchange of information on prices, costs, sales or outputs between suppliers?

No. Amendment of the West of Scotland MPA boundary is not expected to reduce suppliers’ incentives to compete vigorously.