Planning Scotland's Seas: 2013 - The Scottish Marine Protected Area Project – Developing the Evidence Base for Impact Assessments and the Sustainability Appraisal Final Report - Appendix E - Marine Site Reports
This is Appendix E for the pMPA Impact and Sustainability Report containing the detailed site by site reports. Published separately due to size.
North-west sea lochs and Summer Isles ( NWS)
Site Area (km 2): 612
Site Summary
Table 1. Summary of Proposed Protected Features, Data Confidence and Conservation Objectives | [ NWS] | ||||
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Proposed protected features | |||||
Biodiversity Features Burrowed mud, flame shell beds, kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments, maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, native oysters, northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata, circalittoral muddy sand communities. Geodiversity Features Quaternary of Scotland - glaciated channels/troughs, megascale glacial lineations, moraines; Submarine Mass Movement - slide scars; Seabed Fluid and Gas Seep - pockmarks; Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed - banks of unknown substrate. Site Description The North-west sea lochs and Summer Isles MPA proposal covers a series of sea lochs, bays and nearshore islands on the north-west coast of Scotland. The boundary covers a classic glacial landscape and the geodiversity features hold valuable information on Scotland's glacial past. |
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Summary of confidence in presence, extent and condition of proposed protected features and conservation objectives | |||||
Proposed Protected Feature | Estimated Area of Feature (by scenario) (km 2) | Confidence in Feature Presence |
Confidence in Feature Extent |
Confidence in Feature Condition |
Conservation Objective and Risk |
Biodiversity Features | |||||
Burrowed mud | *Lower: 306.50 Intermediate: 611.68 Upper: 611.68 |
Yes ( SNH survey, 1995) | Partial - age of data | Not known | Conserve |
Flame shell beds | Lower: 0.07 Intermediate: 0.18 Upper: 0.18 |
Yes ( SNH survey, 2010) | Yes | Not known | Conserve |
Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments | Lower: 89.73 Intermediate: 164.40 Upper: 164.40 |
Yes (surveys in 1989 & 1996) | Partial - age of data | Not known | Conserve |
Maerl beds | Lower: 1.58 Intermediate: 1.58 Upper: 142.23 |
Yes ( SNH survey, 2010) | Partial - requires validation | Not known | Recover |
Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers | Lower: 1.58 Intermediate: 1.58 Upper: 142.23 |
Yes | No - requires validation | Not known | Conserve |
Native oysters | Lower: 0.0004 Intermediate: 0.0004 Upper: 0.0004 |
Yes (records in 1978, 1984 & 2010) | Partial - age of data | Not known | Conserve |
Northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata | Lower: 0.06 Intermediate: 0.06 Upper: 16.40 |
Yes ( SNH survey, 2010) | Yes | Not known | Conserve |
Circalittoral muddy sand communities | Lower: 164.52 Intermediate: 201.82 Upper: 201.82 |
Yes ( SNH survey, 2010) | Partial | Not known | Conserve |
Geodiversity Features | |||||
Quaternary of Scotland - glaciated channels/troughs, megascale glacial lineations, moraines | Glaciated channels/troughs: 20.72 Megascale Glacial Lineations: 19.33 Moraines: 50.46 |
Yes (Defra-led research, 2009; SNH & JNCC review, 2012) | Yes | Not known | |
Submarine Mass Movement - slide scars | 3.15 | Yes (Defra-led research, 2009; SNH & JNCC review, 2012) | Yes | Not known | |
Seabed Fluid and Gas Seep - pockmarks | 0.02 | Yes (Defra-led research, 2009; SNH & JNCC review, 2012) | Yes | Not known | |
Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed - banks of unknown substrate | 1.04 | Yes (Defra-led research, 2009; SNH & JNCC review, 2012) | Yes | Not known | |
Key: * Estimated area based on best available data References: Area of Feature: GeMs Confidence in feature presence and extent: SNH (2012j) |
Summary of Costs and Benefits
Table 2a. Site-Specific Economic Costs on Human Activities arising from the Designation and Management of the Site as an MPA (present value of total costs over 2014 to 2033 inclusive) | [ NWS] | ||
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Human Activity | Cost Impact on Activity | ||
Lower Estimate (£Million) | Intermediate Estimate (£Million) | Upper Estimate (£Million) | |
Quantified Economic Costs (Discounted) | |||
Aquaculture (Finfish) | 0.005 | 0.021 | 0.021 |
Aquaculture (Shellfish) | See national costs | See national costs | See national costs |
Commercial Fisheries* | 0.000 | 1.558 | 3.117 |
Energy Generation | 0.009 | 2.173 | 2.308 |
Military | See national costs | See national costs | See national costs |
Ports and Harbours | 0.032 | 0.037 | 0.037 |
Total Quantified Economic Costs | 0.046 | 3.790 | 5.483 |
Non-Quantified Economic Costs | |||
Aquaculture (Finfish) |
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Aquaculture (Shellfish) |
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Commercial Fisheries |
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Energy Generation |
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Military |
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Ports and Harbours |
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Recreational Boating |
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Note: For detailed information on economic cost impacts on activities, see Table 4. * These estimates (present value of total change in GVA) assume zero displacement of fishing activity and hence are likely to overestimate the costs. |
Table 2b. Site-Specific Public Sector Costs arising from the Designation and Management of the Site as an MPA (over 2014 to 2033 inclusive) | [ NWS] | ||
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Description | Public Sector Costs | ||
Lower Estimate (£Million) | Intermediate Estimate (£Million) | Upper Estimate (£Million) | |
Quantified Public Sector Costs (Discounted) | |||
Preparation of Marine Management Schemes | 0.024 | 0.024 | 0.024 |
Preparation of Statutory Instruments | None | 0.004 | 0.004 |
Development of voluntary measures | National assessment | National assessment | National assessment |
Site monitoring | National assessment | National assessment | National assessment |
Compliance and enforcement | National assessment | National assessment | National assessment |
Promotion of public understanding | National assessment | National assessment | National assessment |
Regulatory and advisory costs associated with licensing decisions | 0.002* | 0.002* | 0.002* |
Total Quantified Public Sector Costs | 0.027 | 0.031 | 0.031 |
Non-Quantified Public Sector Costs | |||
None identified. | |||
* Regulatory and advisory costs of finfish and shellfish aquaculture assessed at national level. |
Table 2c. Summary of Social Impacts and Distribution of Quantified Impacts arising from the Designation and Management of the Site as an MPA (over 2014 to 2033 inclusive) | [ NWS] | |||||||||
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Key Areas of Social Impact | Description | Scale of Expected Impact across Scenarios, Average (mean no. of jobs affected) | Distributional Analysis | |||||||
Location | Fishing Groups Predominantly Affected | Social Groups Affected | ||||||||
Region | Port | Rural/ Urban/ Island | Gear Types Most Affected | Vessels most affected | Crofters | Ethnic minorities | With disability or long term sick | |||
Employment with consequent impacts on: Health, Crime, Environment, and Culture and Heritage | Commercial fisheries - Loss of jobs (direct and indirect) | Lower: 0 jobs Intermediate: 3 jobs Upper: 6 jobs |
North west North west West North east North North West North east |
Ullapool Stornoway Campbeltown Buckie Kirkwall Scrabster Oban Peterhead |
Impacts concentrated in urban, rural and island coastal areas | Nephrops trawls Dredges | Lower: N/A Upper: >15m |
No Impact. | No breakdown of fisherman employment by ethnic origin. | No employment data but unlikely to be employed in fisheries. |
If any energy generation developments do not proceed as a result of designation (due to additional costs, project delays, loss of investor confidence), there may be significant social impacts due to job losses (non-quantified). | ||||||||||
Note: For detailed information on socio-economic impacts by sector, see Table 7a. For more detailed information on distributional impacts of quantified costs by sector see Tables 7b and 7c. |
Table 2d. Site-Specific Benefits arising from the Designation and Management of the Site as an MPA (over 2014 to 2033 inclusive) | [ NWS] | |
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Benefit | Description | |
Ecosystem Services Benefits (Moderate and High Benefits) | Relevance | Scale of Benefits |
Fish for human consumption | High. The site provides supporting services, including contribution to food webs and nursery habitats. | Nil - Moderate |
Fish for non-human consumption | ||
Non-use value of natural environment | Moderate - High. Variety of protected features and contribution of the site to MPA network has non-use values. | Nil - Moderate |
Recreation | Moderate - High. Including active dive sites, angling and recreational boating routes. | Low - Moderate |
Other Benefits | ||
Tourism | Higher biodiversity due to designation, and presence of designations, may attract more tourism activity to local economy. | |
Contribution to ecologically coherent network | See report Section 7.5. | |
Note: For detailed information on ecosystem services benefits, see Tables 9 and 10. For detailed information on other benefits, see Table 5 (activities that would benefit) and Table 8 (contribution to ecologically-coherent network). |
Summary of Overlaps and Interactions between Proposed Designated Features and Human Activities
Table 3. Overlaps and Potential Interactions between Features and Activities under different Scenarios, indicating need for Assessment of Cost Impacts on Human Activities from Designation of the Site as an MPA | [ NWS] | ||||||||||||||||
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Aggregates | Aquaculture (Finfish) | Aquaculture (Shellfish) | Aviation | Carbon Capture & Storage | Coastal Protection | Commercial Fisheries | Energy Generation | Military Activities | Oil & Gas | Ports & Harbours | Power Interconnectors | Recreational Boating | Shipping | Telecom Cables | Tourism | Water Sports | |
Biodiversity Features | |||||||||||||||||
Burrowed mud | - | L/I/U | L/I/U | - | - | - | L/ I/U | L/ I/ U | L/I/U | - | L/ I/ U | L/I/U | U | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U |
Flame shell beds | - | - | - | - | - | - | L/ I/U | L/ I/ U | L/I/U | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U |
Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments | - | L/I/U | L/I/U | - | - | - | L/I/ U | L/ I/ U | L/I/U | - | L/ I/ U | L/I/U | L/I/U | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U |
Maerl beds | - | U | L/I/U | - | - | - | L/ I/U | L/ I/ U | L/I/U | - | L/ I/ U | U | L/I | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U |
Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers | - | U | L/I/U | - | - | - | L/ I/U | L/ I/ U | L/I/U | - | L/ I/ U | U | - | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U |
Native oysters | - | - | - | - | - | - | L/ I/U | - | L/I/U | - | - | - | L/I | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U |
Northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata | - | - | U | - | - | - | L/ I/U | U | L/I/U | - | - | U | - | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U |
Circalittoral muddy sand communities | - | L/I/U | I/U | - | - | - | L/ I/U | L/ I/ U | L/I/U | - | L/ I/ U | L/I/U | U | - | - | L/I/U | L/I/U |
Geodiversity Features | |||||||||||||||||
Quaternary of Scotland - glaciated channels/troughs | Not considered to be sensitive at the levels of exposure expected from human activities; thus, not considered in the context of management. | ||||||||||||||||
Quaternary of Scotland - megascale glacial lineations | |||||||||||||||||
Quaternary of Scotland - moraines | |||||||||||||||||
Submarine Mass Movement - slide scars | |||||||||||||||||
Seabed Fluid and Gas Seep - pockmarks | |||||||||||||||||
Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed - banks of unknown substrate | |||||||||||||||||
Note: L = Lower Scenario; I = Intermediate Scenario; U = Upper Scenario. Normal font indicates that there is an overlap between the activity and proposed designated feature under that scenario, bold indicates that the overlap results in a potential interaction between the activity and proposed designated feature that has resulted in cost impacts under that scenario. For detail of management measures assessed under each scenario for each activity, and results of the cost estimates, see Table 4. |
Human Activity Summaries
Human activities that would be impacted by designation of the site as an MPA
Table 4a. Aquaculture (Finfish) | [ NWS] | ||
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There are seven finfish farms (Ardessie A, Ardessie B, Ardmair, Corry Farm, Fada, Isle Ewe and Tanera) within the boundary of the NWS proposed MPA. All sites, apart from Fada, directly overlap with the Burrow Mud feature under all scenarios. Fada directly overlaps with Burrowed Mud under the intermediate and upper scenarios only. Ardessie A, Ardmair and Isle Ewe directly overlap with the Circalittoral muddy sand communities under all scenarios. In addition, Ardessie B and Fada are within 1km of this feature under all scenarios. Corry Farm and Isle Ewe are within 1km of this feature in the intermediate and upper scenarios. Three sites, Fada, Isle Ewe and Tanera, directly overlap with the Maerl beds and Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers features under the upper scenario. In addition, Fada and Tanera are within 1km of the features under all scenarios. Ardmair and Isle of Eweare are within 1km of the features in the upper scenario. Ardessie A, Ardessie B, Corry Farm and Isle Ewe directly overlap with the feature sublittoral kelp and seaweed communities on sediment under all scenarios and Fada and Tanera directly overlaps under the intermediate and upper scenarios only. Ardessie A, Ardessie B, Corry Farm, Fada and Isle Ewe are within 1km of the feature under all scenarios and Ardmasir and Tanera are within 1km of the feature under the intermediate and upper scenarios only. There is no public information on potential future development within the proposed MPA. In the absence of infomation on potential future developments, the assessment has focused on the costs associated with obtaining new CAR licences. A national assessment of the costs of obtaining planning permission for new developments is provided separately. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs |
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Description of recurring costs |
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Description of non-quantified costs |
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Quantified Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA (£Million) | |||
Total costs (2014-2033) | 0.007 | 0.029 | 0.029 |
Average annual costs | <0.001 | 0.001 | 0.001 |
Present value of total costs (2014-2033) | 0.005 | 0.021 | 0.021 |
Total costs = Sum of one-off costs and recurring costs for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual costs = Total costs divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total costs = Total costs discounted to their current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. |
Table 4b. Aquaculture (Shellfish) | [ NWS] | ||
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There are two shellfish farms (Loch Ewe and Loch Kanaird) within the boundary of the NWS proposed MPA. Loch Ewe directly overlaps with Burrowed Mud under all scenarios. Loch Kanaird directly overlaps with this feature under the intermediate and upper scenarios only. Both sites are within 1km of this feature under all scenarios. . There is an additional shellfish farm (Badluarach) within 1km of the proposed MPA boundary which is within 1km of the Burrowed Mud feature under all scenarios. Loch Ewe and Loch Kanaird directly overlap with the Maerl Bed and Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumber features under the upper scenario. There is an additional shellfish farm (Badluarach) within 1km of the proposed MPA boundary which is within 1km of the features under all scenarios. Loch Ewe directly overlaps with the Sublittoral kelp and seaweed communities on sediment under all scenarios. Loch Kanaird directly overlaps with this feature under the intermediate and upper scenarios only. Loch Ewe is within 1km of the feature under all scenarios. Loch Kanaird overlaps with this feature under the intermediate and upper scenarios. . There is an additional shellfish farm (Badluarach) within 1km of the proposed MPA boundary which is within 1km of this feature under all scenarios. Badluarach is within 1km of Circalittoral muddy sand communities under intermediate and upper scenarios and Loch Ewe for all scenarios respectively. Badluarach is also located within 1km of the Northern feather star aggregation feature under the upper scenario. There is no public information on potential future development within the proposed MPA. In the absence of infomation on potential future developments, no site specific assessment has been possible. A national assessment of the costs of obtaining planning permission for new developments is provided separately. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs |
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Description of recurring costs |
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Description of non-quantified costs |
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Quantified Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA (£Million) | |||
Total costs (2014-2033) | See national costs | See national costs | See national costs |
Average annual costs | See national costs | See national costs | See national costs |
Present value of total costs (2014-2033) | See national costs | See national costs | See national costs |
Total costs = Sum of one-off costs and recurring costs for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual costs = Total costs divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total costs = Total costs discounted to their current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. |
Table 4c. Commercial Fisheries (assuming zero displacement of fishing activity) | [ NWS] | ||
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According to VMS-based estimates and ICES rectangle landings statistics, Nephrops trawls, dredges, whitefish trawls, lines and other gears (over-15m), and other gears, nephrops trawls and dredges (under-15m) operate within the NWS proposed MPA. The value of catches from the NWS area was £380,000 (over-15m vessels) and £510,500 (under-15m vessels, indicated from ICES rectangle landings data) (annual average for 2007-2011, 2012 prices). Landings from the over-15m vessels were predominantly into Lochinver (28% by value), and Ullapool (35%). For the over-15m fleet, nephrops trawlers operated in particular in the western part of the proposed MPA and across areas of burrowed mud. There was also dredger activity in the central area in areas of circalittoral muddy sand communities. Provisional ScotMap data indicate that the annual average earnings from the NWS proposed MPA was £996,200, with 65% of this from nephrops pots and 19% from nephrops trawls. The spatial distribution of value from nephrops trawls indicates that the majority of value in the NWS proposed MPA and surrounding area is derived from close to the shore. ScotMap data would indicate an annual cost impact of around £0.19 million on <15m nephrops trawls under the Upper Scenario, the estimate from ICES rectangle data may be a slight under-estimate. However, ScotMap data indicate no dredge activity within the NWS area, therefore the estimated impact on dredges from ICES rectangle data is likely to be an over-estimate. The coverage for ScotMap interviews in the region was 71.9% (total value of reported landings from the Fisheries Information Network for those vessels included in the ScotMap value analysis expressed as a percentage of the total reported landings for all vessels <15m). Therefore the ScotMap estimate is likely to under-represent the value of fishing by under-15m vessels, and the spatial representation of the value of fishing is less robust than in regions where coverage is higher. VMS data indicate that there were 12 non- UK vessels within the NWS proposed MPA (3 French, 3 Irish, 3 Spanish, 2 German and 1 Norwegian), but these vessels will not have been actively fishing within the proposed MPA, which is within 6nm, and are more likely to have been transiting to Ullapool port. Management measures for the scenarios have been developed based on the sensitivity and vulnerability of the features to the pressures caused by different gear types and SNH recommendations. No cost impacts are anticipated under the lower scenario because the features that would be protected (flame shell beds, maerl beds and native oysters) cover very small areas in which trawling and dredging are unlikely to be taking place. Unlike most other sectors, the potential cost of designation on commercial fisheries is a loss or displacement of current (and future) output, caused by restrictions on fishing activities. Any decrease in output will, all else being equal, reduce the Gross Value Added ( GVA) generated by the sector and have knock-on effects on the GVA generated by those industries that supply commercial fishing vessels. The costs estimates for this sector have therefore been estimated in terms of GVA. GVA estimates have been generated by applying fleet segment-specific 'GVA/total income' ratios to the value of landings affected. The GVA ratios have been calculated using data on total income and GVA from the Sea Fish Industry Authority Multi-year Fleet Economic Performance Dataset (published March 2013). Further details on the GVA ratios and the methodology for estimating GVA and employment impacts applied are presented in Appendix C7. It is important to note that all costs presented below assume that all affected landings are lost, that is, there is no displacement of fishing activity to alternative fishing grounds. In reality, some displacement is likely to occur and hence the cost, GVA and employment impacts presented in this table are likely to overestimate the costs. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs |
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Description of recurring costs |
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Description of non-quantified costs |
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Quantified Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA (£Million) | |||
Total costs (2014-2033) | 0.000 | 5.141 | 10.282 |
Average annual costs | 0.000 | 0.257 | 0.514 |
Present value of total costs (2014-2033) | 0.000 | 3.781 | 7.562 |
Economic Impacts (£Million) | |||
Total change in GVA (2014-2033) | 0.000 | 2.116 | 4.238 |
Average annual change to GVA | 0.000 | 0.106 | 0.212 |
Present value of total change in GVA (2014-2033) | 0.000 | 1.558 | 3.117 |
Direct and Indirect reduction in Employment | 0.0 jobs | 2.9 jobs | 5.9 jobs |
Total costs = Sum of one-off costs and recurring costs for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual costs = Total costs divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total costs = Total costs discounted to their current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. Total change in GVA (2014-2033) = The change in direct GVA in the sector for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual change to GVA = Total change in direct GVA in the sector for the site divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total change in GVA (2014-2033) = Total change in direct GVA in the sector for the site discounted to current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. Direct and Indirect reduction in Employment = The average (mean) reduction in direct employment in the sector plus the indirect reduction in employment on the sector's suppliers. |
Table 4d. Energy Generation | [ NWS] | ||
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There are no energy generation activities currently operating within the NWS proposed MPA boundary or corresponding buffer zones. Thus, economic costs and management measures associated with energy generation in this proposed MPA are described in light of known possible future developments. Within the NWS proposed MPA boundary, one potential future export cable route for a wave energy Area of Search (AoS) could overlap the MPA features burrowed mud, circalittoral muddy sand communities, flame shell beds, sublittoral kelp and seaweed communities on sediment, maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers and northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata under all scenarios ( i.e. lower, intermediate and upper extent), with the exception of northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata which only overlaps this energy generation activity under the upper scenario. The MPA feature burrowed mud is sensitive to permanent change of one marine habitat type to another (through changes in substratum) and physical damage to species living on or within the seabed. Therefore, it is possible that mitigation costs could be incurred. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs |
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Description of recurring costs |
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Description of non-quantified costs |
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Quantified Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA (£Million) | |||
Total costs (2014-2033) | 0.012 | 3.267 | 3.492 |
Average annual costs | 0.001 | 0.163 | 0.175 |
Present value of total costs (2014-2033) | 0.009 | 2.173 | 2.308 |
Total costs = Sum of one-off costs and recurring costs for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual costs = Total costs divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total costs = Total costs discounted to their current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. |
Table 4e. Military | [ NWS] | ||
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One coastal military location (Loch Ewe fuel jetty) overlaps with the NWS proposed MPA. The Loch Ewe fuel jetty overlaps with sublittoral kelp and seaweed communities on sediment (all scenarios). The Loch Ewe fuel jetty also overlaps with burrowed mud (intermediate and upper scenarios), maerl beds (upper scenario) and maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers (upper scenario). Nine military practice areas (Ewe (X5813) and Minch South (X5814), and seven submarine exercise areas) overlap with the NWS proposed MPA. The two military practice areas Ewe (X5813) and Minch South (X5814) overlap with the burrowed mud feature (all scenarios). In addition the military practice area Ewe (X5813) overlaps with circalittoral muddy sand communities (all scenarios), flame shell beds (all scenarios), maerl beds (all scenarios), maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers (all scenarios), Northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata (all scenarios) and sublittoral kelp and seaweed communities on sediment (all scenarios). The seven submarine exercise areas overlap with the features of the NWS proposed MPA to varying degrees under the different extent scenarios. In addition, one submarine exercise area overlaps with native oyster (all scenarios). The features and associated habitats which overlap with military activities have not been described as vulnerable to MoD activities in this proposed MPA. It is assumed that management relating to MoD activity will be coordinated through the MoD's Maritime Environmental Sustainability Appraisal Tool ( MESAT) which the MoD uses to assist in meeting its environmental obligations. This process will include operational guidance to reduce significant impacts of military activities on MPAs. It is assumed that the MoD will incur additional costs in adjusting MESAT and other MoD environmental assessment tools in order to consider whether its activities will impact on the conservation objectives of MPAs and also incur additional costs in adjusting electronic charts to consider MPAs. However, these costs will be incurred at national level and hence no site-specific cost assessments have been made. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs | |||
Description of recurring costs | |||
Description of non-quantified costs | |||
Quantified Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA (£Million) | |||
Total costs (2014-2033) | See national costs | See national costs | See national costs |
Average annual costs | See national costs | See national costs | See national costs |
Present value of total costs (2014-2033) | See national costs | See national costs | See national costs |
Total costs = Sum of one-off costs and recurring costs for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual costs = Total costs divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total costs = Total costs discounted to their current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. |
Table 4f. Ports and Harbours | NWS | ||
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There are five ports/harbours (Achiltibuie, Gruinard, Rhu Coigach, Ullapool and Poolewe) within the NWS proposed MPA boundary. All five ports/harbours overlap the MPA feature burrow mud under all scenarios within the 1km buffer. In addition to burrowed mud, all five ports/harbours overlap sublittoral kelp and seaweed communities on sediment under all scenarios, with the exception of Achiltibuie (intermediate and upper only). Three of these ports/harbours overlap circalittoral muddy sand communities (Achiltibuie, Gruinard and Rhu Coigach). Rhu Coigach (all scenarios), Achiltibuie, Gruinard, and Poolewe (upper scenario only) overlap maerl beds (and maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers). Therefore, management costs may be incurred under the assumption that small ports/harbours will undergo one new development within the relevant time frame (2014-2033), assumed for the year 2024. There are two anchorages/mooring areas within the NWS proposed MPA boundary. Both anchorages/mooring areas overlap the MPA feature burrowed mud under the intermediate and upper scenarios, with one of the two also overlapping burrowed mud under the lower scenario as well. Costs may be expected to relocate anchorages/mooring areas to less sensitive areas, although any associated costs are non-quantifiable. There is one small active disposal site (approximately 500m 3 per dredge) within the NWS proposed MPA boundary associated with the port/harbour Ullapool. The disposal site overlaps the MPA feature burrowed mud under all scenarios. Therefore, management costs may be incurred under the assumption that a disposal licence will be applied for every ten years within the relevant time frame (2014-2033). Given that the most recent application is being submitted in 2013, it is assumed that future licence application will occur in the years 2023 and 2033. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs |
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Description of recurring costs |
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Description of non-quantified costs |
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Quantified Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA (£Million) | |||
Total costs (2014-2033) | 0.047 | 0.047 | 0.047 |
Average annual costs | 0.002 | 0.002 | 0.002 |
Present value of total costs (2014-2033) | 0.032 | 0.032 | 0.032 |
Total costs = Sum of one-off costs and recurring costs for the site summed over the 20 year period. Average annual costs = Total costs divided by the total number of years under analysis ( i.e. 20). Present value of total costs = Total costs discounted to their current value, using a discount rate of 3.5%. |
Table 4g. Recreational Boating | [ NWS] | ||
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There are five cruising routes for recreational boating that intersect the NWS proposed MPA; three light traffic and two medium traffic, although vessels transiting these cruising routes are not assessed as requiring any additional management measures. Under the upper scenario, there are 27 recreational boating anchorages (and associated 100m buffer zones) that overlap with features proposed for protection within the MPA proposal boundary. Twenty anchorages overlap with kelp and seaweed communities, one overlaps with flame shell beds and six overlap with burrowed mud. Also under the upper scenario are four Crown Estate mooring points and two mooring areas. One additional mooring point lies within one of the mooring areas, although it is expected that this is an underestimate and that additional mooring points are present within the mooring areas that are not represented by the data. The Crown Estate moorings overlap with burrowed mud, circalittoral muddy sand communities, sublittoral kelp and seaweed communities, maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, flame shell beds and northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata. Under the intermediate and lower scenarios, SNH have identified four recreational anchorages that overlap with proposed protected features and one mooring area owned by The Crown Estate. One anchorage in Loch Ewe overlaps with kelp and seaweed communities and native oyster point data records. An anchorage in Loch Broom overlaps with flameshell bed records; one in the 100m zone and two in the 200m zone. Another anchorage in Loch Broom overlaps with flameshell bed point records and kelp and seaweed communities in the 200m zone. Also of note in Loch Broom are clustered flameshell beds around the area. At Tanera Beg, Summer Isles, one anchorage overlaps with a point record of kelp and seaweed communities and a polygon record of maerl beds within 200m. There is uncertainty as to the exact location of The Crown Estate's mooring within the MPA proposal area and therefore the degree of interaction with proposed protected features. Of most concern is the concentration of flame shell beds in the narrows of Loch Broom. |
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Economic Costs on the Activity of Designation of the Site as an MPA | |||
Lower Estimate | Intermediate Estimate | Upper Estimate | |
Assumptions for cost impacts |
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Description of one-off costs |
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Description of recurring costs |
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Description of non-quantified costs |
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Human activities that would benefit from designation of the site as an MPA
Human activities that are present but which would be unaffected by designation of the site as an MPA
Table 6. Human Activities that are present but which would be Unaffected by Designation of the Site as an MPA [ NWS] | |
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Activity | Description |
Power Interconnectors | One consented power interconnector (Western Isles HVDC Link) overlaps with the NWS proposed MPA. The consented power interconnector overlaps with burrowed mud (all scenarios), circalittoral muddy sand communities (all scenarios) and sublittoral kelp and seaweed communities on sediment (all scenarios). In addition the future power interconnector overlaps with maerl beds (upper scenario), maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers (upper scenario) and northern feather start aggregations on mixed substrata (upper scenario). The future power interconnector is also within 1km of flame shell beds (all scenarios). No cost impacts are foreseen, as it is assumed that there will be no review of the existing consents. |
Social and Distributional Analysis of Impacts from Designation of the Site as an MPA
Potential Contribution of the Site to an Ecologically-Coherent Network
Table 8. Overview of Features Proposed for Designation and how these contribute to an Ecologically Coherent Network of MPAs | [ NWS] | ||||
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Feature Name | Representation | Replication | Linkages | Geographic Range and Variation |
Resilience |
Burrowed mud | Provides representation of the tall sea pen in burrowing mud in OSPAR Region III. | One of two areas of tall sea pen in burrowing mud in OSPAR Region III and one of three in Scottish seas. | Not currently understood for burrowed mud. | Burrowed mud occurs within a range of environments. It occurs in OSPAR Regions II, III and V. The proposed MPA and others within the network will represent the different components of burrowed mud and its geographic range and variation. | Seapens and burrowing megafauna are listed by OSPAR as threatened and/or declining. The MPA area may increase resilience. |
Flame shell beds | Provides representation for flame shell beds in OSPAR Region III. | Represents one of five recommended areas for flame shell beds in OSPAR Region III. | Not currently understood for flame shell beds. | All records of flame shell beds are from OSPAR Region III. The recommended MPA areas would to some extent reflect the geographic range of flame shell beds in Scottish seas. | Not listed by OSPAR as threatened and/or declining, although there is evidence of decline. The MPA may increase resilience. |
Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments | Provides representation for kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment in OSPAR Region III. | No information available | No information available. | No information available. | No information available. |
Maerl beds | Provides representation for maerl beds in OSPAR Region III. | Represents one of three areas of maerl bed within OSPAR Region III and one of five in the Scottish seas. | No information available. | No information available. | Maerl beds are listed by OSPAR as threatened and/or declining. MPA area may increase resilience. |
Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers | Provides representation for maerl beds in OSPAR Region III. | Represents one of two areas recommended for the protection of maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers. | No information available. | No information available. | No information available. |
Native oysters | Provides representation of native oysters in OSPAR Region III. | Represents one of two areas of native oysters within OSPAR Region III. | No information available. | No information available. | Native oysters are listed as threatened and/or declining by OSPAR. The MPA may increase resilience. |
Northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata | Provides representation of northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata in OSPAR Region III. | Represents one of three recommended areas for northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata in OSPAR Region III. | Not currently understood for Northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata. | All records of Northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata are from OSPAR Region III. | No information available |
Circalittoral muddy sand communities | No information available. | ||||
JNCC (pers. comm.); SNH and JNCC. (2012). Assessment of the potential adequacy of the Scottish MPA network for MPA search features: summary of the application of the stage 5 selection guidelines. Available online from: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/marine-environment/mpanetwork/engagement/270612. |
Anticipated Benefits to Ecosystem Services
Table 9. Summary of Ecosystem Services Benefits arising from Designation of the Site as an MPA [11] | [ NWS] | |||||||
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Services | Relevance to Site |
Baseline Level | Estimated Impacts of Designation | Value Weighting | Scale of Benefits | Confidence | ||
Lower | Intermediate | Upper | ||||||
Fish for human consumption | High. Site fishing grounds are valuable, and contain nursery habitats. | Stocks not at MSY, maerl beds extent needs to recover | Nil | Moderate, protection of shellfish beds can contribute to maintenance and recovery of stocks - benefits are higher under stronger protection measures, but ecosystem response is uncertain. | High, significant commercial landings from site. Commercially valuable species supported. | Nil - Moderate, extent of ecosystem service and response to management are both unpredictable | Low, uncertainty in extent of habitats and their response to management measures. | |
Fish for non-human consumption | Stocks reduced from potential maximum | |||||||
Gas and climate regulation | Low | Low | Nil | Minimal - Low, from restoring habitats. | Moderate, social cost of carbon | Minimal | Moderate | |
Natural hazard protection | Low | Low | Nil | Low | Nil | High | ||
Regulation of pollution | Moderate, benthic communities regulate pollution | Low, major water quality issues to be dealt with through WFD | Nil | Low, protection could allows recovery of species that provide this service | Low, water quality in this area not affecting human welfare | Nil - Low | Moderate | |
Non-use value of natural environment | Moderate - High, variety of protected features, and contribution of the site to MPA network, have non-use value. | Non-use value of the site may decline | Nil | Low - Moderate. Protection of features of site from minor decline | Moderate - protection of features of site from decline, and allowing recovery | Moderate - range of features means strong contribution to halting decline of marine biodiversity. | Nil - Moderate | Low - Moderate, extent of features recovery in response to management measures, and value to society, are uncertain |
Recreation | Moderate - High, active dive sites, angling and recreational boating routes | Moderate - High, including tourism activities. Angling may be reduced by damage to features | Nil | Low - Moderate, Angling benefits and biodiversity encountered by divers and recreational boaters are protected from possible decline, and could recover. Designation could enhance tourism activity. | Moderate, extensive activities, but substitutes are available. | Low - Moderate, enhancement of activities through improved angling and visitor experiences. | Low - Moderate, extent of change from management measures uncertain | |
Research and Education | Moderate | Low, small number of biological features have research value and there are substitutes | Nil | Low, protection of key characteristics of site from decline, possible recovery, improving future research opportunities. | Low for individual features. Moderate for opportunity to understand response of wide range of features to management | Low | Low - Moderate, extent to which research uses site in future uncertain | |
Total value of changes in ecosystem services | Nil for low scenario, moderate for upper scenarios | Nil - Moderate | Low |
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