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

• Possible costs associated with potential future development; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment

• Possible costs associated with potential future development; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment

• Possible costs associated with potential future development; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment

• Possible costs associated with potential future development; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment

• Possible costs associated with potential future development; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment

• Possible costs associated with potential future development; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment

• None.

• Displacement impacts.

• Displacement impacts.

• See national assessment.

• See national assessment.

• See national assessment.

• Relocation of anchorages/ mooring areas away from features of high sensitivity; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

• Relocation of anchorages/ mooring areas away from features of high and medium sensitivity; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

• Relocation of anchorages/ mooring areas away from features of high and medium sensitivity; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

• None.

• None,

• Cost of anchorage relocation.

There are three finfish farms within the boundary of the LFG proposed MPA, Ardcastle Bay, Furnace Quarry and Quarry Point. Furnace Quarry directly overlaps with the Burrowed Mud feature under all scenarios (lower, intermediate and upper). Ardcastle Bay and Quarry Point overlap with this feature under the upper scenario only. There are two additional finfish farms within 1km of the feature under all scenarios (Evanachan Marine Hatchery and Evanachan Salt Water).

Furnace Quarry directly overlaps with Ocean Quahog feature under all scenarios. Ardcastle Bay and Quarry Point overlap with this feature under the intermediate and upper scenarios only.

There are two additional finfish farms within 1km of the feature under all scenarios (Evanachan Marine Hatchery and Evanachan Salt Water).

Furnace Quarry directly overlaps with the Sublittoral mud and mixed sediment feature under all scenarios. Ardcastle Bay and Quarry Point overlap with this feature under the intermediate and upper scenarios only. There are two additional finfish farms within 1km of the feature under all scenarios (Evanachan Marine Hatchery and Evanachan Salt Water).

There is no public information on potential future development within the proposed MPA. In the absence of information 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.

• Additional assessment costs for new CAR licence applications to assess impacts to MPA features.

• Additional assessment costs for new CAR licence applications to assess impacts to MPA features; and
• Additional survey costs incurred once every 10 years (2019 & 2029) to inform new CAR licence applications.

• Additional assessment costs for new CAR licence applications to assess impacts to MPA features; and
• Additional survey costs incurred once every 10 years (2019 & 2029) to inform new CAR licence applications.

• Additional assessment costs for CAR licence once every 10 years (2019, 2029) of £500 per CAR licence application.

• Additional assessment costs for CAR licence once every 10 years (2019, 2029) of £500 per CAR licence application; and
• Additional baseline visual survey costs -£1.6k per CAR licence application.

• Additional assessment costs for CAR licence once every 10 years (2019, 2029) of £500 per CAR licence application; and
• Additional baseline visual survey costs -£1.6k per CAR licence application.

• None.

• None.

• None.

• Possible costs associated with potential future development. A national assessment of additional assessment and survey costs for potential future development is provided separately; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

• Possible costs associated with potential future development. A national assessment of additional assessment and survey costs for potential future development is provided separately; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

• Possible costs associated with potential future development. A national assessment of additional assessment and survey costs for potential future development is provided separately; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

There are two shellfish aquaculture sites within the boundary of the LFG proposed MPA, Loch Fyne and 'Site 1'. Both sites overlap with the Burrowed Mud feature under the high scenario only. Burrowed mud is present within 1km of the sites under all scenarios.

Both sites directly overlap with the Ocean Quahog feature under the intermediate and upper scenarios. Ocean quahog is within 1km of the sites under all scenarios.

Both sites overlap with the Sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities feature under the high scenario only. This feature is also within 1km of the sites for the high scenario only.

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.

• N/A

• N/A

• N/A

• N/A

• N/A

• N/A

• N/A

• N/A

• N/A

• Possible costs associated with potential future development. A national assessment of additional assessment and survey costs for potential future development is provided separately; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

• Possible costs associated with potential future development. A national assessment of additional assessment and survey costs for potential future development is provided separately; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

• Possible costs associated with potential future development. A national assessment of additional assessment and survey costs for potential future development is provided separately; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

According to VMS-based estimates and ICES rectangle landings statistics, Nephrops trawls, dredges, pelagic trawls and other gears (over-15m) and pots, nephrops trawls, hand fishing and other gears (under-15m vessels) operate within the LFG proposed MPA. The value of catches from the LFG area was £36,900 (over-15m vessels) and £56,100 (under-15m vessels, indicated from ICES rectangle landings data) (average for 2007-2011, 2012 prices). Landings from the over-15m vessels are made predominantly into Tarbet (95% by value). For the over-15m fleet, nephrops trawlers operated in particular in the southern and central and part of the proposed MPA across all the features in this area.

Provisional ScotMap data indicate that the annual average earnings from the LFG proposed MPA was £78,200, with over 60% from Nephrops pots and 28% from Nephrops trawls. It is likely that the ICES rectangle estimate for the cost impact on <15m Nephrops trawls is an under-estimate; the value from ScotMap for the whole MPA area is £0.02 million (compared to £0.007 million from ICES rectangle data). The coverage for ScotMap interviews in the region was 63.8% (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 are no foreign vessels fishing within the LFG proposed MPA.

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.

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.

• No cost impacts expected.

• Closure to beam trawls and dredges (gears likely to impact on ocean quahog) across the ocean quahog feature extent (full extent of proposed MPA); and
• Closure to other mobile bottom-contact gears (whitefish, nephrops and other trawls and seines) across horse mussel and flame shell beds;
• Closure to mobile bottom-contact gear across burrowed mud feature (due to recover objective); and
• Limit further expansion of static gear.

• Closure to mobile bottom-contact gears (whitefish, nephrops and other trawls and seines, beam trawls and dredges) across full extent of MPA; and
• Limit further expansion of static gear.

• None.

• None.

• None.

• None.

• Loss of >15m fishing income (annual values, £ million, 2012 prices):
• Nephrops trawls (0.007).
• Loss of <15m fishing income (annual values, £ million, 2012 prices):
• Whitefish trawls (<0.001);
• Nephrops trawls (0.003);
• Other trawls (<0.001);
• Dredges (0.002).

• Loss of >15m fishing income (annual values, £ million, 2012 prices):
• Nephrops trawls (0.009).
• Loss of <15m fishing income (annual values, £ million, 2012 prices):
• Whitefish trawls (<0.001);
• Nephrops trawls (0.007);
• Other trawls (<0.001);
• Dredges (0.002).

• None.

• Displacement effects, including conflict with other fishing vessels, environmental impacts in targeting new areas, longer steaming times and increased fuel costs, changes in costs and earnings, gear development and adaptation costs, and additional quota costs.

• Displacement effects, including conflict with other fishing vessels, environmental impacts in targeting new areas, longer steaming times and increased fuel costs, changes in costs and earnings, gear development and adaptation costs, and additional quota costs.

One coastal military location (Loch Goil noise range) overlaps with the LFG proposed MPA boundary. The Loch Goil noise range overlaps with low or variable salinity habitats (all scenarios), sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities (intermediate and upper scenarios), ocean quahog (intermediate and upper scenarios) and burrowed mud (upper scenario).

Nine military practice areas (Minard (X5602), Fyne (X5603), Goil (X5604) and Tarbert (X5517); and five submarine exercise areas) overlap with the LFG proposed MPA.

The military practice areas Minard (X5602), Fyne (X5603) and Goil (X5604) overlap with burrowed mud (all scenarios), ocean quahog (all scenarios) and sublittoral mud and mixed sediments (all scenarios). Minard (X5602) also overlaps with flame shell beds (all scenarios) and horse mussel beds (all scenarios), whilst Goil (X5604) overlaps with horse mussel beds (all scenarios) and low or variable salinity habitats (all scenarios).

The military practice area Tarbert (X5517) overlaps with ocean quahog (intermediate and upper scenario), burrowed mud (upper scenario) and sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities (upper scenario).

The five submarine exercise areas overlap with the features of the LFG proposed MPA to varying degrees under the different extent 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.

• See National Assessment.

• See National Assessment.

• See National Assessment.

There are three ports/harbours (Furnace, Inverary and Portincaple) within the LFG proposed MPA boundary. Furnace overlaps with burrowed mud, ocean quahog aggregations and sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities under all scenarios. Inverary overlaps with burrowed mud (upper scenario only), ocean quahog (intermediate and upper scenarios) and sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities (upper scenario). Portincaple overlaps with burrowed mud, horse mussel beds, low or variable salinity habitats, ocean quahog aggregations and sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities under all scenarios.

There are five anchorages/mooring areas within the LFG proposed MPA boundary. Two anchorages/mooring areas overlap burrowed mud under the high scenario whilst two further anchorages/mooring areas overlap ocean quahog and sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities under all scenarios. The remaining anchorage/mooring area overlaps ocean quahog and burrowed mud under the intermediate and upper scenarios only ( i.e. no overlap under lower scenario). Costs may be expected to relocate anchorages/mooring areas to less sensitive areas, although any associated costs are non-quantifiable.

• Additional licensing costs for small port developments (up to 2 in total); and
• Relocate anchorages/mooring areas away from all features with a high sensitivity.

• Additional licensing costs for small port developments (up to 3 in total); and
• Relocate anchorages/mooring areas away from all features with a high or medium sensitivity. If not possible to relocate away from medium-sensitivity features, relocate to more representative areas.

• Additional licensing costs for small port developments (up to 3 in total); and
• Relocate anchorages/mooring areas away from all features with a high or medium sensitivity. If not possible to relocate away from medium-sensitivity features, relocate to more representative areas.

• Additional assessment costs for licence application - £6.75k per licence application. Application estimated for submission in 2024 (Furnace and Portincaple).

• Additional assessment costs for licence application - £6.75k per licence application. Application estimated for submission in 2024 (Furnace, Inverary and Portincaple).

• Additional assessment costs for licence application - £6.75k per licence application. Application estimated for submission in 2024 (Furnace, Inverary and Portincaple).

• None.

• None.

• None.

• Relocation of anchorages/mooring areas away from features of high sensitivity; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

• Relocation of anchorages/mooring areas away from features of high and medium sensitivity; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

• Relocation of anchorages/mooring areas away from features of high and medium sensitivity; and
• Costs of project delays during consenting; risk of deterrent to investment.

There is one medium traffic cruising route within the LFG MPA proposal boundary that overlaps with features proposed for designation, although cruising routes are not expected to incur any management or assessment costs.

Under the upper scenario there are 21 anchorages (and associated 100m buffer zones) within the MPA proposal boundary that overlap with proposed protected features. Overlaps with burrowed mud, low and variable salinity habitats, ocean quahog and sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities have been identified. A further 21 Crown Estate mooring points are present within the proposed MPA under the upper scenario and ten larger mooring areas. A number of individual mooring points are located within these larger mooring areas within the proposed MPA, although it is expected that this may be an underestimate and additional moorings are found within the areas that are not represented by the data.The Crown Estate moorings show overlaps with ocean quahog, burrowed mud, sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities and low and variable salinity habitats.

Under the intermediate and lower scenarios, SNH have identified two recreational anchorages and three mooring areas owned by The Crown Estate that overlap with proposed protected features. Point records of low and variable salinity habitats and horse mussel beds occur between the two anchorages. The Crown Estate's mooring areas also overlap with multiple records of burrowed mud and sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities, and one overlaps with five records of ocean quahog.

• No additional management required. Burrowed mud has medium sensitivity to surface abrasion associated with anchoring although effects are highly localised and mostly relate to demersal fishing activity. Sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities may have some degree of sensitivity to pressures associated with moorings, although these sediments can be more mobile in nature and therefore more tolerant to such pressures. Ocean quahog has medium sensitivity to subsurface abrasion/penetration associated with mooring activity, although this activity is localised.

• No additional management required. Burrowed mud has medium sensitivity to surface abrasion associated with anchoring although effects are highly localised and mostly relate to demersal fishing activity. Sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities may have some degree of sensitivity to pressures associated with moorings, although these sediments can be more mobile in nature and therefore more tolerant to such pressures. Ocean quahog has medium sensitivity to subsurface abrasion/penetration associated with mooring activity, although this activity is localised.

• Relocate all anchorages/moorings away from all features with a high or medium sensitivity to surface abrasion pressure associated with anchoring: burrowed mud and ocean quahog. If not possible to relocate away from features, relocate to less sensitive or more representative areas.

• None.

• None.

• None.

• None.

• None.

• None.

• None.

• None.

• Cost of anchorage relocation.

• Healt h (increase in illness, mental stress, loss of self esteem

• Increase in crime; and
• Reduction in f u ture emp lo y me n t prospects/future earnings.

• Empl o y m e nt - reduced employment due to changes in costs and earnings profile of vessels ( e.g. increased fuel costs, gear development and adaption costs, additional quota costs);
• Conflict/Loss of social cohesion - diminishing fishing grounds may increase conflict with other vessels/gear types, increase social tensions within fishing communities and lead to a loss of social cohesion among fleets. Could also lead to increased operating costs as a result of lost or damaged gear. Equally, gear conflict could reduce where gears are restricted/prohibited;
• Healt h - increased risks to the safety of fishers and vessels and increased stress due to moving to lesser known areas;
• E n v ironmental - increased impact in targeting new areas, longer streaming times and increased fuel consumption; and
• Cul t ur e a nd her i tag e - change in traditional fishing patterns/ activities.

Commercial Fisheries

Reduction in landed value, GVA and employment

x

West

x

Largest employment impacts in:

Campbeltown (100%)

x

Coastal Rural

0

0.02-0.2 job losses

Fish Processors

Reduction in local landings at landing ports

Commercial Fisheries

Reduction in landed value, GVA and employment

x

Information only available on average incomes not the distribution of income. Therefore, not clear whether this group will be affected.

Fish Processors

Reduction in local landings at landing ports