Developing Fisheries Management Measures for Natura 2000 SAC sites in UK Offshore Waters Stanton Banks and Haig Fras case studies Sophie Elliott & Michael McLeod
Presentation overview Stanton Banks and Haig Fras Site of Community Importance (SCI); The pilot site fisheries management workshop undertaken through the MAIA project; Next steps to identify Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) fisheries management measures for the sites; Lessons learned; Identifying voluntary management measures for inshore Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) in Scottish waters. Paul Kay
Stanton Banks Site of Community Importance Adopted by the commission in 2009 as a SCI for it s bedrock reef following consultation Conservation Objective of restore to favourable condition, subject to natural change
Haig Fras Site of Community Importance Adopted by the commission in 2009 as a SCI for it s bedrock reef following consultation Conservation Objective of restore to favourable condition, subject to natural change
The Marine Protected Areas in the Atlantic Arc Project (MAIA) WP3: Supporting the identification and development of MPA management measures www.maia-network.org Towards a network of Marine Protected Areas in the Atlantic arc
Stanton banks SCI Fisheries Management Measure Workshop Discussed various management options Looked a Zoned proposal in detail Actions: To discuss the site and impact with potters To look at possible management boundaries with new survey and fishing data
Haig Fras SCI Fisheries Management Measure Workshop Possible management options discussed Zoned management explored in more detail JNCC and MMO to re-examine detailed VMS data in relation to new survey data Latitude 50.50 50.45 50.40 50.35 50.30 50.25 50.20 2010 data Details of Haig Fras area relative to ICES rectangle boundaries and sub-rectangle boundaries used for MCZ analysis (0.05 degree sub--squares - Fishing pings matched to logbook data - activity by gear type 29E1 29E2 50.15 50.10 50.05 50.00-9.00-8.90-8.80-8.70-8.60-8.50-8.40-8.30-8.20-8.10-8.00-7.90-7.80-7.70-7.60-7.50-7.40-7.30-7.20-7.10-7.00 Longitude Haig Fras area mobile gears passive gears
Next steps Providing information on site and fishing activities to answer the eleven question identified within the Natura 2000 CFP fisheries management guidance Re-meeting stakeholders that attended the workshops The management authorities to write proposals for the SCIs management measures Meet with NWWRAC Formal public consultation Submission of request for management measures to EC
EC Natura fisheries management measures under the CFP guidance A scientific rational of the site and detailed description; Threat to habitats and species from human pressures; Details of fishing activity occurring in & around the site.
Continued... Proposed fisheries management measures to maintain the habitats features in favourable condition; Control measures required for the site; Measures to monitor and assess the site; Evaluation of possible displacement.
Lessons Learned Start with an open mind within boundaries Improve access to VMS data Fishermen not their representatives Schedule workshops to suit them Access fisherman s electronic data before The value of practical environmental knowledge
Statutory vs Voluntary Method of protection not important Risk of irreversible damage Conservation of features paramount Stakeholders have to buy-in
Statutory Legislative backing Legal system Rigid design Essential offshore Single sector issues Stakeholder anger Long CFP process (offshore) Legal action cannot repair damage
Voluntary Beneficial inshore Multi sector Allows buy-in Local influence Flexibility in design Self policing Article 6 still applies Rotten apples No legal remedy
Voluntary case study Sound of Arisaig SAC Extensive dense maerl beds All located in water <20m Highly sensitive to disturbance Very slow recovery All types of fishing potentially damaging
Incorporating local knowledge No creel fishing target species on maerl Scallop dredgers fishing >20m depth Hand diving Razorfish <15m, Scallops 15 to 30m depth
Outcomes No measures for creel fishing Voluntary exclusion of dredging <25m New moorings to avoid Maerl beds Presumption against extraction of sand Education for recreational users Research into fish farm impact on Maerl Informal diver monitoring
Thank you for listening Further information regarding MPA developments across the UK can be found on the JNCC website: www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineprotectedareas Useful email addresses: - MAIA Project - maia@aires-marines.fr - Natura SCI information - http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4534 -Marine Scotland webpage www.scotland.gov.uk/marinescotland Sophie Elliott & Michael McLeod Sophie.Elliott@jncc.gov.uk Michael.McLeod@scotland.gsi.gov.uk s Paul Kay