Formal Consultation – MMO management of fishing activity impacts in marine protected areas – Stage 3
1. General Comments
This section is for general responses in relation to the consultation as a whole.
If you have general responses for a specific region please place them in their respective ‘region - regional comments’ section.
If you have responses for specific MPAs please place these in their respective site sections.
The related documents can be viewed and downloaded below in the 'Related Information' section.
As detailed on the overview page, we have provided guidance questions which may help with structuring your response:
- Do you have any additional information about the location, condition, or sensitivity of the designated features?
- Do you have information on the type, location, frequency, or intensity of fishing activity within the MPAs?
- Do you agree or disagree with the proposed management measures? Do you have any suggestions for other management measures?
- How would the proposed management measures affect you? Or those you represent?
- What impacts, if any, do you anticipate the proposed management measures will have on UK fishing vessels, operators, or supply chains?
- What impacts, if any, do you anticipate the proposed management measures will have on non-UK fishing vessels, operators, or supply chains (including those from the EU)?
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What other impacts could the proposed management measures have? For example, on fishers, the wider fishing community, coastal communities, employment, upstream and downstream supply chains, people with protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010, fish stocks, the marine environment.
Related Information
The relevant documents can be viewed and downloaded below.
The North Sea Marine Protected Areas Fishing Gear Byelaw 2024
The Irish Sea Marine Protected Areas Fishing Gear Byelaw 2024
The Western Channel and South West Marine Protected Areas Fishing Gear Byelaw 2024
The Eastern Channel Marine Protected Areas Fishing Gear Byelaw 2024
MMO Stage 3 MPA Fisheries Assessment Methodology
MMO Stage 3 MPA WebApp Guidance
MMO Stage 3 Formal Consultation Letter. 22 July 2025 update
MMO Stage 3 Consultation Document. 22 July 2025 update
MMO Stage 3 Consultation Document Executive Summary - ENGLISH. 22 July 2025 update
MMO Stage 3 Consultation Document Executive Summary - FRENCH. 22 July 2025 update
MMO Stage 3 Consultation Document Executive Summary - SPANISH. 22 July 2025 update
MMO Stage 3 Consultation Document Executive Summary - DUTCH. 22 July 2025 update
MMO Stage 3 Call for Evidence Decision Document
Anchored Nets and Lines Fishing Gear Impacts Evidence
Bottom Towed Gear Fishing Gear Impacts Evidence
Traps Fishing Gear Impacts Evidence
MMO Stage 3 MPA Independent Panel Review Report
UPDATE 20 June 2025: The Irish Sea Marine Protected Areas Fishing Gear Byelaw 2024 draft document has been updated with corrections made to map coordinates.
UPDATE 22 July 2025: In response to requests from stakeholders the decision has been made to extend the consultation period by 4 weeks, meaning the consultation will now close on 29 September 2025 (Originally 1 September 2025). This will allow more time for you to consider the consultation documentation and provide detailed responses to our proposals.