Formal Consultation – MMO management of fishing activity impacts in marine protected areas – Stage 3
3.6 Wight-Barfleur Reef
This section is for specific responses in relation to Wight-Barfleur Reef MPA.
If you have general comments for MPAs in the Eastern Channel please place these in the ‘region - regional comments’ section.
Alternatively, if your comments are overarching, for the consultation as a whole, please place these in the ‘General comments’ section.
A summary for Wight-Barfleur Reef MPA, the Stage 3 MPA Fisheries Assessment, associated Impact Assessment (De minimis Assessment), methodology and draft byelaw can be found in the related information section below. Three Impacts Evidence documents can also be accessed in the related information section, describing the interactions between different fishing gear types and designated MPA features.
The map of the management area for this site can be found below. WebApps displaying the management areas alongside site data have also been produced. Access the WebApps here, guidance on their use can be found in the related information section below.
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
Wight-Barfleur Reef MPA is an SAC covering 1317 km2 located in the Eastern Channel offshore of 12 nm from the south coast Dorset, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Part of the MPA borders the median line with French waters. Its designated feature is:
- reefs.
The MMO Marine Protected Areas Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw 2023 came into force on 22 March 2023 and prohibits the use of bottom towed fishing gear throughout the MPA.
The MMO draft site assessment concludes that ongoing fishing using anchored nets and lines and traps will not result in an adverse effect on site integrity.
No further management for this MPA is therefore proposed.
MMO is proposing that the current bottom towed gear prohibition in the MMO Marine Protected Areas Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw 2023 is incorporated into and replaced by the draft Eastern Channel Marine Protected Areas Fishing Gear Byelaw 2024.
The Wight-Barfleur Reef site assessment can be viewed and downloaded below.
Wight-Barfleur Reef MPA Fisheries Site Assessment (opens in new tab)
Other relevant related documents can be viewed and downloaded below:
The Eastern Channel Marine Protected Areas Fishing Gear Byelaw 2024
MMO Stage 3 MPA Fisheries Assessment Methodology
MMO Stage 3 MPA WebApp Guidance
Anchored Nets and Lines Fishing Gear Impacts Evidence