Formal Consultation – MMO management of fishing activity impacts in marine protected areas – Stage 3
5.4 West of Copeland
This section is for specific responses in relation to West of Copeland MPA.
If you have general comments for MPAs in the Irish Sea 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 West of Copeland 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
West of Copeland MPA is a marine conservation zone (MCZ) covering 158 km2 located in the Irish Sea, offshore of 12 nm off the coast of Cumbria. Part of the MPA borders Isle and Man waters. Its designated features are:
- subtidal coarse sediment;
- subtidal mixed sediments; and
- subtidal sand.
The MMO draft site assessment for this MPA concludes that ongoing fishing using bottom towed gear over all features may result in a significant risk of hindering the achievement of the conservation objectives of the MPA.
The MMO draft site assessment also concludes that ongoing fishing using anchored nets and lines and traps will not result in a significant risk of hindering the achievement of the conservation objectives of the MPA.
MMO is therefore proposing a prohibition of bottom towed gear throughout the whole MPA and a small buffer zone around the boundary of the MPA, except where it borders Isle of Man waters.
This measure is included in the draft Irish Sea Marine Protected Areas Fishing Gear Byelaw 2024.
The West of Copeland site assessment can be viewed and downloaded below.
West of Copeland MPA Fisheries Site Assessment (opens in new tab)
Other relevant related documents can be viewed and downloaded below:
The Irish Sea 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
Bottom Towed Gear Fishing Gear Impacts Evidence
Traps Fishing Gear Impacts Evidence
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.