Call for evidence – Stage 4 fishing in marine protected areas

Overview

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is seeking additional evidence and views to support Stage 4 of the assessment and management of fishing in offshore marine protected areas (MPAs).

Stage 4 considers the impacts of fishing on offshore MPAs designated for highly mobile species: harbour porpoise and marine birds. Stage 4 is part of MMO’s work to assess and manage fishing activities for the protection of MPAs offshore of 6 nautical miles (nm) from the coast in English waters. Please visit our website for information on Stages 1 to 3.

There are two offshore MPAs in Stage 4 designated to protect harbour porpoise:

• Southern North Sea MPA; and
• Bristol Channel Approaches MPA.

There are three offshore MPAs in Stage 4 designated to protect marine birds:

• Greater Wash MPA;
• Liverpool Bay MPA; and
• Outer Thames Estuary MPA.

The marine bird species considered include red-throated diver, Sandwich tern, common scoter, little gull, little tern, common tern and waterbird assemblage. Waterbird assemblage includes all of the non-breeding qualifying features of the MPA, as well as an additional two species present in numbers exceeding 1 % of the GB total or 2,000 individuals.

This Stage 4 call for evidence includes questions seeking evidence and views on the three topics listed below. The survey includes a separate section on each topic for harbour porpoise and marine birds. Please read the Stage 4 Call for Evidence Introduction and the sections of this survey which provide further details on each topic and the Stage 4 approach.

Topic 1: Fishing gear impacts evidence

To inform our assessment and management of fishing impacts for Stage 4, we have gathered and analysed the best available evidence on fishing impacts. This information has been captured in two draft ‘Stage 4 Fishing Gear MPA Impacts Evidence’ documents, one for each MPA feature: marine birds and harbour porpoise.

Questions to consider:

• Do you have any additional evidence about the interactions between fishing and harbour porpoise or marine birds?
• Do you have any comments on the evidence and analysis currently included in the Harbour Porpoise or Marine Birds Impacts Evidence documents?

Topic 2: Pressures of interest

Through drafting the Impacts Evidence documents, pressures of interest caused by certain fishing activities in harbour porpoise and marine bird MPAs have been identified.

Questions to consider:

• Do you have any evidence for any of the listed pressures in relation to fishing in Southern North Sea MPA?
• Do you have any evidence for any of the listed pressures in relation to fishing in Bristol Channel Approaches MPA?
• Do you have any evidence for any of the listed pressures in relation to fishing in Greater Wash MPA?
• Do you have any evidence for any of the listed pressures in relation to fishing in Liverpool Bay MPA?
• Do you have any evidence for any of the listed pressures in relation to fishing in Outer Thames Estuary MPA?

Topic 3: Potential management options

MMO has carried out some initial thinking on potential management options for the pressures of interest identified.

Questions to consider:

• Are you aware of any other management options for any of the pressures?
• Do you have examples of any of the management options being used?
• Do you have any evidence on the effectiveness of any of the management options?

Information gathered during this call for evidence will be used to update our existing documents and inform site level assessments.

It is important to note that site level assessments for Stage 4 MPAs have not been completed and no decisions have been made regarding management. The inclusion of pressures and management options in this call for evidence does not mean they will be taken forward. Any management concluded necessary through site level assessments will be shared for comment in a public formal consultation.

Guidance for completing the survey  

Before providing any responses, please read the documentation below to familiarise yourself with the Stage 4 call for evidence process: 'Stage 4 Call for Evidence Introduction', the 'Stage 4 Fishing Gear MPA Impacts Evidence: Summary' and the two 'Stage 4 Fishing Gear MPA Impacts Evidence' documents.

It is possible to respond only to specific sections of the survey; you do not need to provide comments on every section. There is also an opportunity to provide further information and upload files in each section.

There is a function to save your draft response as you go so that you can return later to complete your response. Alternatively, we recommend writing up your response in a separate document and copying and pasting your response into the survey.

Stage 4 Call for Evidence Introduction

Stage 4 Fishing Gear MPA Impacts Evidence - Summary

Stage 4 Fishing Gear MPA Impacts Evidence - Marine Birds

Stage 4 Fishing Gear MPA Impacts Evidence - Harbour Porpoise

Stage 4 Call for Evidence Stakeholder Letter