Planning Scotland's Seas: 2013 - Possible Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas Consultation Overview Sustainability Appraisal

This report documents the findings of a Sustainablity Appraisal to accompany the 2013 public consultation on possible nature conservation marine protected areas (pMPAs).


2.0 2013 Possible Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas Consultation Overview

Introduction

2.1 As noted in the introduction, the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 and the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 both contain powers to designate Marine Protected Areas ( MPAs). These contribute to a range of measures to manage and protect Scotland's seas for current and future generations. The legislation also requires that a network of MPAs in UK seas is created to protect biodiversity and geodiversity. The network will contribute to agreements with international partners to create an ecologically coherent network of well-managed MPAs in the north-east Atlantic. The key overall objective of the MPA network is to safeguard the most important natural and cultural heritage features in Scottish waters, based on the principle of sustainable use [3] .

The Possible MPAs

2.2 Marine Scotland is working in partnership with Scottish Natural Heritage ( SNH), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee ( JNCC), the Scottish Environment Protection Agency ( SEPA) and Historic Scotland ( HS). SNH and JNCC have provided joint scientific advice (as statutory nature conservation bodies) on existing protected areas and other area-based measures that contribute to the network and have identified possible Nature Conservation MPAs that could form part of a network to protect biodiversity and geodiversity [4] . A significant part of the work underlying this advice has been based around ensuring that network and feature coverage satisfies the OSPAR principles of developing an ecologically coherent network.

2.3 Thirty-three possible Nature Conservation MPAs have been identified, and a further four MPA search locations remain to be fully assessed ( Table 1 and Figure 2). The evolving MPA network in Scotland's seas builds on the existing network of protected areas ( Figure 3), which includes Special Areas of Conservation ( SACs); Special Protection Areas ( SPAs); Sites of Special Scientific Interest ( SSSIs), and fisheries management areas. More information on these other designations and sites is provided in the SNH/ JNCC advice4.

2.4 Details of the protected features for each pMPA are provided in Table 2.

Table 1. Possible Nature Conservation MPAs and MPA search locations (*) in Scottish waters (by sea area)

OSPAR Region(s) Possible MPA/ MPA search location Code Territorial / Offshore
I Faroe-Shetland sponge belt FSS Offshore
I & II North-east Faroe Shetland Channel NEF Offshore
II Central Fladen CFL Offshore
East Caithness Cliffs ECC Territorial
East of Gannet and Montrose Fields EGM Offshore
Fetlar to Haroldswick FTH Territorial
Firth of Forth Banks Complex FOF Offshore
Mousa to Boddam MTB Territorial
North-west Orkney NWO Both
Norwegian boundary sediment plain NSP Offshore
Noss Head NOH Territorial
Papa Westray PWY Territorial
South-east Fladen SEF Offshore
Southern Trench* STR Territorial
Turbot Bank TBB Offshore
Western Fladen WFL Offshore
Wyre and Rousay Sounds WYR Territorial
II & III West Shetland Shelf WSS Offshore
III Clyde Sea Sill CSS Territorial
Eye Peninsula to Butt of Lewis* EPL Territorial
Loch Creran LCR Territorial
Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh DLA Territorial
Loch Sunart LSU Territorial
Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura SJU Territorial
Loch Sween LSW Territorial
Monach Isles MOI Territorial
North-west sea lochs and Summer Isles NWS Territorial
Shiant East Bank* SEB Territorial
Skye to Mull* STM Territorial
Small Isles SMI Territorial
South Arran ARR Territorial
Upper Loch Fyne and Loch Goil LFG Territorial
III & V Geike Slide and Hebridean Slope GSH Offshore
South-west Sula Sgeir and Hebridean Slope SSH Offshore
The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount BHT Offshore
V Hatton-Rockall Basin HRB Offshore
Rosemary Bank Seamount RBS Offshore

Figure 2. Possible Nature Conservation MPAs and search locations in Scotland's seas

Figure 2. Possible Nature Conservation MPAs and search locations in Scotland's seas

Figure 3. The contribution of existing protected areas and other area-based measures to the MPA network

Figure 3. The contribution of existing protected areas and other area-based measures to the MPA network

Table 2. Protected Features - Biodiversity and Geodiversity - for each pMPA

Name Code Protected features Conservation objective
Territorial waters
Clyde Sea Sill CSS Biodiversity protected features - Black guillemot; circalittoral sand and coarse sediment communities; fronts Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed - sand banks, sand ribbon fields, sand wave fields conserve
East Caithness Cliffs ECC Biodiversity protected features - Black guillemot conserve
Fetlar to Haroldswick FTH Biodiversity protected features - Black guillemot; circalittoral sand and coarse sediment communities; horse mussel beds; kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments; maerl beds; shallow tide-swept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed conserve
Loch Creran LCR Biodiversity protected features - Flame shell beds Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland conserve
Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh DLA Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud, flame shell beds conserve
Loch Sunart LSU Biodiversity protected features - Flame shell beds; northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata; serpulid aggregations conserve
Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura SJU Biodiversity protected features - Common skate Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland conserve
Loch Sween LSW Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud; maerl beds; native oysters; sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities conserve
Monach Isles MOI Biodiversity protected features - Black guillemot Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed; Quaternary of Scotland - landscape of areal glacial scour conserve
Mousa to Boddam MTB Biodiversity protected features - Sandeels Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed conserve
North-west sea lochs and Summer Isles NWS Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud; circalittoral muddy sand communities; flame shell beds; kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments; maerl beds; maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers; northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed - banks of unknown substrate; Quaternary of Scotland - glaciated channels/troughs, megascale glacial lineations, moraines; Seabed Fluid and Gas Seep - pockmarks; Submarine Mass Movement - slide scars recover flame shell beds and maerl beds conserve other features
Noss Head NOH Biodiversity protected features - Horse mussel beds conserve
Papa Westray PWY Biodiversity protected features - Black guillemot Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed - sand wave field conserve
Small Isles SMI Biodiversity protected features - Black guillemot; burrowed mud, circalittoral sand and mud communities; fan mussel aggregations; horse mussel beds; northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata; northern sea fan and sponge communities; shelf deeps; white cluster anemones Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland - glaciated channels/troughs, glacial lineations, meltwater channels, moraines, rock basins, streamlined bedforms conserve
South Arran ARR Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud; herring spawning grounds; kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments; maerl beds; maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers; ocean quahog; seagrass beds; shallow tide-swept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves recover maerl beds conserve other features
Upper Loch Fyne and Loch Goil LFG Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud; flame shell beds; horse mussel beds; ocean quahog; sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities recover flame shell beds conserve other features
Wyre and Rousay Sounds WYR Biodiversity protected features - Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment; maerl beds Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed conserve
Offshore waters
Central Fladen CFL Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland - sub-glacial tunnel valley conserve
East of Gannet and Montrose Fields EGM Biodiversity protected features - Ocean quahog aggregations (including sands and gravels as their supporting habitat); offshore deep sea muds conserve
Faroe-Shetland sponge belt FSS Biodiversity protected features - Continental slope; deep-sea sponge aggregations; ocean quahog aggregations; offshore subtidal sands and gravels Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Deep Ocean Seabed - sand wave field, sediment wave field; Quaternary of Scotland - continental slope channels; iceberg ploughmark fields, prograding wedges; Submarine Mass Movement - slide deposits conserve
Firth of Forth Banks Complex FOF Biodiversity protected features - Ocean quahog aggregations; offshore subtidal sands and gravels; shelf banks and mounds Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland - moraines conserve
Geikie Slide and Hebridean slope GSH Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud; continental slope; offshore deep-sea muds, offshore subtidal sands and gravels Geodiversity protected features - Submarine Mass Movement - slide deposits, slide scars conserve
Hatton-Rockall Basin HRB Biodiversity protected features - Deep-sea sponge aggregations; offshore deep-sea muds Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Deep Ocean Seabed - sediment drifts; Polygonal fault systems conserve
North-east Faroe Shetland Channel NEF Biodiversity protected features - Continental slope; deep-sea sponge aggregations; offshore deep-sea muds; offshore subtidal sands and gravels Geodiversity protected features - Cenozoic Structures of the Atlantic Margin - mud diapirs; Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Deep Ocean Seabed - contourite sand/silt; Quaternary of Scotland - prograding wedge; Submarine Mass Movement - slide deposits conserve
North-west Orkney NWO Biodiversity protected features - Sandeels Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed - sand bank, sand wave field, sediment wave fields conserve
Norwegian boundary sediment plain NSP Biodiversity protected features - Ocean quahog aggregations (including sands and gravels as their supporting habitat), offshore subtidal sands and gravels conserve
Rosemary Bank Seamount RBS Biodiversity protected features - Deep-sea sponge aggregations; seamount features; seamount communities Geodiversity protected features - Cenozoic Structures of the Atlantic Margin - Rosemary Bank Seamount; Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Deep Ocean Seabed - scour moats, sediment drifts, sediment wave fields; Quaternary of Scotland - iceberg ploughmark field; Submarine Mass Movement - slide scars conserve
South-east Fladen SEF Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud Geodiversity protected features - Seabed Fluid and Gas Seep - pockmarks conserve
South-west Sula Sgeir and Hebridean slope SSH Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud; continental slope; offshore deep-sea muds; offshore subtidal sands and gravels Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland - iceberg ploughmark fields, prograding wedges; Submarine Mass Movement - slide deposits conserve
The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount BHT Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud; continental slope; offshore deep-sea muds; offshore subtidal sands and gravels; orange roughy; seamount; seamount communities Geodiversity protected features - Cenozoic Structures of the Atlantic Margin - continental slope, Hebrides Terrace Seamount; Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Deep Ocean Seabed - scour moat; Quaternary of Scotland - iceberg ploughmark field, prograding wedges; Submarine Mass Movement - continental slope turbidite canyons, slide deposits conserve
Turbot Bank TBB Biodiversity protected features - Sandeels, offshore subtidal sands and gravels, shelf banks and mounds conserve
West Shetland Shelf WSS Biodiversity protected features - Offshore subtidal sands and gravels conserve
Western Fladen WFL Biodiversity protected features - Burrowed mud Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland - sub-glacial tunnel valleys conserve

2.5 The Scottish MPA Selection Guidelines [5] set out a five-stage process for the selection of Nature Conservation MPAs in Scotland's seas:

  • Stage 1: Identification of search locations based on presence of key features
  • Stage 2: Prioritisation of search locations based on the qualities of their features
  • Stage 3: Assessment of the size an MPA needs to be, to be effective
  • Stage 4: Assessment of the ability to manage features effectively
  • Stage 5: Prioritising potential areas according to their contribution to the network

A full description of the process is set out in Marine Scotland's Report to the Scottish Parliament (2012)4.

2.6 The focus of the possible MPAs is to either:

  • protect a range of biodiversity or geodiversity features in their current state for the future, or
  • to allow them to recover to the state they should be to remain healthy and productive.

This is reflected in the conservation objective identified for each pMPA ( Table 2).

2.7 The MPAs will be managed to achieve their conservation objectives, using the principle of sustainable use. This means that only activities that present a risk of hindering the achievement of the conservation objectives will have specific management measures implemented.

2.8 Management options papers have been produced for each of the pMPAs. These papers use a risk-based approach to identify management options, based on the protected features, the conservation objectives, and the activities which could affect their condition. Management options are a key element of the consultation, which provides opportunities for stakeholders to present their views, including their practical environmental knowledge and activity data.

Alternatives

2.9 Some of the 33 possible MPAs provide science-based alternatives to the features of the recommended possible MPAs, and others would provide equivalent ecological value for the same combinations of features. Table 3 outlines the alternative options for the MPA network.

Table 3. Alternative options for the MPA network

Alternative Options Description
South-West Sula Sgeir and Hebridean Slope or Geikie Slide and Hebridean Slope The features within the South-west Sula Sgeir and Hebridean slope possible MPA, and the Geikie Slide Hebridean slope possible MPA are considered to offer an equivalent contribution to the MPA network. JNCC would recommend that only one of these two pMPAs needs to be designated to meet the MPA Selection Guidelines.
Central, Western or South-east Fladen JNCC have identified science-based alternatives to the representation of one component of burrowed mud within the Central Fladen possible MPA. These are Western and Southeast Fladen. JNCC recommend that the southern part of the Central Fladen possible MPA would need to be designated - as a CFL(core) - as it represents a different component of burrowed mud. However, there are options around the representation of seapens and burrowing megafauna, and representation could come from including the rest of Central Fladen OR Western Fladen OR South-east Fladen. Central Fladen (core) would be designated under all options. The alternatives relate to the designation of the additional CFL area, which does not incorporate CFL (core) in this assessment.
Firth of Forth Banks Complex, Turbot Bank and Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain Within the Firth of Forth Banks Complex, JNCC have identified science-based alternatives to the representation of:
  • the ocean quahog - Norwegian Boundary Sediment Plain; and
  • offshore subtidalsands and gravels and shelf banks and mounds - Turbot Bank. Turbot Bank is also identified in its own right for sandeels.
There are therefore several scenarios:
  • If Firth of Forth Banks Complex is not designated, then sands and gravels and shelf banks and mounds will need to be added to Turbot Bank as well as sandeels, and Norwegian boundary sediment plain will also need to be designated for ocean quahog;
  • If Firth of Forth Banks Complex is designated, then Turbot Bank will be recommended for sandeels only and Norwegian boundary sediment plain will not required to be designated.

Historic MPAs

2.10 Scotland's first Historic Marine Protected Area ( HMPA) was designated on 18 March 2013, to protect an historic wreck close to the harbour of Drumbeg, Sutherland ( Figure 4). On the same day, Historic Scotland also launched a consultation to make the Drumbeg designation permanent, and to designate a further six HMPAs. These comprise historic wreck sites currently designated under section 1 of the Protection of Wrecks Act 1973.

2.11 In 2013-14, Historic Scotland is progressing consideration of an HMPA for Scapa Flow's outstanding underwater heritage. This involves review and transition to HMPA status for the seven intact wrecks of the German High Seas Fleet scuttled in Scapa Flow in 1919, currently scheduled monuments, and consideration of any other underwater sites relating to Scapa Flow's wartime naval heritage for inclusion in an HMPA proposal for consultation in 2014 ( Figure 4). A small number of other high priority sites may be considered for designation as HMPAs before 2015.

Figure 4. Historic MPAs (current and possible)

Figure 4. Historic MPAs current and possible

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