Proposed Fisheries Management Measures for Inshore Marine Protected Areas and Proposed Priority Marine Feature Management Areas in Scottish Waters - Socio-Economic Impact Assessment

Overview

The Socio-Economic Impact Assessment (SEIA) aims to identify and assess the potential social and economic effects of the proposed fisheries management measures on the lives and circumstances of people, families, businesses, and communities. It investigates the potential cumulative economic benefits and costs, and associated potential social impacts of implementing the proposed fisheries management measures. It also considers any potential effects on ecosystem services that the proposed measures may have.

The effects are considered on a site-by-site basis for Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas (NCMPAs), Special Protection Areas (SPAs), and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). The effects are considered on a regional basis for proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas. The potential effects of the proposed measures in combination with other plans and projects in the inshore region are evaluated as part of the SEIA.

The SEIA informs other assessments conducted in relation to the proposed management measures. The evidence presented in this document is used to inform a Business and Regulatory Impact Assessment (BRIA), an Island Communities Impact Assessment (ICIA), and a Sustainability Appraisal for the suite of proposed measures overall.

As a matter of policy, the proposals require a SEIA to provide Scottish Ministers with information on the potential costs and benefits of the proposals.

The assessment was undertaken following guidance for undertaking SEIAs for MPAs in inshore waters, which was informed by a participatory research project on social values undertaken in 2023. This research was conducted with stakeholders to identify social values held by communities in locations where there are proposed fisheries management measures.

A regional approach to assessment was used, using sea fisheries districts (port districts) to consider impacts in relation to home ports of vessels affected and ports where catches are landed. Each management option is assessed as a range, determined by the potential for displaced effort to move to another location. These ranges therefore reflect the minimum likely impact (where effort can move to another location with minimal socio-economic implications) and a maximum likely impact (where effort cannot move without significant socio-economic impact, or is lost).

The potential economic impacts have been considered by home port, by region, and on a whole of Scotland basis. They have further been considered by fishing gear types. Estimates of the potential impacts are given for the annual value of output landed by the commercial fisheries sector, Gross Value Added (GVA), and jobs. These are presented as ranges within each option assessed, reflecting differing assumptions on the ability of displaced fishing effort to move to other locations. Some impacts relating to displacement have not been quantified because it’s unclear where fishing effort would move, how much additional pressure it might place on other (potentially less sensitive) areas, or how vessels’ costs and revenues would change if they had to travel farther or work less productive grounds. There is also uncertainty around how shifting effort might increase competition or conflict between vessels and fleet segments. The potential social impacts identified relate to the effect of the economic impacts on communities from the loss of fishing and related industries. These impacts may be more significant in specific port towns, and may be cumulative where ports are geographically close. Within these locations, the distribution of impacts across communities and the ability of affected households to deal with them, will vary. The potential impacts are more significant due to the poor accessibility of some affected communities, impacts on fisheries sector employees with wages below the Scottish average, and existing crime and housing problems. The loss of fishing activity can also impact the culture and identity of coastal communities, where fishing is a traditional industry.

Analysis of ecosystem service benefits is largely qualitative, due to a lack of availability of evidence on the size and value of changes. The analysis conducted suggests potential long term benefits that could result in improved ecosystem health and provide benefits by supporting commercial fish stocks, for regulating services (e.g. carbon storage in seabed sediments) and supporting services.

There are possibilities for in-combination impacts on fleet segments affected by Phase 1 inshore MPA and SAC fisheries management, management measures in offshore MPAs, and offshore renewable energy developments. There may be social impacts as a result of the combined impacts of the designation and/or feature types on several port districts. In-combination impacts of the proposed measures on ecosystem services may be enhanced by network effects and additionality.

The full document is available as a PDF from the above supporting documents section.