Fisheries Assessment – Braemar Pockmarks SAC: Fisheries management measures within Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)

Executive Summary

The scope of this fisheries assessment is Braemar Pockmarks SAC, located in the Northern North Sea Regional Sea, approximately 240km east of the Orkney Islands in the offshore region (12 to 200 nautical miles, nm).

The protected feature of the site is the Annex I Submarine structures made by leaking gases. The conservation objective for the SAC is to restore the feature to ‘Favourable Condition’.

In Part A, fishing activities currently occurring within the site (data from 2015 to 2019) were screened and grouped into aggregated gear types. Throughout this fisheries assessment the data from 2015 to 2019 is referred to as the current levels of activity. The gear types considered relevant to the Annex I feature were grouped into the aggregated gear types of demersal trawls and demersal seines. Based on the pressures associated with these fishing activities and the sensitivity of the protected feature, the potential for likely significant effects was identified for the pressures of abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed, penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion, removal of non-target species, smothering and siltation rate changes (light), and changes in suspended solids (water clarity). These pressures were found to be exerted by both gear types and were taken through to Part B of the assessment.

In Part B, the assessment of fishing activities with the potential for likely significant effects within the site determined that, at current fishing levels, demersal seine fishing alone was compatible with the conservation objectives of the site and will not result in an adverse effect on site integrity for Braemar Pockmarks SAC. However, an adverse effect on site integrity could not be ruled out where demersal trawling activities occurred. Scottish Ministers concluded that management measures were required to restrict demersal trawling within Braemar Pockmarks SAC.

In Part C, the in-combination assessment considered the residual potential impacts of demersal seines alongside other relevant offshore region activities happening within and near the site. As there was an absence of other activities occurring within or near to the site that had the potential for likely significant effects, the assessment did not identify any in-combination activities that could adversely affect the site integrity of Braemar Pockmarks SAC.

The assessment identified that management measures would be required to avoid adverse effects on site integrity from mobile demersal trawls.

Considering the need for management measures for mobile demersal gear (including demersal trawls and seines), one management option has been identified and is under consideration by the Scottish Ministers:

• Full site exclusion of all demersal mobile and static gear activity would avoid any adverse effect on site integrity from fishing activities using these gear types. Scottish Ministers consider this management option would avoid an adverse effect on site integrity from fishing activity at current levels.

This assessment has been updated and finalised following the statutory public consultation on the proposed management measures which took place between 19 August and 14 October 2024. The decision as to which management option is to be taken forward will be made taking into account the responses to this consultation and in the light of all relevant obligations incumbent upon the Scottish Ministers in relation to the exercise of their functions.