Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) - fisheries management measures: fisheries assessment – North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA

2. Part A assessment – fisheries screening

2.1 Fisheries screening overview

Part A of this assessment considers whether the fishing activity would be capable of affecting the protected features of a NCMPA or any ecological or geomorphological process on which the conservation of any protected feature is dependent. This section looks at the pressures exerted by the fishing activity occurring in the site (within the assessment period) in relation to the sensitivities of the protected features. Activities potentially capable of affecting the protected feature were identified where there was both a medium-high risk of a pressure arising from the fishing activity and if any of the features were considered sensitive to that pressure. These pressure-features interactions were then taken forward to the fisheries assessment stage (Part B) to determine whether the fishing activity in question would or might hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives.

For each activity assessed in Part A, there were two possible outcomes for each identified pressure-feature interaction:

The pressure-feature interactions were not included for Part B:

If the feature is not exposed to the pressure, and is not likely to be in the future; or

If the effect/impact of the pressure is non-existent or insignificant.

The pressure-feature interactions were included for assessment in Part B:

If the feature is exposed to the pressure, or is likely to be in the future; and

If the pressure is capable of affecting the feature; or

If it is not possible to determine whether the pressure is capable of affecting the feature.

Part B of the assessment considers the potential for activities to affect the feature by assessing the impact of fishing gears identified in Part A. This involves determining the potential level of interaction between the feature and the fishing activity, assessing the potential impact on the feature, and subsequently if fishing activities would or might hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives for the site.

Consideration of exposure to and the effect of a pressure on a protected feature of the NCMPA includes the consideration of exposure to and the effect of that pressure on any ecological or geomorphological process on which the conservation of the protected feature is wholly or in part dependant.

The JNCC Conservation Advice package and Fisheries Management Options Paper has been used to inform this assessment. These are the most recent assessment package and options paper available. Where appropriate, this advice has been supplemented by information on pressures associated with fishing activity from the JNCC Marine Pressures-Activities Database (PAD) v1.5 2022 and the Feature Activity Sensitivity Tool (FeAST).

2.2 Activities taking place within North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA

To screen out fishing activities that were not taking place within the site or likely to take part in the future, VMS data within North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA from 2015 to 2019 were analysed to identify the gear types being used in the site and the aggregated gear method (Table 1). The fishing gears screened out at this stage were not taken forward to Part B of the assessment.

Table 1. Gear types recorded from the site based on VMS-linked point logbook data (UK vessels only) from 2015 to 2019.

Gear type

Towed

• Specialised gear type: Bottom otter trawl
• Gear code: OTB
• Aggregated gear method: Demersal trawls

Towed (pelagic)

• Specialised gear type: Mid-water trawl (single)
• Gear code:OTM
• Aggregated gear method: Pelagic fishing

Although pelagic trawling fishing occurs within the site, this is not considered capable of affecting the protected features as this fishing activity does not have contact with the seabed and therefore not taken forward further in this assessment.

2.3 Potential pressures exerted by site fishing activities on protected features

The potential pressures that could be exerted by fishing activities considered capable of affecting the protected features (demersal trawls) were determined using information on activity-pressure relationships in the JNCC Marine Pressures-Activities Database (PAD) v1.5 2022. The potential pressures that could be exerted by demersal trawls are summarised in Table 2.

Table 2. Potential pressures from the JNCC Marine Pressures-Activities Database (PAD) v1.5 2022 and their risk profiling of pressures score, based on the general risk the pressures pose to the environment under normal conditions. Pressures are considered to pose medium/high risk (dark blue), low risk (light blue), or are not relevant to the activity (white).

PAD Pressure

Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed

• Demersal trawls: Medium-high

Barrier to species movement

• Demersal trawls: Not relevant

Changes in suspended solids (water clarity)

• Demersal trawls: Medium-high

Collision below water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g., boats, machinery, and structures)

• Demersal trawls: Low

Deoxygenation

• Demersal trawls: Low

Hydrocarbon and PAH contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.

• Demersal trawls: Low

Introduction of light

• Demersal trawls: Low

Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS)

• Demersal trawls: Low

Litter

• Demersal trawls: Low

Nutrient enrichment

• Demersal trawls: Low

Organic enrichment

• Demersal trawls: Low

Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion

• Demersal trawls: Medium-high

Physical change (to another seabed type)

• Demersal trawls: Low

Physical change (to another sediment type)

• Demersal trawls: Low

Removal of non-target species

• Demersal trawls: Medium-high

Removal of target species

• Demersal trawls: Medium-high

Smothering and siltation rate changes (Light)

• Demersal trawls: Medium-high

Synthetic compound contamination (incl. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals). Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.

• Demersal trawls: Low

Transition elements and organo-metal (e.g. TBT) contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.

• Demersal trawls: Low

Underwater noise changes

• Demersal trawls: Low

Visual disturbance

• Demersal trawls: Low

2.4 Significance of effects/impacts to protected features

To determine whether each pressure is capable of effecting the site’s features (Table 3), the sensitivity assessments and risk profiling of pressures from the JNCC Advice on Operations conservation advice package and JNCC Marine Pressures-Activities Database (PAD) v1.5 2022 were used.

Table 3 identifies the pressures from particular gears that could be capable of affecting each feature. Where a pressure from a particular gear is identified as not being capable of affecting the feature, justification is provided. To ensure the effects of fishing activities in-combination with other activities (including other fishing activities) are fully assessed, the pressures from fishing activities which were not identified as being capable of affecting a feature but which do interact with the features are considered in the in-combination aspect of the assessment (Part C).

Table 3. Extract of the Advice on Operations for North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel, showing the pressures from specific activities and the potential sensitivity of the protected features. Pressures are categorised as Not relevant (white), Not assessed (white) , Sensitive (light blue), Not sensitive (white), or Insufficient evidence(white). Further details on these categories is available in the associated methods document.

Potential pressures

Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive

Barrier to species movement

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not assessed
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not assessed
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not assessed

Changes in suspended solids (water clarity)

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not sensitive

Collision below water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g., boats, machinery, and structures)

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not relevant
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not relevant
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not relevant

Deoxygenation

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not relevant
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not relevant
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not relevant

Hydrocarbon and PAH contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive

Introduction of light

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not relevant
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not assessed
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not assessed

Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS)

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not assessed
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not assessed

Litter

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not assessed
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not assessed
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not assessed

Nutrient enrichment

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not assessed
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not sensitive

Organic enrichment

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive

Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive

Physical change (to another seabed type)

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive

Physical change (to another sediment type)

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not assessed
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not assessed
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not assessed

Removal of non-target species

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive

Removal of target species

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not relevant
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not relevant
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not relevant

Smothering and siltation rate changes (Light)

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive

Synthetic compound contamination (incl. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals). Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive

Transition elements and organo-metal (e.g. TBT) contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive

Underwater noise changes

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not sensitive
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not sensitive
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not sensitive

Visual disturbance

• Protected features – Offshore subtidal sands and gravels: Not relevant
• Protected features – Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not relevant
• Protected features – Offshore deep-sea muds: Not relevant

Considering both the information on pressure activity association (Table 2) and the sensitivity of the features (Table 3), pressures that have the potential to affect the feature are summarised in Table 4.

Pressures that are not relevant to demersal trawls and demersal seines, (pressures that are not exerted by that fishing activity: ‘not relevant to the activity’ in Table 4) do not need to be considered further in the assessment. According to the PAD methods document (Robson et al., 2018), pressures with low risk profiles (i.e. ‘low’ risk profile for the activity: Tables 2 and 4) generally do not occur at a level of concern and should not require consideration as part of an assessment, unless there are evidence-based case or site-specific factors that increase the risk, or there is uncertainty on the level of pressure on a receptor. Pressures with ‘medium-high’ risk profiles are commonly induced by the activity at a level that needs to be considered further as part of an assessment.

Of all the pressures considered, four have medium-high risk profiles (PAD) and have medium-high sensitivity: 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 and smothering and siltation rate changes (light). These four pressures are exerted by demersal trawls and subsequently considered to have the potential to affect the protected features.

To ensure the effects of fishing activities in-combination with other activities (including other fishing activities) are fully assessed, the pressures from fishing activities which were not identified as capable of affecting the feature but which do interact with the features are considered in the in-combination aspect of the assessment (Part C).

Table 4 Summary of pressures that have the potential to affect the feature, based on pressure-activity associations (Table 2) and sensitivity of the protected features (Table 3). Pressures with the potential to affect the feature are in dark blue.

Potential pressure

Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed

• Demersal trawls: Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile AND the features are sensitive to this pressure

Barrier to species movement

• Demersal trawls: No – not relevant to the activity

Changes in suspended solids (water clarity)

• Demersal trawls: No – although the pressure has a medium-high risk profile, the feature is not sensitive

Collision below water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g., boats, machinery, and structures)

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

Deoxygenation

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

Hydrocarbon and PAH contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.

• Demersal trawls: No – although the features are sensitive to this pressure, the pressure has a low risk profile for the activity

Introduction of light

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS)

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

Litter

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

Nutrient enrichment

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

Organic enrichment

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion

• Demersal trawls: Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile AND the features are sensitive to this pressure

Physical change (to another seabed type)

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

Physical change (to another sediment type)

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

Removal of non-target species

• Demersal trawls: Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile AND the features are sensitive to this pressure

Removal of target species

• Demersal trawls: No – although the pressure has a medium-high risk profile it is not relevant to the feature

Smothering and siltation rate changes (Light)

• Demersal trawls: Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile AND the features are sensitive to this pressure

Synthetic compound contamination (incl. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals). Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.

• Demersal trawls: No – although the features are sensitive to this pressure, the pressure has a low risk profile for the activity

Transition elements and organo-metal (e.g. TBT) contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.

• Demersal trawls: No – although the features are sensitive to this pressure, the pressure has a low risk profile for the activity

Underwater noise changes

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

Visual disturbance

• Demersal trawls: No – low risk profile for activity

2.5 Part A conclusion

Considering the information on pressures and sensitivity above, demersal trawls have the potential to affect: offshore subtidal sands and gravels; offshore deep sea mud; and deep sea sponge aggregations within North-East Faroe-Shetland Channel NCMPA. This is through abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed; removal of non-target species; penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion; and smothering and siltation rate changes (light). These four pressures are considered to have the potential to affect the protected features and are taken through to Part B of the assessment.