Scottish Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) - fisheries management measures: fisheries assessment – West of Scotland NCMPA
These assessments look at the fishing activity occurring within each offshore MPA and SAC and assess the potential impacts of this activity on the protected features within each site. This assessment is for West of Scotland NCMPA. These assessments have been updated following public consultation.
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 an 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:
1. 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.
2. The pressure-feature interactions were included for assessment in Part B:
- If the feature is exposed to the pressure, or is it 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 West of Scotland NCMPA Conservation Objectives and Management Advice document and the West of Scotland NCMPA Fisheries Management Options paper have been used to inform this assessment. This is the most recent information 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 West of Scotland NCMPA
To screen out fishing activities that were not taking place within the site or likely to take part in the future, Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) data within West of Scotland 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.
On reviewing the ICES gridded data, which includes EU and Norwegian vessels, demersal seine activity was also found to occur within the site.
Table 1. Gear types recorded from the site based on VMS data from 2015 to 2019.
Gear type: Towed
Specific Gear Type: Bottom otter trawl
Gear code: OTB
Aggregated gear method: Demersal trawls
Gear type: Towed
Specific Gear Type: Multi-rig trawls
Gear code: OTT
Aggregated gear method: Demersal trawls
Gear type: Towed
Specific Gear Type: Bottom trawls (not specified)
Gear code: TB
Aggregated gear method: Demersal trawls
Gear type: Towed (pelagic)
Specific Gear Type: Mid-water trawl (single)
Gear code: OTM
Aggregated gear method: Pelagic fishing
Gear type: Static- fixed nets
Specific Gear Type: Set gillnets
Gear code: GNS
Aggregated gear method:Anchored nets/lines
Gear type: Lines
Specific Gear Type: Set longlines
Gear code: LLS
Aggregated gear method:Anchored nets/lines
2.3 Potential pressures exerted by site fishing activity
According to the JNCC West of Scotland NCMPA Management Options Paper (2023) the existing fishing activity believed to take place within or close to West of Scotland NCMPA considered capable of affecting the protected features are demersal trawls; demersal seines; purse seines; pelagic trawls; unknown trawls; gillnets; hooks and lines and pots and traps.
The potential pressures that could be exerted by fishing activities (demersal trawls, pelagic fishing, anchored nets/lines and demersal seines) considered capable of affecting protected features 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, pelagic fishing, anchored nets/lines and demersal seines are summarised in Table 2.
The aggregated gear type of ‘anchored nets/lines’ spans two categories in the PAD: set (fixed) net fishing and line fishing. Subsequently, potential pressures for this aggregated gear type were listed under the two PAD categories (Table 2). The risk profiling of pressures was the same for set (fixed) net fishing and line fishing within PAD, confirming that these categories could be considered together under the aggregated gear type of ‘anchored nets/lines’ in later sections of the assessment.
Within the PAD, the above water noise and collision above water pressures both had low risk profiles for all fishing activity types, however these were not considered capable of affecting the protected features and were excluded.
Table 2. Potential pressures exerted by demersal trawls, demersal seines, pelagic fishing and anchored nets/lines taken from the JNCC Marine Pressures-Activities Database (PAD) v1.5 2022. The PAD risk profiling of pressures score represents the general risk the pressures pose to the environment under normal conditions. Pressures are categorised as posing a medium/high risk (dark blue) or low risk (light blue). Pressures that are not exerted by the fishing activity are classed as not relevant (white).
PAD Pressure: 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
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Hydrocarbon and PAH contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Synthetic compound contamination (incl. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals). Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Deoxygenation
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Nutrient enrichment
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Not relevant
Anchored nets/lines: Not relevant
PAD Pressure: Organic enrichment
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Physical change (to another seabed type)
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Not relevant
Anchored nets/lines: Not relevant
PAD Pressure: Physical change (to another sediment type)
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Not relevant
Anchored nets/lines: Not relevant
PAD Pressure: Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed
Demersal trawls: Medium-high
Demersal seines: Medium-high
Pelagic fishing: Not relevant
Anchored nets/lines: Medium-high
PAD Pressure: Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion
Demersal trawls: Medium-high
Demersal seines: Medium-high
Pelagic fishing: Not relevant
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Changes in suspended solids (water clarity)
Demersal trawls: Medium-high
Demersal seines: Medium-high
Pelagic fishing: Not relevant
Anchored nets/lines: Not relevant
PAD Pressure: Smothering and siltation rate changes (Light)
Demersal trawls: Medium-high
Demersal seines: Medium-high
Pelagic fishing: Not relevant
Anchored nets/lines: Not relevant
PAD Pressure: Litter
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Underwater noise changes
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Introduction of light
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Barrier to species movement
Demersal trawls: Not relevant
Demersal seines: Not relevant
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Collision BELOW water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g. boats, machinery and structures)
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Visual disturbance
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS)
Demersal trawls: Low
Demersal seines: Low
Pelagic fishing: Low
Anchored nets/lines: Low
PAD Pressure: Removal of target species
Demersal trawls: Medium-high
Demersal seines: Medium-high
Pelagic fishing: Medium-high
Anchored nets/lines: Medium-high
PAD Pressure: Removal of non-target species
Demersal trawls: Medium-high
Demersal seines: Medium-high
Pelagic fishing: Medium-high
Anchored nets/lines: Medium-high
2.4 Significance of effects/impacts to protected features
In the absence of a JNCC Advice on Operations advice package for this site, the Feature Activity Sensitivity Tool (FeAST) and JNCC Marine Pressures-Activities Database (PAD) v1.5 2022 were used to determine the potential sensitivity of the protected features (Table 3) to the pressures exerted by the relevant fishing activities (Table 2).
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 being capable of affecting a 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 being capable of affecting a feature but which do interact with the feature are considered in the in-combination aspect of the assessment (Part C).
Table 3. Summary of the FeAST sensitivity assessment for Habitat protected features within West of Scotland NCMPA: Burrowed Mud (including sea pens); Coral gardens; Cold-water coral reefs (including Lopehlia pertusa reefs); Deep-sea sponge aggregations; Offshore deep-sea muds; Offshore sands and gravels and Seamount Communities. As no single sensitivity assessment exists for Offshore sands and gravels, a combination of ‘Deep-sea mixed sediments’, ‘Deep-sea muddy sands’ and ‘Deep-sea sands’ from FeAST were used instead, and the most precautionary score was used where sensitivity differed. For Offshore deep-sea muds, the ‘Deep-sea muds’ feature from FeAST was used. The habitats are categorised as having High Sensitivity (dark blue), Medium Sensitivity (dark blue), Sensitive (light blue), Low sensitivity (white), Not Sensitive (white), Not Exposed (white), Not Assessed (white), and Unknown (white). *An asterisk is used to denote an underlaying range of sensitivities for habitat features (e.g. due to the feature including species with a range of different sensitivities to a pressure). High* denotes that the highest sensitivity score for the features is High; Medium* denotes that the highest sensitivity score for the feature is Medium. Unknown is used where there is no information in FeAST about the sensitivity of this habitat to the pressure listed. Further details on these categories are available in the associated methods document.
Potential pressures: Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Medium Sensitivity
Coral gardens: High sensitivity
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: High sensitivity
Offshore deep-sea muds: High sensitivity*
Offshore sands and gravels: High sensitivity
Seamount communities: High sensitivity
Potential pressures: Changes in suspended solids (water clarity)
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Low
Coral gardens: Sensitive
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not Exposed
Offshore sands and gravels: Not Exposed
Seamount communities: Sensitive
Potential pressures: Collision BELOW water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g., boats, machinery, and structures)
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): No Assessed
Coral gardens: Not Assessed
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not Assessed
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not Assessed
Offshore sands and gravels: Not Assessed
Seamount communities: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Deoxygenation
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Low
Coral gardens: Not Exposed
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not Exposed
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not Exposed
Offshore sands and gravels: Not Exposed
Seamount communities: Not Exposed
Potential pressures: Hydrocarbon and PAH contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Sensitive
Coral gardens: Sensitive
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive
Offshore sands and gravels: Sensitive
Seamount communities: Sensitive
Potential pressures: Introduction of light
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Not Assessed
Coral gardens: Not Assessed
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not Assessed
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not Assessed
Offshore sands and gravels: Not Assessed
Seamount communities: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS)
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Not Assessed
Coral gardens: Not Assessed
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not Assessed
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not Assessed
Offshore sands and gravels: Not Sensitive
Seamount communities: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Litter
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Not Assessed
Coral gardens: Not Assessed
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not Assessed
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not Assessed
Offshore sands and gravels: Not Assessed
Seamount communities: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Nutrient enrichment
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Not Assessed
Coral gardens: Not Assessed
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not Assessed
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not Sensitive
Offshore sands and gravels: Not Sensitive
Seamount communities: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Organic enrichment
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Medium Sensitivity
Coral gardens: High Sensitivity
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: High Sensitivity
Offshore deep-sea muds: High Sensitivity
Offshore sands and gravels: High Sensitivity
Seamount communities: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Medium Sensitivity
Coral gardens: High Sensitivity
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: High Sensitivity
Offshore deep-sea muds: High Sensitivity
Offshore sands and gravels: High Sensitivity
Seamount communities: High Sensitivity
Potential pressures: Physical change (to another seabed type)
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): High Sensitivity
Coral gardens: High Sensitivity
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: High Sensitivity
Offshore deep-sea muds: High Sensitivity
Offshore sands and gravels: High Sensitivity
Seamount communities: High Sensitivity
Potential pressures: Physical change (to another sediment type)
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): High Sensitivity
Coral gardens: Not Assessed
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not Assessed
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not Assessed
Offshore sands and gravels: Not Assessed
Seamount communities: Not assessed
Potential pressures: Removal of non-target species
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Medium Sensitivity*
Coral gardens: High Sensitivity
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: High Sensitivity
Offshore deep-sea muds: High Sensitivity
Offshore sands and gravels:High Sensitivity
Seamount communities: High Sensitivity
Potential pressures: Removal of target species
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Medium Sensitivity
Coral gardens: Not Exposed
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not Exposed
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not Exposed
Offshore sands and gravels: Not Exposed
Seamount communities: Not Exposed
Potential pressures: Smothering and siltation rate changes (Light)
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Low
Coral gardens: High Sensitivity
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: High Sensitivity
Offshore deep-sea muds: High Sensitivity
Offshore sands and gravels: High Sensitivity*
Seamount communities: High Sensitivity
Potential pressures: Synthetic compound contamination (incl. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals). Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Sensitive
Coral gardens: Sensitive
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive
Offshore sands and gravels: Sensitive
Seamount communities: Sensitive
Potential pressures: Transition elements and organo-metal (e.g. TBT) contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Sensitive
Coral gardens: Sensitive
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
Offshore deep-sea muds: Sensitive
Offshore sands and gravels: Sensitive
Seamount communities: Sensitive
Potential pressures:Underwater noise changes
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Not Sensitive
Coral gardens: Sensitive
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Sensitive
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not sensitive
Offshore sands and gravels: Not sensitive
Seamount communities: Sensitive
Potential pressures: Visual disturbance
Burrowed mud (including sea-pens): Not Assessed
Coral gardens: Not Assessed
Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs): Not Assessed
Deep-sea sponge aggregations: Not Assessed
Offshore deep-sea muds: Not Assessed
Offshore sands and gravels: Not Assessed
Seamount communities: Not Assessed
Table 4. Summary of the FeAST sensitivity assessment for mobile species protected features within West of Scotland NCMPA: orange roughy; blue ling; round-nose grenadier; leafscale gulper shark/ gulper shark and Portuguese dogfish. The mobile species are categorised as having Sensitive (dark blue); Not sensitive (white); Not Assessed (white); Not Relevant (White) or Insufficient Evidence (White). Further details on these categories are available in the associated methods document.
Potential pressures: Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Barrier to species movement
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Changes in suspended solids (water clarity)
Orange roughy: Not Sensitive
Blue ling: Not Sensitive
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Collision BELOW water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g., boats, machinery, and structures)
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Deoxygenation
Orange roughy: Not Exposed
Blue ling: Not Exposed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Hydrocarbon and PAH contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.
Orange roughy: Sensitive
Blue ling: Sensitive
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Introduction of light
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS)
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Litter
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Nutrient enrichment
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Organic enrichment
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Physical change (to another seabed type)
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Physical change (to another sediment type)
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Removal of non-target species
Orange roughy: Low Sensitivity
Blue ling: Medium Sensitivity
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Removal of target species
Orange roughy: High Sensitivity
Blue ling: High Sensitivity
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Smothering and siltation rate changes (Light)
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Synthetic compound contamination (incl. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals). Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.
Orange roughy: Sensitive
Blue ling: Sensitive
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Transition elements and organo-metal (e.g. TBT) contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.
Orange roughy: Sensitive
Blue ling: Sensitive
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Underwater noise changes
Orange roughy: Not Sensitive
Blue ling: Not Sensitive
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Potential pressures: Visual disturbance
Orange roughy: Not Assessed
Blue ling: Not Assessed
Round-nose grenadier: Not Assessed
Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark: Not Assessed
Portuguese dogfish: Not Assessed
Considering both the information on the pressure activity association (Table 2) and the sensitivity of protected habitats features (Table 3) and protected mobile species features (Table 4) pressures that have the potential to affect the feature are summarised in Table 5. Table 3 and 4 list the sensitivity of the protected features to the pressures caused by each type of fishing gear occurring within West of Scotland NCMPA.
Table 5 identifies the pressures from particular gears that are capable of affecting each protected feature. Where a pressure from a particular gear is identified as not being capable of affecting the feature, justification is provided. Pressures with a medium-high risk profile in PAD and to which FeAST assessed the feature as being Sensitive, Medium Sensitivity or High Sensitivity have the potential to affect the feature.
Pressures that are not relevant to demersal trawls, demersal seines, pelagic fishing, and anchored nets/lines (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 cases 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, six have medium-high risk profiles (PAD) for either all, or some of the fishing activities that occur within the site, and the protected features have are sensitive to either all, or some, of these pressures (FeAST). The six pressures are 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; smothering and siltation rate changes (light); changes in suspended solids (water clarity); removal of target species and removal of non-target species (Table 5). These six pressures are subsequently considered to have the potential to affect a combination of the protected habitat and mobile species features. All six of these pressures are exerted by either all, or some of the fishing activities that occur within the site (demersal trawls, demersal seines, pelagic fishing and anchored nets/lines).
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 considered capable of affecting but which do interact with the features are considered in the in-combination aspect of the assessment (Part C).
Table 5. Summary of pressures that could be capable of affecting the protected habitat and/or mobile species features, based on pressure-activity associations and sensitivity. Pressures that are capable of affecting are in dark blue; these will be taken through to the Part B assessment.
Potential pressure: Transition elements and organo-metal (e.g. TBT) contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – although some features may be sensitive, there is a low risk profile for the activities.
Potential pressure: Hydrocarbon and PAH contamination. Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – although some features may be sensitive, there is a low risk profile for the activities.
Potential pressure: Synthetic compound contamination (incl. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals). Includes those priority substances listed in Annex II of Directive 2008/105/EC.
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – although some features may be sensitive, there is a low risk profile for the activities.
Potential pressure: Deoxygenation
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – the pressure has a low risk profile for the activities, and Burrowed mud has low sensitivity to this pressure (the other protected habitat and mobile species features are either not exposed or sensitivity is not assessed).
Potential pressure: Nutrient enrichment
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – low risk profile for demersal trawls and seines activities (and is not relevant for pelagic fishing or anchored nets/lines) and the protected habitat and mobile species features are either not assessed or not sensitive.
Potential pressure: Organic enrichment
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – although Coral gardens, Deep-sea sponge aggregations, Offshore deep-sea muds and Offshore sands and gravels have high sensitivity and Burrowed mud has medium sensitivity to this pressure, the pressure has a low risk profile for the activities (the mobile species features, and Seamount communities and Cold-water coral reefs are not assessed)
Potential pressure: Physical change (to another seabed type)
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – although the habitat features have high sensitivity to this pressure, the pressure has a low risk profile for demersal trawls and seines activities (and is not relevant for pelagic fishing or anchored nets/lines). Mobile species features and Cold-water coral reefs are not assessed.
Potential pressure: Physical change (to another sediment type)
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – although Burrowed mud has high sensitivity to this pressure, the pressure has a low risk profile for the demersal trawls and seines activities (and is not relevant for pelagic fishing or anchored nets/lines). Other protected habitat and mobile species features are not assessed.
Potential pressure: Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile for demersal trawls, seines and anchored nets/lines (it is not relevant for pelagic fishing) AND the habitat features have either high sensitivity (Coral gardens, Deep-sea sponge aggregations, Offshore deep-sea muds, Offshore sands and gravels, and Seamount communities) of medium sensitivity (Burrowed mud) to this pressure (mobile species features and Cold-water coral reefs are not assessed).
Potential pressure: Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile for demersal trawls and seines, and a low risk profile for anchored nets/lines (it is not relevant for pelagic fishing) AND the habitat features have either high sensitivity (Coral gardens, Deep-sea sponge aggregations, Offshore deep-sea muds, Offshore sands and gravels, and Seamount communities) or medium sensitivity (Burrowed mud) to this pressure (mobile species features and Cold-water coral reefs are not assessed)
Potential pressure: Changes in suspended solids (water clarity)
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile for demersal trawls and seines activities (although it is not relevant for pelagic fishing or anchored nets/lines), AND Coral gardens, Seamount communities and Deep-sea sponge aggregations are sensitive, and Burrowed mud has low sensitivity to this pressure. Cold-water coral reefs, Round-nose grenadier, Leafscale gulper shark/Gulper shark and Portuguese dogfish are not assessed, Offshore deep-sea muds and Offshore sands and gravels are not exposed, and Orange roughy and Blue ling are not sensitive.
Potential pressure: Smothering and siltation rate changes (Light)
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile for demersal trawls and seines activities (although it is not relevant for pelagic fishing or anchored nets/lines), And the protected habitat features have either high (Coral gardens, Deep-sea sponge aggregations, Offshore deep-sea muds, Offshore sands and gravels, and Seamount communities) or low sensitivity (Burrowed mud). Cold-water coral reefs and mobile species features are not assessed.
Potential pressure: Litter
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – low risk profile for activities (protected feature sensitivity is not assessed)
Potential pressure: Underwater noise changes
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – although Coral gardens, Deep-sea sponge aggregations and Seamount communities are sensitive, there is a low risk profile for activities. (Orange roughy, Blue ling, Burrowed mud, Offshore deep-sea muds, and Offshore sands and gravels are not sensitive, and the other features are not assessed).
Potential pressure: Introduction of light
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – sensitivity of all protected features is not assessed but there is a low risk profile for activities
Potential pressure: Collision BELOW water with static or moving objects not naturally found in the marine environment (e.g. boats, machinery and structures)
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – sensitivity of all protected features is not assessed but there is a low risk profile for activities
Potential pressure: Visual disturbance
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – sensitivity of all protected features is not assessed but there is a low risk profile for activities
Potential pressure: Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS)
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: No – sensitivity of protected features is not assessed (except Offshore sands and gravels which is Not sensitive), but there is a low risk profile for activities.
Potential pressure: Removal of target species
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile AND Orange roughy and Blue ling have high sensitivity, and Burrowed mud has Medium sensitivity (all other protected features are either not assessed or not exposed).
Potential pressure: Removal of non-target species
Demersal trawls; Demersal seines; Pelagic fishing; Anchored nets/lines: Yes – the pressure has a Medium-high risk profile AND Coral gardens, Deep-sea sponge aggregations, Offshore deep-sea muds, Offshore sands and gravels and Seamount communities have high sensitivity, Burrowed mud and Blue ling have Medium sensitivity, and Orange roughy has low sensitivity (all other protected features are either not assessed or not exposed).
2.5 Part A conclusion
Considering the information on pressures and sensitivity above demersal trawls, demersal seines, pelagic fishing and anchored nets/lines have the potential to affect the Burrowed mud (including Sea-pens); Coral gardens; Cold-water coral reefs (including Lophelia pertusa reefs); Deep-sea sponge aggregations; Offshore deep-sea muds; Offshore sands and gravels; Seamount communities; Blue ling (Molva dypterygia); Leafscale gulper shark (Centrophorus squamosus)/Gulper shark (Centrophorus granulosus); Orange roughy (Hoplostethus atlanticus); Portuguese dogfish (Centroscymnus coelolepis) and Round-nose grenadier (Coryphaenoides rupestris) within West of Scotland NCMPA through 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; changes in suspended solids (water clarity); removal of non-target species; removal of target species; and smothering and siltation rate changes (light). These six pressures are considered to affect the features and are taken through to Part B of the assessment.
Contact
Email: marine_biodiversity@gov.scot