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Publication - Factsheet

Fisheries Management Measures within Scottish Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) Management Areas - High level Site Summary Details and Potential Impacts of Proposed Fisheries Management Measures

Published
14 September 2026
From
Director of Marine
Directorate
Marine Directorate
Topic
Environment and climate change, Marine and fisheries
ISBN
9781806432943

Overview of site and area details and potential impacts of the proposed fisheries management measures within Scottish Inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and proposed Priority Marine Feature (PMF) management areas

Supporting documents

10. Clyde Scottish Marine Region Proposed PMF Management Areas

Due to the complexity and large number of areas, the estimated socio-economic impacts of proposed measures data has been produced at a regional level, allowing for a more consistent assessment across wider geographical scales while still capturing key variations in ecological, social, and economic value. Some values may not be disclosed for confidentiality reasons, as it relates to the operations of fewer than three vessels. Sites with a proposed single management option will be option 2.

Table 15: Estimated Socio-economic impacts of proposed measures for Clyde PMF Areas

Socio-Economic Impact

Option 1

Option 2

Average annual loss in value of landings (£000s, 2022 prices)

0 - 6.9

0 - 12.4

Direct + indirect reduction in GVA (PV) impact (£000s) 20 years

0 - 50.6

0 - 91.6

Average (mean) number of direct + indirect jobs (year on year, over 20 years), Full Time Equivalents

0 - 0.1

0 - 0.1
Table 16: Estimated Environmental impacts of proposed fisheries management measures for Clyde PMF Areas

Environmental Impact

Option 1

Option 2

Benefits within the sites/areas

Major beneficial

Major beneficial

Spill over benefits

Negligible beneficial

Negligible beneficial

Displacement effects

Negligible adverse

Negligible adverse

Effects from other gear types

Negligible adverse

Negligible adverse

Estimated overall environmental impact

Benefit

Benefit

10.1. Single Proposed Management Option

PMF management areas will be closed to demersal trawls and seines, beam trawls, mechanical dredges, and hydraulic dredges. This is because the features present in these areas are sensitive to these gear types.

A single management option has been developed for the following 3 PMF management areas. Only one option was identified due to one of, or combination of, evidence (fishing activity or PMF related), boundary setting principles and compliance considerations.

10.1.1. Area: Loch Long, Upper (Argyll)

No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area.

Feature: Blue mussel beds, horse mussel beds, and maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers.

Figure 32. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area where the measures will apply extending through the upper half of Loch long. Blue mussel beds are evident in the upper third of the area, horse mussel beds are evident in the northern third and the south of the area, and a maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers record is present in the southeast.

10.1.2. Area: Merkland (Arran)

The area was adjusted to incorporate a suitable buffer around the records but still accommodating additional fishing data that was provided.

Feature: Maerl beds

Figure 33. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area for measures extends along a section of the east coast of Arran, south of Corrie. Maerl bed records are present throughout the area.

10.1.3. Area: Sannox (Arran)

The boundary was reduced to where maerl bed records are located with sufficient buffer. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed management area.

Feature: Maerl beds

Figure 34. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area to be protected extending out from the small inlet near Sannox. Maerl bed records are present a short way from the coast.

10.2. Two Proposed management options:

PMF management areas will be closed to demersal trawls and seines, beam trawls, mechanical dredges, and hydraulic dredges. This is because the features present in these areas are sensitive to these gear types.

Two options have been developed for the following 6 PMF management areas. Option 1 reflects a smaller footprint that reflects one, or a combination of evidence (fishing activity or PMF related), boundary setting principles and compliance considerations. Option 2 covers a larger footprint that offers improved protection.

10.2.1. Area: Ardlamont Point (Cowal)

Feature: Maerl beds and maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers

Option 1:* This boundary covers a smaller footprint more closely following depths suitable for maerl beds and accommodating additional fishing activity data where possible.

Figure 35. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows area to be protected surrounding the tip of Ardlamont point, following the coastline westwards a short way past Ardlamont house. Maerl bed records exist throughout the area, with a significant concentration in the southeast, alongside a maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers record.

*The maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers record is amongst the large cluster of maerl bed records.

Option 2:* This boundary covers a larger footprint that offers improved protection.

Figure 36. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map showing area to be protected extending from the waters around the tip of Ardlamont point northwest to the coast to the west of Ardlamont house. This area extends further from the coast than option 1. Maerl bed records exist throughout the area, with a significant concentration in the southeast, alongside a maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers record.

*The maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers record is amongst the large cluster of maerl bed records.

10.2.2. Area: Gourock (Inverclyde)

Feature: Horse mussel beds

Option 1: Smaller footprint to accommodate additional fishing data provided around the edges of the area, whilst giving sufficient buffers for the features.

Figure 37. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows a small rectangular area off the coast of Gourock where measures will apply. Five horse mussel records are evident, two towards the centre of the area and three towars the coast.

Option 2: This boundary covers a larger footprint that offers improved protection.

Figure 38. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows a rectangular area off the coast of Gourock where measures will apply, this extends slightly further into the sea than option 1. Five horse mussel records are evident, two towards the centre of the area and three towars the coast.

10.2.3. Area: Inchmarnock (Bute)

Feature: Maerl beds

There are also flame shell bed records present, but they were not a focus for area selection as further work is needed to confirm its status.

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint more closely following extent of known PMFs and depths suitable for maerl beds, and accommodating fishing data provided whilst protecting the PMF records.

Figure 39. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows area to be protected extending down the west coast of Inchmarnock round the southern tip and out into the waters to the southeast. Maerl bed records are evident throughout the area, especially in the northwest and open waters in the southeast. A flame shell bed record is present in the southeast.

Option 2: This boundary covers a larger footprint that offers improved protection.

Figure 40. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map showing the area to be protected encircling Inchmarnock and the waters to the southeast. Maerl bed records are evident throughout the area, especially in the northwest and open waters in the southeast. A flame shell bed record is present in the southeast.

10.2.4. Area: Kyles of Bute

Feature: Maerl beds

There are also intertidal blue mussel beds records present, but they were not considered part of this process due to there being no overlaps with bottom-contacting fisheries and intertidal mussel beds.

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint, excluding the very degraded maerl bed records in the southeast and the deeper muddy and mixed sediment habitats in the central channel and accommodates additional fishing data that was provided whilst protecting the PMF records.

Figure 41. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map showing the area to be protected extending from the northwest of the Kyle down past Colintravie. Maerl bed records exist in the northwest, with blue mussel beds evident just southeast of Colintravie.

Option 2: This boundary covers a larger footprint and includes very degraded maerl bed records in the southeast.

Figure 42. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows the area to be protected extending throughout the Kyle, as far as Glaic in the southeast. Maerl bed records exist in the northwest and in the southeastern tip, with blue mussel beds evident just southeast of Colintravie.

10.2.5. Area: Skipness Point (Kintyre)

Feature: Maerl beds

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint accommodating additional fishing data provided with suitable buffer in place for the maerl beds.

Figure 43. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows the area for protection extending from Skipness point a short way into the sea. A cluster of Maerl bed records exists in the southeast of the area, at about 10 metres depth.

Option 2: This boundary covers a larger footprint that offers improved protection.

Figure 44. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows an area for measures extending from Skipness point into the sea, this option extends slightly deeper in the southeast than option 1. A cluster of Maerl bed records exists in the southeast of the area, at about 10 metres depth.

10.2.6. Area: Scalpsay Bay, Gallachan Bay, and Stravannan Bay (Bute)

Feature: Maerl beds

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint. This reflects more closely the depths suitable for maerl beds in the north of the area and accommodates additional fishing data provided with suitable buffers around maerl bed records.

Figure 45. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows a continuous area stretching a short way from the coast running from the western edge of Scalpsay bay to the southern edge of Stravanan bay. Four maerl bed records are found across the area.

Option 2: This boundary covers a larger footprint that offers improved protection around the most westerly maerl bed record.

Figure 46. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows the area to be protected extending from the waters south of Ardscalpsie down to Stravanan bay. This area extends slightly further into the sea west of Scalpsay bay than option 1. Four maerl bed records are found across the area.

Contact

Email: marine_biodiversity@gov.scot

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