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

14. North Coast 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.

Estimated Socio-economic impacts of proposed measures for North Coast PMF areas

Values in relation to:

• Average annual loss in value of landings (£000s, 2022 prices)
• Direct + indirect reduction in GVA (PV) impact (£000s) 20 years
• Average (mean) number of direct + indirect jobs (year on year, over 20 years), Full Time Equivalents.

cannot be disclosed for confidentiality reasons, as it relates to the operations of fewer than three vessels.

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 this PMF management area. Only one option was identified due to one of, or combination of, evidence (fishing activity or PMF related), boundary setting principles and compliance considerations.

14.1. Area: Loch Eriboll (Durness)

The option reflects the distribution of PMF records. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area.

Feature: Maerl beds and horse mussel beds