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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

17. Orkney Islands 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 55: Estimated Socio-economic impacts of proposed measures for Orkney Islands PMF Areas

Socio-Economic Impact

Option 1

Option 2

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

4.2 - 13.3

7.1 - 24.6

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

31.1 - 97.1

53.3 - 183

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

0 - 0.2

0.1 - 0.3
Table 56: Estimated Environmental impacts of proposed fisheries management measures for Orkney Islands 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

17.1. 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 2 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.

17.1.1. Area: Bay of Tuquoy, Westray (Orkney)

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

Feature: Seagrass beds

Figure 92. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the protected area covers the whole of the Bay of Tuquoy. Seagrass beds are shown to extend across most of the outer portion of the bay.

17.1.2. Area: Bay of Swartmill (Orkney)

This option includes the known PMF records and the whole bay has been included as the area is of suitable depth for maerl beds in Orkney. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed management area.

Feature: Maerl beds

Figure 93. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area for measures extends out from the Bay of Swartmill northwards. A maerl bed record is evident in the northern tip of the area.

17.2. 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 7 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.

17.2.1. Area: Copinsay (Orkney)

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Copinsay SPA.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Copinsay SPA for set nets (including fyke nets) and longlines (until technical measures come into force) which are not shown in the maps below.

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

Please check overlapping site map option(s) to see static gear and longline measures.

Additional observations of horse mussel beds that lie outside the option 1 area, and one beyond the option 2 area. This was from a 2024 NatureScot-Marine Directorate survey where data were only available after the area was finalised for consultation.

Feature: Horse mussel beds

There are also fan mussel aggregation records present in option 2, but they were not a qualifying feature for area selection.

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint around most of the cluster of horse mussel bed records.

Figure 94. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows the protected area to the east of Copinsay, with its shallowest point at 20 metres depth. Horse mussel beds are evident in the centre of this area

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

Figure 95. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows the area for protection surrounding Copinsay, Corn Holm, and the surrounding islets. Horse mussel beds are evident to the east of Copinsay. A fan mussel record is evident in the north of the area

17.2.2. Area: Hoy Sound (East) to South Walls (Orkney)

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Hoy and Scapa Flow SPAs.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Hoy and Scapa Flow SPAs for set nets (including fyke nets) and overlapping area with Hoy SPA for longlines (until technical measures come into force) which are not shown in the maps below.

Please check overlapping site map option(s) to see static gear and longline measures.

Option 1 originally covered our knowledge of the records but new records of horse mussel records to the north and maerl bed records to the southeast of the area have been confirmed since the options were developed. The boundary developed for Option 2 was already large enough to include the horse mussel bed records. The maerl bed records to southeast of the area fall outside the developed options as they were available in GeMS after the proposed areas were finalised for consultation.

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

Feature: Flame shell beds, horse mussel beds, maerl beds, fan mussel aggregations and seagrass beds

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint over two discrete locations.

Figure 96. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows the area for measures covering the waters east of Hoy as far as Switha in the southeast and Cava in the Northeast. A small distinct area exists north of Cava. In this small area there are many horse mussel records and some fan mussels. Throughout the north of the main section of the area there are flame shell, horse mussel, and maerl bed records. maerl beds also exist near the coast of Flotta, and seagrass records on the northwest coast of South Walls.

Option 2: This boundary covers a larger single area and extends to the north.

Figure 97. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows area for measures extending from the south coast of Mainland along the coast of Hoy to South Walls. The area extends as far as Switha in the southeast, running through the strait between Fara and Hoy and up to Toy Ness on Mainland. Many horse mussel records are found north of Cava, alongside some fan mussels. In the centre of the area there are flame shell, horse mussel, and maerl bed records. maerl beds also exist near the coast of Flotta, and seagrass records on the northwest coast of South Walls.

17.2.3. Area: Hoy Sound (Orkney)

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Hoy and Scapa Flow SPAs.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Hoy and Scapa Flow SPAs for set nets (including fyke nets) and overlapping area with Hoy SPA for longlines (until technical measures come into force) which are not shown in the maps below.

Please check overlapping site map option(s) to see static gear and longline measures.

Option 2 also has an additional maerl bed record not captured in Option 1 as the data were not available when the options were finalised for consultation. No additional fishing data provided within the proposed management areas.

Feature: Maerl beds, seagrass beds

There are also maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers records present in Option 2, but they were not the focus for this area’s selection.

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint encompassing known maerl bed and seagrass bed records at the time.

Figure 98. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows the area for measures extending between Hoy and Mainland through the northwest tip of Graemsay and down a short way past the eastern extent of Graemsay. Maerl bed records are evident in the north and east of the area, with seagrass beds evident north of Graemsay.

Option 2: This boundary covers a larger footprint extending to the south to include additional maerl bed records and maerl or coarse shell gravel and burrowing sea cucumbers records.

Figure 99. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows area for measures to cover the area between Hoy and Mainland from the northwest tip of Graemsay down to Green Head on Hoy. Maerl bed records are evident in the north and east of the area, with seagrass beds evident north of Graemsay. This area includes a maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers record just north of Green head that is not included in option 1.

17.2.4. Area: Eday, Sanday, and Stronsay (Orkney)

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

Feature: Horse mussel beds maerl beds, seagrass beds,

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint more closely reflecting the distribution of the PMFs.

Figure 100. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows the area for measures extending from the northeast coast of Stronsay up to Sanday, and across to Eday, running south past the southwest tip of Stronsay at its southernmost. Maerl bed records are evident throughout the area, with seagrass on the east coast of Stronsay and on the coast of Sanday. Horse mussels are evident in the southern tip of the area southwest of Stronsay.

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

Figure 101. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows the area for measures extending from the northeast coast of Stronsay up to Sanday, and across to Eday, running south past the southwest tip of Stronsay at its southernmost. This option covers more waters south of Eday than option 1. Maerl bed records are evident throughout the area, with seagrass on the east coast of Stronsay and on the coast of Sanday. Horse mussels are evident in the southern tip of the area southwest of Stronsay.

17.2.5. Area: Orkney Sounds and Firths (South)

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Rousay and North Orkney SPAs.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Rousay and North Orkney SPAs for set nets (including fyke nets) and overlapping area with Rousay SPA for longlines (until technical measures come into force) which are not shown in the maps below.

Please check overlapping site map option(s) to see static gear and longline measures.

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

Feature: Horse mussel beds, maerl beds and seagrass beds

There is also a fan mussel species record present in the options, but this feature was not a focus for this area’s selection.

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint and includes clusters of known PMF records within two discrete locations.

Figure 102. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows the area for measures running from the strait between Mainland and Rousay along the mainland coast to Rerwick Head, including the northern and southern coasts of Shapinsay. Deer sound is also included in this area, where a number of seagrass records are evident. Maerl beds are evident throughout the main area, with horse mussel beds evident south of Shapinsay, fan mussels evident near Rousay, and seagrass beds also present across the north and west of the area.

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

Figure 103. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows the area for measures running from the strait between Mainland and Rousay along the mainland coast to the tip of Deer Ness, including the northern and southern coasts of Shapinsay. Maerl beds are evident throughout the main area, with horse mussel beds evident south of Shapinsay, fan mussels evident near Rousay, and seagrass beds scattered in the north and west of the area. There is also a concentration of seagrass beds in Deer Sound.

17.2.6. Area: Papa Westray, South (Orkney)

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

The sloping northern boundary at Knap of Hower and the southeastern boundary at Sheepheight were drawn to follow the boundary of the Papa Westray MPA.

Feature: Maerl beds, seagrass beds

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint, more closely following the 10 m depth contour in the south.

Figure 104. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map showing the area for measures covering the southern end of Papa Westray, and the southwest coast as far as the Knap of Howar. A Maerl bed is evident in the southeast of the area, and seagrass records exist in the west of the area.

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

Figure 105. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map showing the area for measures extending a short way east of the southern end of Papa Westray, and round the southwest coast as far as the Knap of Howar. This area extends slightly further east and south than option 1. A Maerl bed is evident in the southeast of the area, and seagrass records exist in the west of the area.

17.2.7. Area: Widewall Bay (Orkney)

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Scapa Flow SPA.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Scapa Flow SPA for set nets (including fyke nets) which are not shown in the maps below.

Please check overlapping site map option(s) to see static gear measures.

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

Feature: Seagrass beds

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint that includes known seagrass bed records.

Figure 106. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows the area for measures covering the sheltered waters of Widewall Bay, with its outer boundary between Herston and Quindry. Seagrass beds are evident throughout the area, with a greater concentration in the inner portion of the bay.

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

Figure 107. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows the area for measures covering the whole of Widewall Bay, with its outer boundary between Herson Head and Hoxa Head. Seagrass beds are evident throughout the inner area, with a greater concentration in the innermost portion of the bay.

Contact

Email: marine_biodiversity@gov.scot

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