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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

21. Shetland Isles 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 101: Estimated Socio-economic impacts of proposed measures for Shetland Isles PMF Areas

Socio-Economic Impact

Option 1

Option 2

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

0 - 7.5

0 - 7.5

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

0 - 55.9

0 - 55.9

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

0 - 0.1

0 - 0.1
Table 102: Estimated Environmental impacts of proposed fisheries management measures for Shetland Isles 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

Minor adverse

Negligible adverse

Estimated overall environmental impact

Benefit

Benefit

21.1. 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 9 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.

21.1.1. Area: Back of Ollaberry, Yell Sound (Shetland)

This was developed to include known horse mussel bed records and to accommodate additional fishing data provided.

Feature: Horse mussel beds

Figure 184. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area to be protected extending from the headland at Back of Ollaberry, Yell out into the sea. There is 1 horse mussel record just before the 20m depth contour of the area.

21.1.2. Area: Lunna Ness, North (Shetland)

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Yell Sound Coast SAC and East Mainland Coast, Shetland SPA.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for East Mainland Coast SPA for set nets (including fyke nets) and Yell Sound Coast SAC for set nets (including fyke nets) and pelagic seine (including ring-nets) which are not shown in the map below.

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

This was developed to encompass known records and the depth preferences of maerl in Shetland and to accommodate additional fishing data provided.

Feature: Maerl beds

There are also maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumber records present, but they were not a qualifying feature for area selection.

Figure 185. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area to be protected extending from the north-west coast of Luna Ness out into the sea. There are 7 maerl records and 2 maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumber records spread throughout area between 20 and 40 meter depth contours.

21.1.3. Area: Linga Sound (Shetland)

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

The boundary was drawn around the majority of known horse mussel bed records at the time of the areas were being finalised for consultation. We are aware there are additional horse mussel bed records to the south of the area that were part of North Atlantic Fisheries College (NAFC) Marine Centre University of the Highlands and Islands (UHI), Shetland survey in 2019 but were not in Geodatabase of Marine features adjacent to Scotland (GeMS) when areas were developed.

Feature: Horse mussel beds

Figure 186. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area for measures extending from the southern portion of the east coast of Linga into the sound between Linga and Whalsay. There are three groups of horse mussel bed records. One group in the south portion of the area, one group in the centre and one group in the north.

21.1.4. Area: Lunning Sound (Shetland)

The boundary was drawn around known maerl bed records. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area. The boundary matches the existing SSMO closure.

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

Figure 187. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area for measures covering an area of relatively open water between West Linga and Mainland, and Little Linga and Ketill Holm. Maerl and maelr or corse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumber records are present throughout the area

21.1.5. Area: Papa, North (Shetland)

The boundary was drawn around known maerl bed records. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area.

Feature: Maerl beds

Figure 188. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area to be protected in open sea just of the north east coast of West Papa Head. There are 25 maerl records spread throughout the small area.

21.1.6. Area: Quey Firth (Shetland)

The boundary was drawn around known horse mussel bed records. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area. The area overlaps with an existing SSMO closure.

Feature: Horse mussel beds

Figure 189. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area to be extending southeast from the headland at Ness of Quey Firth out into the sea. Horse mussel records are evident in the centre of the area.

21.1.7. Area: Whalsay, South-West (Shetland)

The boundary was drawn around known horse mussel bed records. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area.

Feature: Horse mussel beds

Figure 190. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area to be protected in open sea off the south-west coast of Whalsay Island. There are four records for horse mussel beds. Three spread in the middle of the area and one in the southern portion.

21.1.8. Area: West Mainland Voes, Shetland

West Mainland Voes (Shetland) proposed PMF management area covers three distinct areas: the waters of Sandsound and Whiteness Voes, as well as an area to the southeast of Fore Holm.

This covers three discrete locations with some overlaps with current SSMO closures. Amendments were made based on stakeholder feedback and NatureScot advice from what was a bigger area in 2018. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed management area.

We are aware there are additional horse mussel records outside the area by the Fore Holm area but these were not in GeMS when the areas were drawn. There are also the three horse mussel bed records at Stromness Voe but these are older records (1986, 1987 and 1974) and were not included.

Feature: Horse mussel beds, blue mussel beds and seagrass beds

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

Figure 191. Map of measures proposed:*

Map shows three discrete areas for measures: The interior of Sandsound Voe with its outer boundary east of Sand, a small square patch just east of Fore Holm, and the innermost portion of Whiteness Voe with its outer boundary just south of Otter Holm. There is a bue mussel bed record in the north of the Sandsound Voe area east of Bixter, and two horse mussel records within the narrow portion leading out of the Voe. A concentration of seagrass beds exists within the Whiteness Voe area. A group of horse mussel records is present in the small square patch just east of Fore Holm.

*There are blue mussel bed records obscured by the cluster of seagrass bed records in Whiteness Voe

21.1.9. Area: West Voe, East Burra (Shetland)

This area incorporates two SSMO closures which cover the seagrass bed records. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area.

Feature: Seagrass beds

Figure 192. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area to be protected extending from the West Voe-head to past a skerry. There is one seagrass record by the skerry and another at the voe-head.

21.2. 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 2 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.

21.2.1. Area: Busta Voe (Shetland)

There are records included in Option 2 that are not included in Option 1 due to the age of the records. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area.

Feature: Horse mussel beds

Option 1: Developed around records with newer dates. Is larger than, but includes, SSMO closures.

Figure 193. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows the area to be protected extending from the Voe-head on the West to a headland. There are 5 records for horse mussel. One near the voe-head and 4 others near the headland where the protected area stops.

Option 2: This boundary covers a larger footprint that offers improved protection and includes older records.

Figure 194. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows the area to be protected extending from the Voe-head to just beyond a large skerry. There are 11 records for horse mussel. 5 records in the west section, 1 in the east and 4 around the large skerry.

21.2.2. Area: Wadbister Voe (Shetland)

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the East Mainland Coast, Shetland SPA.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for East Mainland Coast 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.

Feature: Maerl beds

There is a maerl bed record included in Option 2 but not included in Option 1 as it is an older record from 1986. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management areas.

Option 1: Developed around more recent records, incorporates the SSMO closure, extending slightly to the south-east.

Figure 195. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows the area to be protected, a square at the mouth of Wadbister Voe in the open sea. There are 2 maerl records clustered together in the centre of the protected area.

Option 2: This boundary covers a larger footprint that offers improved protection and includes an older record.

Figure 196. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows the area to be protected extending from the Voe-head at Wadbister to the mouth of the Voe. There are 3 maerl records clustered together at the mouth of the voe.

Contact

Email: marine_biodiversity@gov.scot

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