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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

22. Solway Scottish Marine Region MPA

Due to the complexity and large number of areas and sites, ecosystem services 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.

Table 103: Estimated Ecosystem Service Impacts of proposed fisheries management measures (over 20 years) for Solway

Total value of changes in ecosystem services

Option 1 Min

Option 1 Max

Option 2 Min

Option 2 Max

Benefits

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Minimal

Costs

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Net Impacts

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

Neutral

22.1. Site: Solway Firth SPA

Protected features:

  • Black-headed gull - non-breeding
  • Common gull - non-breeding
  • Common scoter - non-breeding
  • Cormorant - non-breeding
  • Goldeneye – non-breeding
  • Goosander - non-breeding
  • Herring gull - non-breeding
  • Red-throated diver - non-breeding
  • Scaup - non-breeding

Bar-tailed godwit, common redshank, ringed plover, shelduck, dunlin, curlew, oystercatcher, teal, grey plover, golden plover, lapwing, pintail, shoveler, pink-footed goose, knot, turnstone, sanderling, barnacle goose and whooper swan are not discussed further as they are not a protected feature for which fisheries management measures are required.

Feature conditions:

  • Black-headed gull - Favourable
  • Common gull - Favourable
  • Common scoter - Favourable
  • Cormorant - Favourable
  • Goldeneye - Unfavourable
  • Goosander - Favourable
  • Herring gull - Favourable
  • Red-throated diver - Favourable
  • Scaup - Unfavourable

Conservation objectives:

  • Black-headed gull - Maintain
  • Common gull - Maintain
  • Common scoter - Maintain
  • Cormorant - Maintain
  • Goldeneye - Restore
  • Goosander - Maintain
  • Herring gull - Maintain
  • Red-throated diver - Maintain
  • Scaup - Restore

The proposed management measures for Solway Firth SPA are as follows:

Option 1:

  • Set nets (including fyke nets) prohibited all year in areas down to 33m based on presence and maximum dive depth for cormorant
  • Demersal set nets (including fyke nets) prohibited from July till the end of April and pelagic set nets prohibited in areas down to 63m based on presence of cormorant and scoter and maximum dive depth for scoter
  • Bass exemption areas where set nets (including fyke nets) prohibited except gillnets from April till the end of August used to catch bass and not left longer than 24 hours. (areas only apply to vessels that have a bass licence, all other vessels set nets and fyke nets prohibited)
  • Full site closure to hydraulic dredge

Figure 197. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows Solway Firth SPA, an area extending from the coast of Dumfries and Galloway from Carsluith to Gretna, aside from a small area directly adjacent to the coast near Kircudbright. Most of the area is shallower than 33m, with an area at the outer edge of the SPA south of Kircudbright being deeper than 33m but shallower than 65m. In this deeper section demersal set nets (including fyke nets) are prohibited July to end April and pelagic set nets prohibited year round. In the shallower areas set nets (including fyke nets are prohibited. A few small areas in the western edge of the site, including portions of Wigtown bay and the coast down to Sliddery Point, permits gillnets from April to end August when used to catch Bass and not left for longer than 24 hours (only applies to vessels that have a bass licence). All other set nets (including fyke nets) prohibitions remain prohibited in these areas for all other vessels. Hydraulic dredges are prohibited throughout the site.

Option 2:

  • Full site closure to set nets (including fyke nets) and hydraulic dredge

Figure 198. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows Solway Firth SPA, an area extending from the coast of Dumfries and Galloway from Carsluith to Gretna, aside from a small area directly adjacent to the coast near Kircudbright. Set nets (including fyke nets), and hydraulic dredges are prohibited throughout the site.

Estimated Socio-economic impacts of proposed measures for Solway Firth SPA

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.

Table 104: Estimated Environmental impacts of proposed fisheries management measures for Solway Firth SPA

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

Contact

Email: marine_biodiversity@gov.scot

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