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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

8. Argyll 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 9: Estimated Socio-economic impacts of proposed measures for Argyll PMF Areas

Socio-Economic Impact

Option 1

Option 2

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

86.9 - 146.7

86.9 - 157.2

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

649.4 - 1,093

649.4 - 1,170.4

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

1 - 1.7

1 - 1.8
Table 10: Estimated Environmental impacts of proposed fisheries management measures for Argyll 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

8.1. 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 10 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.

8.1.1. Area: Loch a' Chnuic and Ardilistry (Islay)

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the South-East Islay Skerries SAC.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for South-East Islay Skerries 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 pelagic and static gear measures.

The boundary was reduced to the bay where the seagrass bed record is located. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area.

Feature: Seagrass beds

Figure 12. Map of measures proposed:

Map showing the area proposed for closure covering the whole of Loch a' Chnuic, with a seagrass bed record marked in the southeast of the bay

8.1.2. Area: Loch a' Chumhainn (Mull)

This is an area where the protection of the maerl beds contributes to the management required for the Inner Hebrides Carbonate Production Area of the Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA.

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA and Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC and Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA for set nets (not including fyke nets) which are not shown in the map below.

Please check one of the overlapping site map option(s) to see static gear measures. Both sets of maps show the same thing for overlapping portion.

The boundary was extended slightly to straighten it at the mouth of the loch. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed management area.

Feature: Maerl beds

Figure 13. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows area to be restricted extending from the head of Loch a' Chumhainn to its outermost extent. Maerl bed records are evident along the centre and south of the loch.

8.1.3. Area: Loch Craignish (Argyll)

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC for set nets (not including fyke nets) which are not shown in the map below.

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

The boundary was extended slightly at the mouth of the loch to encompass additional northern sea fan and sponge communities records and taking into account additional fishing data provided.

Feature: Horse mussel beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities and seagrass beds.

Figure 14. Map of measures proposed:

Map showing area to be restricted extending through Loch Craignish out to the outlying islands. Northern sea fan and sponge communities are evident in the outer portions of the area, with seagrass further in, and a horse mussel bed record in the east.

8.1.4. Area: Loch Indaal (Islay)

Feature: Horse mussel beds and seagrass beds

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

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

Figure 15. Map of measures proposed:

Map showing area for restrictions extending through Loch Indaal as far south as Gartbreck. Seagrass records are evident throughout the area, with horse mussels in the north and blue mussels on the eastern coastline.

8.1.5. Area: Loch Tarbert (Jura)

Feature: Maerl beds

Based on available evidence NatureScot suggested this PMF management area could be reduced to include the rapids area and inner basins only. Fishing data were also used and amendments were made to reduce the area.

Figure 16. Map of measures proposed:

Map showing restrictions will apply to the inner section of Loch Tarbert. A confirmed maerl bed record is evident in the narrowest section of the loch

8.1.6. Area: Gigha, North-East

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Sound of Gigha SPA.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Sound of Gigha SPA for set nets (including fyke nets) which are not shown in the map below.

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

The area was reshaped to include the unprotected beds from a 2019 survey. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area.

Feature: Horse mussel beds

Figure 17. Map of measures proposed:

Map showing a rectangular area extending from the northeast of Gigha where measures will be implemented. Horse Mussel bed records are evident in the northeastern part of the area

8.1.7. Area: Port Appin to Lismore (Loch Linnhe)

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

Feature: Flame shell beds and horse mussel beds

Figure 18. Map of measures proposed:

Map showing the area for measures to apply extending from the peninsula north of Ardtur southwards past Port Appin and across to Lismore. Flame shells and horse mussel records are present in the south of the area, with further flame shell records in the north.

8.1.8. Area: Port Ellen (Islay)

The 2018 illustrative area was reshaped based on records of maerl beds and maerl and coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed PMF management area.

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

Figure 19. Map of measures proposed:

Map showing area for measures extending from Laphroaig south to the nearby island, westwards to rejoin the Islay coast, encompassing the sheltered waters near Port Ellen. Maerl bed records and maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers records exist throughout the area

8.1.9. Area: Gigha, South

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Sound of Gigha SPA.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Sound of Gigha SPA for set nets (including fyke nets) which are not shown in the map below.

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

This proposed area was developed around the distribution of maerl bed records and adjustments were made to avoid the majority of the fishing activity data provided whilst still protecting all records.

Feature: Maerl beds

Figure 20. Map of measures proposed:

Map showing protected area to extend from the southeast of Gigha to fully encompass Cara. Maerl bed records are evident south of Cara, just south of the Gigha coast, and in the northeast of the protected area

8.1.10. Area: Sound of Iona (Mull)

This is an area where the protection of seagrass beds contributes to the management required for the Inner Hebrides Carbonate Production Area of the Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA.

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA and Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC and Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA for set nets (not including fyke nets) which are not shown in the map below.

Please check one of the overlapping site map option(s) to see static gear measures. Both sets of maps show the same thing for overlapping portion.

NatureScot are aware of further PMF evidence to support this area that did not make the data cut-off date for areas being finalised for consultation. No additional fishing data were provided within the proposed management area.

Feature: Seagrass beds

Figure 21. Map of measures proposed:

Map shows the area for measures extending between Iona and Mull, and slightly beyond the north of Iona. There is a confirmed seagrass bed record just north of Fionnphort

8.2. 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 3 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.

8.2.1. Area: Sound of Islay (Islay)

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA and Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC and Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA for set nets (not including fyke nets) which are not shown in the maps below.

Please check one of the overlapping site map option(s) to see static gear measures. Both sets of maps show the same thing for overlapping portion.

Feature: Maerl beds

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint more closely following the known records of PMFs in the southern end of the sound. Additional fishing data were provided and amendments were made in the southern end of the area to enable the majority of this activity to continue, whilst protecting the records.

Figure 22. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map showing the area to be closed covering the sound between Islay and Jura, extending slightly round the south coast of Jura. Maerl bed records are evident in south of the sound and by the islets south of Jura, and in the north of the sound.

Option 2: This boundary covers a larger footprint, with an extended boundary in the south west that offers improved protection.

Figure 23. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map showing area to be closed covering the sound between Islay and Jura, extending south and east past the mouth of the sound. Maerl bed records are evident in south of the sound and by the islets south of Jura, and in the north of the sound.

8.2.2. Area: Ulva and Loch na Keal (Mull)

This is an area where the protection of the maerl and seagrass beds contributes to the management required for the Inner Hebrides Carbonate Production Area of the Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA.

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA and Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC and Sea of the Hebrides NCMPA for set nets (not including fyke nets) which are not shown in the maps below.

Please check both site map options to see static gear measures. Each map will show the same overlapping measures but cover different areas.

Feature: Maerl beds, northern sea fan and sponge communities and seagrass beds

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint over two discrete areas that reflects the extent of PMF records. Additional fishing data provided showed activity in the middle area, south of Ulva and into Loch na Keal and therefore option 1 was split into two areas. The two northern sea fan and sponge community records at Eorsa may have natural protection from the rocky outcrops here and so the decision was taken to position the boundary to still afford protection but enable fishing activity.

Figure 24. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows area for measures extending from the head of Loch na Keal across the south coast of Ulva, with a discrete section between Gribun and Inch Kenneth. Maerl beds are evident in the area south of Ulva, with northern sea fan and sponge communities in the mouth of the loch and a seagrass record and maerl record in the discrete area by Inch Kenneth.

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

Figure 25. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map showing a continuous area for measures extending from the head of Loch na Keal across the south coast of ulva, and into the strait between inch Kenneth and Gribun. Maerl beds are evident in the area south of Ulva, with northern sea fan and sponge communities in the mouth of the loch and a seagrass record and maerl record in the area by Inch Kenneth.

8.2.3. Area: West Loch Tarbert (Kintyre)

Feature: Maerl beds and seagrass beds

This proposed PMF management area overlaps with the Sound of Gigha SPA and Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC.

This PMF management area overlaps with management measures being consulted on for Sound of Gigha SPA for set nets (including fyke nets) and Inner Hebrides and the Minches SAC for set nets (not including fyke nets) which are not shown in the maps below.

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

Option 1: This boundary covers a smaller footprint, more closely following depths suitable for the PMFs at the mouth of the loch. This area was reduced to accommodate additional fishing data provided without impacting on known records.

Figure 26. Map of measures proposed under option 1:

Map shows area to be protected extending through West Loch Tarbert to the mouth of the loch and sliver by the coast to the south. A Maerl bed record is evident in the mouth of the loch, with seagrass at the head of the loch, in the southern portion along the northwestern coast, and in the southern sliver. A cluster of blue mussel beds are evident just southwest of Torinturk.

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

Figure 27. Map of measures proposed under option 2:

Map shows the area to be protected extending through West Loch Tarbert as far as a north-south line from the tip of the Ardpatrick peninsula. A Maerl bed record is evident in the mouth of the loch, with seagrass at the head of the loch, in the southern portion along the northwestern coast, and in the southernmost portion. A cluster of blue mussel beds are evident just southwest of Torinturk.

Contact

Email: marine_biodiversity@gov.scot

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