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Publication - Impact assessment

Planning Scotland's Seas: 2013 - Possible Nature Conservation Marine Protected Areas Consultation Overview - Strategic Environmental Assessment Report

Published
19 August 2013
Part of
Marine and fisheries
ISBN
9781782568070

This report summarises the findings from a strategic environmental assessment (SEA) of the possible Marine Protected Areas (pMPAs).

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Appendix 3. Assessment Tables

SEA Objectives
Biodiversity, flora and fauna Key: environmental effects
Obj 1: to safeguard (and, where appropriate, enhance) marine and coastal ecosystems, including species and habitats, and their interactions
Obj 2: to maintain or work towards good ecological/environmental status of water bodies Work against SEA objective
Obj 3: to maintain and protect the character and integrity of the seabed No change
Geodiversity Mixed effects
Obj 4: to safeguard (and, where appropriate, enhance) geodiversity features Promote SEA objective
Climatic factors Uncertain
Obj 5 - To reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vessels See PDF for color coding
Possible MPA Objective 1 Objective 2 Objective 3 Objective 4 Objective 5
Territorial waters

Clyde Sea Sill ( CSS) Biodiversity protected features - black guillemot; circalittoral sand and coarse sediment communities; fronts

Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of diver-operated hydraulic gear from circalittoral sand and coarse sediment communities may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.
East Caithness Cliffs ( ECC) Biodiversity protected features - black guillemot protection of MPA features not applicable not applicable not applicable not applicable

Fetlar to Haroldswick ( FTH) Biodiversity protected features - black guillemot; circalittoral sand and coarse sediment communities; horse mussel beds; kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments; maerl beds; shallow tide-swept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves

Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of diver-operated hydraulic gear from circalittoral sand and coarse sediment communities; horse mussel beds; kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments; maerl beds; shallow tide-swept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Loch Creran ( LCR) Biodiversity protected features - flame shell beds

Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of diver-operated hydraulic gear from flame shell beds may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.
Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh ( DLA)
Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud, flame shell beds		 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of diver-operated hydraulic gear from burrowed mud and flame shell beds and mobile gear from burrowed mud may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.
Loch Sunart ( LSU) Biodiversity protected features - flame shell beds; northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata; serpulid aggregations protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from serpulid aggregations and diver-operated hydraulic gear from flame shell beds may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Loch Sunart to the Sound of Jura ( SJU) Biodiversity protected features - common skate

Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable
Loch Sween ( LSW) Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud; maerl beds; native oysters; sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud and native oysters and diver-operated hydraulic gear from burrowed mud, maerl beds, native oysters and sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Monach Isles ( MOI) Biodiversity protected features - black guillemot

Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed; Quaternary of Scotland

 protection of MPA features not applicable not applicable protection of MPA features not applicable

Mousa to Boddam ( MTB) Biodiversity protected features - sandeels

Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear and diver-operated hydraulic gear from sandeels may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

North-west sea lochs and Summer Isles ( NWS) Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud; circalittoral muddy sand communities; flame shell beds; kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments; maerl beds; maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers; northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata

Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed; Quaternary of Scotland; Seabed Fluid and Gas Seep; Submarine Mass Movement

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers and diver-operated hydraulic gear from flame shell beds, kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments, maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.
Noss Head ( NOH) Biodiversity protected features - horse mussel beds protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of marine disposal and diver-operated hydraulic gear from horse mussel beds may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Papa Westray ( PWY) Biodiversity protected features - black guillemot

Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed

 protection of MPA features not applicable not applicable protection of MPA features not applicable

Small Isles ( SMI) Biodiversity protected features - black guillemot; burrowed mud, circalittoral sand and mud communities; fan mussel aggregations; horse mussel beds; northern feather star aggregations on mixed substrata; northern sea fan and sponge communities; shelf deeps; white cluster anemones

Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud and diver-operated hydraulic gear from horse mussel beds may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.
South Arran ( ARR) Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud; herring spawning grounds; kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments; maerl beds; maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers; ocean quahog; seagrass beds; shallow tide-swept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, ocean quahog, seagrass beds and diver-operated hydraulic gear from kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediments, maerl beds, maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers, ocean quahog, seagrass beds and shallow tide-swept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.
Upper Loch Fyne and Loch Goil ( LFG) Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud; flame shell beds; horse mussel beds; ocean quahog; sublittoral mud and mixed sediment communities protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud, ocean quahog and diver-operated hydraulic gear from flame shell beds, horse mussel beds, ocean quahog may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Wyre and Rousay Sounds ( WYR) Biodiversity protected features - kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment; maerl beds

Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of diver-operated hydraulic gear from kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment, maerl beds may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.
Offshore waters

Central Fladen ( CFL) Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud

Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

East of Gannet and Montrose Fields ( EGM)

Biodiversity protected features - ocean quahog aggregations (including sands and gravels as their supporting habitat); offshore deep sea muds

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from ocean quahog aggregations (including sands and gravels as their supporting habitat) and of mobile and static gear from offshore deep sea muds may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Faroe-Shetland sponge belt ( FSS) Biodiversity protected features - continental slope; deep-sea sponge aggregations; ocean quahog aggregations; offshore subtidal sands and gravels

Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Deep Ocean Seabed; Quaternary of Scotland; Submarine Mass

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from deep-sea sponge aggregations; ocean quahog aggregations; offshore subtidal sands and gravels and static gear from deep-sea sponge aggregations may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Firth of Forth Banks Complex ( FOF) Biodiversity protected features - ocean quahog aggregations; offshore subtidal sands and gravels; shelf banks and mounds

Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from ocean quahog aggregations; offshore subtidal sands and gravels may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Geikie Slide and Hebridean slope ( GSH) Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud; continental slope; offshore deep-sea muds, offshore subtidal sands and gravels

Geodiversity protected features - Submarine Mass Movement

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud, offshore deep-sea muds, offshore subtidal sands and gravels and static gear from offshore deep-sea muds may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Hatton-Rockall Basin ( HRB) Biodiversity protected features - deep-sea sponge aggregations; offshore deep-sea muds

Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Deep Ocean Seabed

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile and static gear from deep-sea sponge aggregations, offshore deep-sea muds may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

North-east Faroe Shetland Channel ( NEF) Biodiversity protected features - continental slope; deep-sea sponge aggregations; offshore deep-sea muds; offshore subtidal sands and gravels

Geodiversity protected features - Cenozoic Structures of the Atlantic Margin; Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Deep Ocean Seabed; Quaternary of Scotland; Submarine Mass Movement

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile and static gear from deep-sea sponge aggregations, offshore deep-sea muds and mobile gear from offshore subtidal sands and gravels may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

North-west Orkney ( NWO) Biodiversity protected features - sandeels

Geodiversity protected features - Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Shelf Seabed

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile and diver-operated hydraulic gear from sandeels may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.
Norwegian boundary sediment plain ( NSP)
Biodiversity protected features - ocean quahog aggregations (including sands and gravels as their supporting habitat), offshore subtidal sands and gravels		 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from ocean quahog aggregations; offshore subtidal sands and gravels may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Rosemary Bank Seamount ( RBS) Biodiversity protected features - deep-sea sponge aggregations; seamount features; seamount communities

Geodiversity protected features - Cenozoic Structures of the Atlantic Margin; Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Deep Ocean Seabed; Quaternary of Scotland; Submarine Mass Movement

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile and static gear from deep-sea sponge aggregations, seamount communities may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

South-east Fladen ( SEF) Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud

Geodiversity protected features - Seabed Fluid and Gas Seep

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

South-west Sula Sgeir and Hebridean slope ( SSH) Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud; continental slope; offshore deep-sea muds; offshore subtidal sands and gravels

Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland; Submarine Mass Movement

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud, offshore subtidal sands and gravels and of mobile and static gear from offshore deep-sea muds may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

The Barra Fan and Hebrides Terrace Seamount ( BHT) Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud; continental slope; offshore deep-sea muds; offshore subtidal sands and gravels; orange roughy; seamount; seamount communities

Geodiversity protected features - Cenozoic Structures of the Atlantic Margin; Marine Geomorphology of the Scottish Deep Ocean Seabed; Quaternary of Scotland; Submarine Mass Movement

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud, offshore subtidal sands and gravels and of mobile and static gear from offshore deep-sea muds, seamount communities may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.
Turbot Bank ( TBB)
Biodiversity protected features - sandeels, offshore subtidal sands and gravels, shelf banks and mounds		 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear and diver-operated hydraulic gear from sandeels and of mobile gear from offshore subtidal sands and gravels may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.
West Shetland Shelf ( WSS)
Biodiversity protected features - offshore subtidal sands and gravels		 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features not applicable There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from offshore subtidal sands and gravels may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

Western Fladen ( WFL) Biodiversity protected features - burrowed mud

Geodiversity protected features - Quaternary of Scotland

 protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features protection of MPA features There is potential for increased GHG emissions from increased journey lengths, should these occur. Significance of such increases is uncertain.
Potential for displacement of mobile gear from burrowed mud may result in adverse effects on benthic species/habitat in another location. Alternative locations remain to be identified. Significance is therefore uncertain.

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