Razor clam scientific trial: fisheries assessment
A fisheries assessment for the Scottish razor clam scientific trial extension. This report assesses the potential impact of the razor clam scientific trial with reference to priority marine features, and the conservation objectives of a variety of sites in Scotland's MPA network.
2. Assessment of the razor clam trial on seabirds in Special Protection Areas
This assessment considers the targeted removal of razor clams in several trial areas around Scotland that overlap with, or are considered to be functionally linked with, Special Protection Areas (SPAs). The effect of vessels presence and movement in connection with fishing activity is also considered.
2.1 Sites Affected
The following SPAs are included in this assessment. Due to the areas in which razor clam fishing occurs and potential interactions with habitat and prey of features of these SPAs, there are potential effects on those features.
- Outer Firth of Forth and St. Andrews Bay Complex SPA
- Solway Firth SPA
- North Colonsay and Western Cliffs SPA
- Sound of Gigha SPA
- Coll and Tiree SPA
- West Coast of the Outer Hebrides SPA
2.2 High-level Conservation Objectives
The high-level conservation objectives for all sites are:
1. To ensure that the qualifying features of the SPA are in favourable condition and make an appropriate contribution to achieving Favourable Conservation Status.
2. To ensure that the integrity of the SPA is restored in the context of environmental changes by meeting objectives 2a, 2b and 2c for each qualifying feature:
a. The populations of the qualifying features are viable components of the SPA.
b. The distribution of the qualifying features is maintained throughout the site by avoiding significant disturbance of the species.
c. The supporting habitats and processes relevant to qualifying features and their prey resources are maintained, or where appropriate restored, at the SPA.
Site-specific advice is given in the relevant conservation and management advice (CMA) document.
2.3 Is the plan or project directly connected with or necessary to the site management for nature conservation?
No, in this assessment, razor clam fishing activity taking place within the site is the plan or project and is not directly connected or necessary to the site management for nature conservation.
2.4 Screening for likely significant effect (LSE)
2.4.1 Fishing activities considered capable of affecting the qualifying/classified features
Fishing - demersal mobile/active gear (inc. mechanical trawls and benthic trawls)
2.4.1.1 Outer Firth of Forth and St. Andrews Bay Complex SPA
Advice to Support Management
(All waterfowl, all seabirds) Reduce or limit pressures (disturbance) associated with boat use during commercial and recreational activities through effective mitigation such as:
- following the Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC);
- seasonal restrictions to avoid sensitive time periods for those protected features most susceptible to disturbance and/or;
- production of vessel management plans associated with activities that require a marine licence. This may include agreed routes and for boats, potential seasonal speed restrictions
(Red-throated diver, Slavonian grebe, red-breasted merganser, Arctic tern, common tern, kittiwake, gannet, guillemot, puffin, Manx shearwater, razorbill, European shag) Reduce or limit pressures (removal of prey species and abrasion of prey-supporting habitat) associated with fishing that has the potential to damage seabed habitat (in particular, sandeel habitat).
(Eider, goldeneye, common scoter, scaup [1], long-tailed duck, velvet scoter) Recommend that the fishing activity does not cause such damage to the benthic habitats that it adversely affects the availability of prey to bottom-feeding seaducks.
(All gulls) Recommend that the fishing activity does not cause such damage to the benthic habitats that it adversely affects the availability of prey to gull species (either directly or indirectly).
Relevant Pressures
Disturbance of sensitive species, removal of prey species, abrasion of prey-supporting habitat
Screening Determination
- Disturbance of sensitive species: LSE
- Removal of prey species: LSE
- Abrasion of prey-supporting habitat: LSE
2.4.1.2 Solway Firth SPA
Geese, swans and wading birds are not considered to be impacted by this activity in the CMA and are not part of this screening.
Advice to Support Management
(Red-throated diver, all seaducks, goosander, cormorant, all gulls) Reduce or limit pressures (disturbance) associated with boat use during commercial and recreational activities through effective mitigation such as:
- following the Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC);
- seasonal restrictions to avoid sensitive time periods for those protected features most susceptible to disturbance and/or;
- production of vessel management plans associated with activities that require a marine licence. This may include agreed routes and for boats, potential seasonal speed restrictions
(Red-throated diver, goosander, cormorant) Reduce or limit pressures (removal of prey species and abrasion of prey-supporting habitat) associated with fishing that has the potential to damage seabed habitat (in particular, sandeel habitat).
(Common scoter, scaup, goldeneye) Recommend that the fishing activity does not cause such damage to the benthic habitats that it adversely affects the availability of prey to bottom-feeding seaducks.
(All gulls) Recommend that the fishing activity does not cause such damage to the benthic habitats that it adversely affects the availability of prey to gull species (either directly or indirectly).
Relevant Pressures
Disturbance of sensitive species, removal of prey species, abrasion of prey-supporting habitat
Screening Determination
- Disturbance of sensitive species: LSE
- Removal of prey species: LSE
- Abrasion of prey-supporting habitat: LSE
2.4.1.3 North Colonsay and Western Cliffs SPA
Chough is not considered to be affected by this activity in the CMA and does not form part of this screening.
Advice to Support Management
(Kittiwake and guillemot) Reduce or limit pressures (disturbance) associated with boat use during commercial and recreational activities through effective mitigation such as:
- following the Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC);
- seasonal restrictions to avoid sensitive time periods for those protected features most susceptible to disturbance and/or;
- production of vessel management plans associated with activities that require a marine licence. This may include agreed routes and for boats, potential seasonal speed restrictions
(Kittiwake and guillemot) Reduce or limit pressures (removal of prey species and abrasion of prey-supporting habitat) associated with fishing that has the potential to damage seabed habitat (in particular, sandeel habitat, herring spawning grounds) should be considered.
Relevant Pressures
Disturbance of sensitive species, removal of prey species, abrasion of prey-supporting habitat
Screening Determination
- Disturbance of sensitive species: LSE
- Removal of prey species: LSE
- Abrasion of prey-supporting habitat: LSE
2.4.1.4 Sound of Gigha SPA
Advice to Support Management
(All species) Reduce or limit pressures (disturbance) associated with boat use during commercial and recreational activities through effective mitigation such as:
- following the Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC);
- seasonal restrictions to avoid sensitive time periods for those protected features most susceptible to disturbance and/or;
- production of vessel management plans associated with activities that require a marine licence. This may include agreed routes and for boats, potential seasonal speed restrictions
(Great northern diver, Slavonian grebe, red-breasted merganser) Reduce or limit pressures (removal of prey species and abrasion of prey-supporting habitat) associated with fishing that has the potential to damage seabed habitat (in particular, sandeel habitat).
(Eider) Recommend that the fishing activity does not cause such damage to the benthic habitats that it adversely affects the availability of prey to bottom-feeding eider.
Relevant Pressures
Disturbance of sensitive species, removal of prey species, abrasion of prey-supporting habitat
Screening Determination
- Disturbance of sensitive species: LSE
- Removal of prey species: LSE
- Abrasion of prey-supporting habitat: LSE
2.4.1.5 Coll and Tiree SPA
Advice to Support Management
(Great northern diver, eider) Reduce or limit pressures (disturbance) associated with boat use during commercial and recreational activities through effective mitigation such as:
- following the Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC);
- seasonal restrictions to avoid sensitive time periods for those protected features most susceptible to disturbance and/or;
- production of vessel management plans associated with activities that require a marine licence. This may include agreed routes and for boats, potential seasonal speed restrictions
(Great northern diver) Reduce or limit pressures (removal of prey species and abrasion of prey-supporting habitat) associated with fishing that has the potential to damage seabed habitat (in particular, sandeel habitat).
(Eider) Recommend that the fishing activity does not cause such damage to the benthic habitats that it adversely affects the availability of prey to bottom-feeding eider.
Relevant Pressures
Disturbance of sensitive species, removal of prey species, abrasion of prey-supporting habitat.
Screening Determination
- Disturbance of sensitive species: LSE
- Removal of prey species: LSE
- Abrasion of prey-supporting habitat: LSE
2.4.1.6 West Coast of the Outer Hebrides SPA
Advice to Support Management
(Black-throated diver, common eider, great-northern diver, long-tailed duck, red-breasted merganser, red-throated diver and Slavonian grebe) Reduce of limit pressures (disturbance) associated with boat use during commercial and recreational activities through effective mitigation such as:
- following the Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code (SMWWC);
- seasonal restrictions to avoid sensitive time periods for those protected features most susceptible to disturbance and/or;
- production of vessel management plans associated with activities that require a marine licence. This may include agreed routes and for boats, potential seasonal speed restrictions
Relevant Pressures
Disturbance of sensitive species, removal of prey species, abrasion of prey-supporting habitat
Screening Determination
- Disturbance of sensitive species: LSE
- Removal of prey species: LSE
- Abrasion of prey-supporting habitat: LSE