Scottish MPA Project Management options NOSS HEAD POSSIBLE MPA This is a working draft that has been produced to support initial discussions with stakeholders about management of activities in the possible MPA. The development of site management is an ongoing process which will continue after the conclusion of the formal consultation. We will make changes to reflect any relevant information that becomes available e.g. through stakeholder discussions. This paper covers a range of different activities and developments but is not exhaustive. It focuses on where we consider there could be a risk in terms of achieving the conservation objectives. The paper does not attempt to cover all possible future activities or eventualities (e.g. as a result of accidents), and does not consider likely cumulative effects that could result from different types of activities being carried out within the possible MPA. This document should therefore be considered as the starting point for discussions about management relating to the possible MPA. The following documents provide further information about the features, evidence and assessment of the possible MPA and should be read alongside this Management Options Paper: • Site summary • Data confidence assessment • Detailed assessment against the MPA Selection Guidelines These documents are available on the Scottish Natural Heritage website.
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Scottish MPA Project
Management options
NOSS HEAD POSSIBLE MPA
This is a working draft that has been produced to support initial discussions with stakeholders about management of activities in the possible MPA. The development of site management is an ongoing process which will continue after the conclusion of the formal consultation. We will make changes to reflect any relevant information that becomes available e.g. through stakeholder discussions.
This paper covers a range of different activities and developments but is not exhaustive. It focuses on where we consider there could be a risk in terms of achieving the conservation objectives. The paper does not attempt to cover all possible future activities or eventualities (e.g. as a result of accidents), and does not consider likely cumulative effects that could result from different types of activities being carried out within the possible MPA. This document should therefore be considered as the starting point for discussions about management relating to the possible MPA. The following documents provide further information about the features, evidence and assessment of the possible MPA and should be read alongside this Management Options Paper:
• Site summary • Data confidence assessment • Detailed assessment against the MPA Selection Guidelines
These documents are available on the Scottish Natural Heritage website.
Document version control
Version Date Author Reason / Comments Version 1 06/02/2013 Siobhan Mannion Insertion of relevant activities data
(subject to refinement). Version 2 23/05/2013 Morven
Carruthers New format, first draft of text and mapping
Version 3 29/05/2013 Sally Ward and Lesley Cranna
Review by Northern Isles and North Highland Unit.
Version 4 10/06/2013 Katie Gillham and Morven Carruthers
Edits to address comments.
Version 5 18/07/2013 Morven Carruthers
Updated mapping
Version 6 24/07/2013 Katie Gillham Insert habitat polygon map and address comments from QA
Distribution list
Format Version Issue date Issued to Electronic Version 4 10/06/2013 Michael McLeod, David Malllon and
Sebastian Howell Electronic Version 6 25/07/2013 SNH web publication
[B1209330 / 10(#17)]
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF MANAGEMENT OPTIONS FOR THE NOSS HEAD POSSIBLE MPA Introduction The Noss Head possible Marine Protected Area (MPA) encompasses a stretch of sea off the Caithness coast in the outer Moray Firth. The busy Wick harbour and the small Staxigoe and Keiss Harbours are located nearby. A licensed marine disposal site within the possible MPA is used for disposal of dredged materials. An RYA sailing route passes through the possible MPA as it makes its way along the coast and around Noss Head. The wider area is also important for fishing. The Noss Head possible MPA provides an opportunity to conserve an important part of Scotland’s seas. Further details of the possible MPA can be found in the site summary . This document has been produced to provide background information on the development of management for the Noss Head possible MPA. It will be used during discussions with stakeholders as part of the formal consultation. The aim of these discussions is to explore current activities and the potential interactions these may have with the proposed protected features. Future activities may also be considered.
The document describes the known location and extent of protected features and our current knowledge of where various activities take place. It also presents our preferred management option for each of those activities that are considered capable of having an effect on the protected features. The document provides those with an interest in the area a chance to input into the early stages of working out appropriate management of activities to ensure that the Noss Head possible MPA makes a genuine and long-lasting contribution to the protection of Scotland’s marine environment.
Map 1 shows the location of the Noss Head possible MPA.
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Map 1 Location of the Noss Head possible MPA
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Roles
SNH’s role is to advise Scottish Government on options for developing management of the Noss Head possible MPA. In doing this, our aim is to ensure the conservation objective for the protected feature is met. Marine Scotland will lead the discussions on management with stakeholders. They will consider SNH’s advice and will lead on the development of specific management measures. They will be responsible for making recommendations to Scottish Ministers on these measures. Scottish Ministers will decide whether to implement these measures. Stakeholders can provide additional evidence to support the development of management options, including local knowledge of the environment and of activities. Discussions with stakeholders will be one way of highlighting the implications of any management options to both SNH and Scottish Government. This will contribute to the development of well-designed and effective management measures if the site is approved by Scottish Ministers.
Protected features and conservation objectives The Noss Head possible MPA is being considered as part of a network of new Nature Conservation MPAs. These are being established to help conserve a range of Scotland’s important marine habitats, wildlife, geology and landforms. The location and extent of the proposed protected feature within the Noss Head possible MPA is shown on Map 2. Conservation objectives set out the desired quality of the protected features within each Nature Conservation MPA. They will form part of the designation order for Nature Conservation MPAs and will therefore be in place at the time that a site is formally designated. A conserve objective is used where evidence exists that a protected feature of an MPA is in good condition or where limited evidence exists and therefore there is uncertainty concerning the condition of a feature. A recover objective will be used where evidence exists that a species or habitat of an MPA is declining and/or damaged, to the point where it is not considered to be in a good condition. We have recommended that the conservation objective for the horse mussel bed within the Noss Head possible MPA is ‘conserve’.
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Map 2 The distribution of protected features within Noss Head possible MPA
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Overview of activities
Table 1 below lists the activities that take place within or close to the Noss Head possible MPA. Further discussions with those who use the area are required to improve our understanding of these activities (e.g. locations, extent and intensity). Those activities that the protected features are sensitive to are explored in detail in the next section. Activities which the protected features are not thought to be sensitive to will not be considered further within this document. New or other activities not identified within the table would need to be considered on a case-by-case basis. Table 1 Overview of existing activities believed to take place within or close to the Noss
Head possible MPA Activities considered capable of affecting the protected features
Activities not considered to be capable of affecting the protected features *
Marine disposal sites • Open disposal site CR010
Harbours • Wick harbour, Staxigoe harbour and
Keiss harbour (all located outside the possible MPA).
Fishing – demersal mobile/ active gear
• trawl, dredging and hydraulic methods
RYA cruising routes • 1 route crosses possible MPA
Fishing - static gear • Creeling & potting
Commercial shipping
Infrastructure (cables) • Cables including HDVC links
*Only the specific examples of activities listed in the table have been excluded, rather than the broad activity types.
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Development of management options Management options are being developed where we consider that some form of management may be necessary to achieve the conservation objectives for each proposed protected feature. The approach to identifying management options for each activity will be risk-based i.e. we are focusing on providing advice where we believe there is a risk to achieving the conservation objectives. To do this, we are using existing data and information on protected features and relevant activities, and also our understanding of the relationships between the proposed features and activities. The management options may be informed by discussion with stakeholders. If new information becomes available during the consultation, the management options may be revised. Management options are focused on the activities that cause an effect (a pressure) that a feature is sensitive to. Pressures can be physical (e.g. abrasion of the seabed), chemical or biological. Different activities may cause the same pressure, e.g. fishing using bottom gears and aggregate dredging both cause abrasion which can damage the surface of the seabed. The protected features of a possible MPA are considered sensitive to activities that generate pressures that may affect them, especially if they are unable or very slow to recover from these pressures. The online sensitivity tool FEAST1 will be available on the Marine Scotland website. It reflects our current understanding of the interactions between activities, pressures and features and supports the first steps of the assessment of risk to the features in the possible MPAs. The tool highlights that activities can give rise to a range of pressures, which the protected features of the possible MPA may be sensitive to. Sensitivity is characterised by a feature’s tolerance (response to change) and its ability to recover. Please use the online tool on the Marine Scotland web site for more detailed information including the evidence we have used in developing our recommendations. We have identified risks to achieving the conservation objectives where there is an overlap between protected features and activities (based on pressures) that they are sensitive to. We have recommended management options to manage these risks. Specific details of the recommended management options for each activity are provided in the following sections. Overlap between different activities/potential developments and the proposed protected features is described and where appropriate mapped. The text focuses on interactions in terms of physical overlap but the assessment of risk in future should also take account of the intensity and frequency of activities within the possible MPA. SNH has identified a range of management options that may be applied, including:
- management to remove or avoid pressures - management to reduce or limit pressures - no additional management required
We recognise that stakeholders can provide local environmental knowledge and more detailed information on activities, including in relation to intensity, frequency, and methods. This additional information will help us to develop more specific management options, focused on interactions between features and activities.
1 Features, Activities, Sensitivities and pressures Tool
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Marine disposal sites Within the Noss Head possible MPA there is one marine disposal site (Wick, CR010) located immediately adjacent to the south west extent of the horse mussel bed feature (see Map 3). Horse mussel beds are considered highly sensitive to pressures (e.g. siltation rate changes), which are associated with deposit of dredged material at marine disposal sites. If pressures associated with marine disposal are reduced or limited, the conservation objectives may be achieved. However this would not entirely remove the risk of deterioration. If pressures associated with marine disposal are removed or avoided, the conservation objectives for horse mussel beds are likely to be achieved. There is currently uncertainty relating to the area over which dredge spoil is distributed after disposal and the extent to which the material is likely to impact on the horse mussel bed. Map 3 Overlap between marine disposal sites and protected features
Recommended management option:
Remove or avoid pressures – associated with marine disposal of dredged material in areas where they would be likely to impact on the horse mussel bed is recommended. The horse mussel bed extends across most of the possible MPA. However, there is currently uncertainty over the extent of interaction between material deposited at the disposal site and the horse mussel bed (see Proposed way forward). We would want to ensure that management is put in place to ensure that impacts are avoided across most, if not the entire, site.
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Proposed way forward: We will continue discussions with those involved with marine
disposal within or adjacent to the possible MPA. Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team undertake a programme of surveys of marine disposal sites around Scotland. The results of this work will be taken into account when considering whether any management measures are required. They will be used to help resolve uncertainties over the interaction between dredge spoil disposal and the horse mussel bed. Where management measures are required, the development of these would be undertaken via discussion with Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team and Wick Harbour Authority. Marine Scotland will lead the development of specific management measures.
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Introduction to fishing activities Information on the distribution and intensity of fishing activity within and adjacent to the Noss Head possible MPA was not available at the time of writing. Therefore, in providing our advice on management options for fishing activities, we have focused on what we know about the sensitivities of the proposed protected features to different types of fishing activity and whether or not that fishing activity may affect the achievement of the site’s conservation objectives. Our advice below has been presented in the context of three broad management options, which are: remove/avoid pressures, reduce/limit pressures or no additional management. We have indicated the extent to which these options would allow the conservation objectives to be met and have added some site specific comments. We have identified management options and stated whether they are ‘recommended’ or should be ‘considered’ where: Recommended – highlights that an issue of fishery/feature interaction exists, there is a reasonable evidence base and a specific recommendation for action can be made/justified. Considered – highlights that an issue exists, but circumstances mean that a specific recommendation for action cannot / or need not be made at this point. However, there is sufficient cause to make fishery managers aware of the issue and for them to consider if a fishery management measure may be helpful in achieving conservation objectives – particularly where there may be a synergy between the benefits of management actions for the fishery and the conservation objectives for the feature. In order to assess the extent to which these features are actually affected by fishing activities in the site, discussions with those involved with fishing within or adjacent to the possible MPA will be important. Fishing – demersal mobile/ active gear This section covers fishing using demersal mobile/ active gear, including trawls, dredges and hydraulic methods. Map 4 shows the sensitivity of the protected features (horse mussel beds) to pressures which are associated with demersal mobile/ active fishing gear, such as sub-surface damage and abrasion. Horse mussel beds are highly sensitive to activities that cause surface and subsurface disturbance or abrasion. In order to help meet the conservation objectives for horse mussel beds the pressures associated with demersal mobile/active fishing gear should be removed or avoided.
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Map 4 Sensitivities of the proposed protected features to pressures associated with demersal mobile/ active gear fishing
Recommended management option:
Remove or avoid pressures - the exclusion of mobile/active gears (i.e. trawls, dredges and hydraulic methods) from within Noss Head possible MPA is recommended. Horse mussel beds are highly sensitive to activities that cause surface and subsurface disturbance or abrasion. This feature occurs throughout the site and therefore restriction of fishing activities would need to be for the whole site in order to achieve the conservation objectives.
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Proposed way forward: We will continue discussions with those involved with fishing
within or adjacent to the possible MPA to help us to understand more about the interactions between different gear types and the proposed protected features. Scotmap will provide a valuable source of information on inshore fishing activity. It is expected that in future Scotmap will be used to support decision-making on MPAs. Where management measures are required, the development of these would be undertaken via discussion with fishing interests and fishery managers and informed by any detailed information about fishing activity that can be made available. Marine Scotland will lead the development of specific management measures.
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Fishing - static gear This section covers fishing using static gear such as pots /creels for crabs and lobsters. Map 5 shows the sensitivities of the protected features to surface damage or abrasion, which is associated with static gear fishing. Horse mussel beds are considered to have medium sensitivity to activities that cause surface disturbance or abrasion. If the pressures associated with static gear fishing are reduced or limited, the conservation objectives for horse mussel beds would be likely to be achieved. However, this would not entirely eliminate the risk of deterioration. Whilst we are not recommending management to remove pressures associated with static gear within the site, if such measures were introduced for stock management purposes they would also be likely to contribute to achieving the conservation objectives. Map 5 Sensitivities of the proposed protected features to pressures associated with
static gear fishing
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Recommended management option:
Reduce or limit pressures - Management measures to reduce or limit the amount of static gear fishing activity on the horse mussel beds should be considered. Whilst we are not recommending management to remove or avoid pressures associated with static gear within the site, if such measures were introduced for stock management purposes they would also be likely to contribute to achieving the conservation objectives.
Proposed way forward: We will continue discussions with those involved with fishing within or adjacent to the possible MPA to help us to understand more about the interactions between different gear types and the proposed protected features. Scotmap will provide a valuable source of information on inshore fishing activity. It is expected that in future Scotmap will be used to support decision-making on MPAs. Where management measures are required, the development of these would be undertaken via discussion with fishing interests and fishery managers and informed by any detailed information about fishing activity that can be made available. Marine Scotland will lead the development of specific management measures.
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Infrastructure (cables) Within the Noss Head possible MPA a subsea HVDC link between Caithness and Moray has been consented across the horse mussel bed. A further subsea HVDC link between Caithness and Shetland has been proposed to cross the horse mussel bed within the possible MPA. At the time of writing, spatial data for either the consented or proposed subsea HVDC links were not available for mapping. Therefore, in providing our advice on management options, we have focused on what we know about the sensitivities of the protected feature to pressures associated with cable infrastructure, rather than on the geographic overlap between the activity and the protected feature. Horse mussel beds are considered highly sensitive to pressures (e.g. sub-surface abrasion or disturbance), which are associated with installation of cables (see Map 6). If pressures associated with cable installation are reduced or limited, for example through limiting the number of cables required per HVDC link and using lower impact installation methods, the conservation objectives for horse mussel beds may be achieved. However this would not entirely remove the risk of deterioration. If pressures associated with cable installation are removed or avoided, the conservation objectives for horse mussel beds are likely to be achieved. Whilst the laying of the existing consented HVDC link across the horse mussel bed is not considered to pose a significant risk to the conservation objectives, there is a risk of cumulative effects from additional cables crossing the horse mussel bed in different locations and the likely impact this may have on the conservation objectives. Careful assessment of future proposals will be required. Map 6 Sensitivities of the proposed protected features to pressures associated with
infrastructure (cables)
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Recommended management option:
Remove or avoid pressures – associated with further cable infrastructure in areas where there would be likely to lead to cumulative impacts on horse mussel beds is recommended. The horse mussel bed extends across most of the possible MPA. Therefore management would need to be applied across most, if not the entire, site.
Proposed way forward: We will continue discussions with those involved in both developing and licensing proposals for cable infrastructure within or adjacent to the possible MPA. Careful consideration of future proposals will be required to ensure that any new cables do not lead to cumulative impacts that would pose a significant risk to achieving the conservation objective for the horse mussel bed. Marine Scotland will lead the development of any specific management measures, if required.
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Summary of recommended management options
Before any firm recommendations are made, discussions should be held with stakeholders to ensure that the there is a good understanding of the features and the likely interactions with activities. Marine Scotland will lead the discussions on management with stakeholders. These discussions will start during the formal consultation and, if necessary, may continue after the consultation. The discussions should lead to an improved understanding of the risk to the proposed protected features. The options presented here will then be reviewed by SNH and a preferred way forward may be recommended. This will form the basis of advice from SNH to Marine Scotland on management requirements for this possible MPA should it be designated as a Nature Conservation MPA. Marine Scotland will be responsible for making recommendations to Scottish Ministers on any management measures that may be required. The development of these measures will be done through discussion with stakeholders after the formal consultation on the possible MPA. Should any management measures require statutory underpinning, Marine Scotland will undertake further consultation.
Further information The following documents are available for background information:
Remove or avoid pressures – associated with marine disposal of dredged material in areas where they would be likely to impact on the horse mussel bed is recommended.
Fishing – demersal mobile/active gear
Remove or avoid pressures - the exclusion of mobile/active gears (i.e. trawls, dredges and hydraulic methods) from within Noss Head possible MPA is recommended.
Fishing – static gear Reduce or limit pressures - Management measures to reduce or limit the amount of static gear fishing activity on the horse mussel beds should be considered.
Infrastructure (cables) Remove or avoid pressures – associated with further cable infrastructure in areas where there would be likely to be cumulative impacts on horse mussel beds is recommended.
