Managing Damaging fishing in English MPAs – A ‘sea change’

Jean-Luc Solandt, Marine Conservation Society, UK

Sandy Luk, Sarah Gregerson, Catherine Weller

ClientEarth

Tom Appleby University of the West of England

The strongest law to enable protection of UK MPAs are the Habitats & Birds Directives.

107 SACs - sites for marine fauna and flora.

Article 6 particularly poorly applied to fisheries (ongoing at time of designation).

European Marine Sites – ‘paper parks’ (up to 2012)

Waddenzee sea ruling (2003) Annually licensed cockle dredging fishing qualifies as a ‘plan or project’

Stadt Papenburg ruling (2010)

Regularly licensed projects starting before SAC designation are still subject to contemporary HRA assessment.

• All UK fishing vessels licensed every two years

SECONDARY FONT Results Evidence of encroaching fishing into sensitive

MPA habitats (‘reefs’)

Scallop dredging intensity (1990 – 2007)

Solandt JL, Appleby T, and Hoskin M. 2013. Up Frenchmans creek: A case study on managing commercial fishing in an English Special Area of Conservation and its implications. Environmental Law and Management 25 (4): 133-139.

Increased reports of scallop dredging between 2005-2009

• In individual sites (Falmouth, Lyme Bay, Berwickshire in England. Cardigan Bay, Pembrokeshire marine in Wales)

• Regulators at the site level don’t issue license.

• Regulator at national level do issue the license.

• No single organisation takes the lead.

• Reactive protection in Lyme Bay (2008), Falmouth (2008); Wales (2010) to avoid EU infractions (from NGO case work).

• STILL SYSTEMIC MANAGEMENT FAILURE

‘New approach’ for England (2012-2016)

• Instigated by national central government (Defra).

• ‘Implementation Group’ set up (regulators, government, NGOs, fishermen, scientists, conservation agencies).

• Group reviewed and uses a gear damage ‘matrix’.

• Priorities (reds) managed by May 2014 (geogenic reefs, biogenic reefs, eelgrass beds).

• Other (amber) features (sandbanks) by 2016.

• In order to be legally compliant with the Directives, and meet international targets

‘the matrix’

Reef and eelgrass beds sites protected from winter 2013 to Spring 2014 by local regulators (about 3000km2)

Rich sedimentary habitats

Enforcement? Use mobile phones!

Rees et al., (2013). A legal and ecological perspective of ‘site integrity’ to inform policy development and management of European MPAs. Mar Poll Bull.

Summary

• Damaging fishing is happening in EMS across EU. • Article 6 requires protection (6(2)) and assessment

before (6(3)) damage can occur. • An EU gear – feature document exists (‘matrix’). • Similar regulations can now happen in offshore and

other MS based on this ‘tool’. • Clear regulation is required for good business and

environment. • Where possible, local and regional groups should

promote ‘new’ laws (e.g. Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities; RACs).

• Passing laws to protect features and sites can lead to better liaison, governance and harmony.

Thanks

Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, Marine Conservation Society, UK

Jean-luc.solandt@mcsuk.org www.mcsuk.org

Sandy Luk, Sarah Gregerson, Catherine Weller

www.ClientEarth.org