Public Notice: Marine Management Organisation
1st April 2024
MARINE MANAGEMENT ORGANISATION
Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 (c.23)
The Marine Protected Areas Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw 2023 will come into effect on 22 March 2024, to prohibit bottom towed fishing gear within specified areas of Cape Bank Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ); East of Haig Fras MCZ; Farnes East MCZ; Foreland MCZ; Goodwin Sands MCZ; Haig Fras Special Area of Conservation (SAC); Haisborough, Hammond and Winterton SAC; Hartland Point to Tintagel MCZ; Lands End and Cape Bank SAC, North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef SAC; Offshore Brighton MCZ; South of Celtic Deep MCZ; and Wight-Barfleur Reef SAC.
The purpose of the byelaw is to conserve Annex I reef, circalittoral rock, fragile sponge and anthozoan communities on subtidal rocky habitats, and pink sea-fan (Eunicella verrucosa) features of the sites.
The byelaw requires that vessels present within the specified areas must have all bottom towed fishing gear inboard, lashed and stowed.
The byelaw also amends the following MMO byelaws: “The Start Point to Plymouth Sound and Eddystone European Marine Site (Specified Areas) Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw,” “The Margate and Long Sands European Marine Site (Specified Areas) Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw 2017” and “The West of Walney Marine Conservation Zone (Specified Area) Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw 2018”; adding a requirement that vessels present within the specified areas of the marine protected areas must have all bottom towed fishing gear inboard, lashed and stowed.
The byelaw amends the specified area of the “The Lands End and Cape Bank European Marine Site (Specified Area) Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw” so that it will apply only within 6 nautical miles, with the 2023 byelaw applying offshore of 6 nautical miles.
The byelaw revokes the “Haisborough, Hammond and Winterton European Marine Site (Specified Areas) Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw”.
Copies of the byelaw and impact assessment (de minimis assessment), including maps and coordinates of the areas, and questions to consider, are available on the MMO website (www.gov.uk/mmo), by calling 0300 123 1032, or by emailing conservation@marinemanagement.org.uk.
Copies of the byelaw may also be inspected at any MMO office. Please contact MMO using the details below if you wish to inspect a copy of the draft byelaw at an MMO office. In writing: Marine Conservation Team, Marine Management Organisation, Lancaster House, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 7YH.
Find out more: www.gov.uk/marine-protected-areas.
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