Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities

Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities Assessing the interaction of commercial marine fishing activities from licensed and registered fishing vessels with features of Welsh Marine Protected Areas INTRODUCTION Welsh Government in partnership with Natural Resources Wales will undertake a structured evaluation of fishing activity interactions with features of Welsh Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The aims of this project are: To assess the impacts from commercial fishing activity interactions with MPA features Support the sustainable management of the marine environment To help strengthen the resilience of the marine environment Contribute to a sustainable exploitation of marine fisheries resources.

LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities Assessing the interaction of commercial marine fishing activities from licensed and registered fishing vessels with features of Welsh Marine Protected Areas LEGISLATIVE BACKGROUND The Environment (Wales) Act 2016 - aims to promote sustainable management of natural resources in Wales. Contribute to a sustainable exploitation of marine fisheries resources The Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 - requires public bodies to pursue the economic, social, environmental and cultural well-being of Wales in a way that accords with the sustainable development principle. Contribute to the sustainable management of the marine environment Strengthen the resilience of the marine environment to continue to provide employment, food and tourism Article 6(2) of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) - where ‘Member States shall take appropriate steps to avoid, in the special areas of conservation, the deterioration of natural habitats and the habitats of species as well as disturbances of the species for which the areas have been designated, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of this Directive’. To assess the impacts from commercial fishing activity interactions with MPA features

Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities Assessing the interaction of commercial marine fishing activities from licensed and registered fishing vessels with features of Welsh Marine Protected Areas PROCESS A Principles and Prioritisation Report, Evidence Database and Welsh Prioritisation Matrix were developed. The Welsh Prioritisation Matrix identifies, at a generic level, gear types and their effects on relevant MPA features, it categorises gear / feature interactions: Purple (high risk) - high risk of the gear damaging the feature, should fishing occur. Orange (medium risk) - feature may be impacted by the gear type, but there may be uncertainties surrounding scale of impacts and resilience and recoverability of features. Green (low risk) - feature is highly unlikely to be affected by a type of fishing activity. Blue (no risk) - no feasible interaction between the gear and the feature. Grey (not considered) – these interactions have been ruled out from further consideration as they are already assessed as plans and/or projects under Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive.

WELSH PRIORITISATION MATRIX - HABITATS Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities Assessing the interaction of commercial marine fishing activities from licensed and registered fishing vessels with features of Welsh Marine Protected Areas WELSH PRIORITISATION MATRIX - HABITATS

WELSH PRIORITISATION MATRIX – MOBILE SPECIES Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities Assessing the interaction of commercial marine fishing activities from licensed and registered fishing vessels with features of Welsh Marine Protected Areas WELSH PRIORITISATION MATRIX – MOBILE SPECIES

Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities Assessing the interaction of commercial marine fishing activities from licensed and registered fishing vessels with features of Welsh Marine Protected Areas

Example of AWFA Assessment Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities Assessing the interaction of commercial marine fishing activities from licensed and registered fishing vessels with features of Welsh Marine Protected Areas Example of AWFA Assessment

www.gov.wales/marineandfisheries www.naturalresources.wales Assessing Welsh Fishing Activities Assessing the interaction of commercial marine fishing activities from licensed and registered fishing vessels with features of Welsh Marine Protected Areas Details of the project are available on Welsh Government and Natural Resources Websites: www.gov.wales/marineandfisheries www.naturalresources.wales The “AWFA Principles and Prioritisation Report”, “Evidence Database” and “Matrix” are available on Welsh Government and Natural Resources Wales websites. The Project team will be hosting and attending events in the coming months. Further information can be obtained by contacting Project officer Rhys Jones – Marine Fisheries Ecologist by email: Rhys.Jones@naturalresourceswales.gov.uk – 0300 065 3792