Blue Marine Foundation Lyme Bay Potting Experiment Prof Martin J Attrill Director, Plymouth University Marine Institute

Lyme Bay Monitoring Programme PUMI been monitoring recovery of reefs for last 5 years

Change in fishing activity recorded Socio- economic analysis led by PML Towed Gear Static Gear What is the impact of increased static gear fishing effort? Set maximum levels to allow survival of local small boat fishermen?

The Lyme Bay experimental potting study Marine Institute partnering BMF to deliver research component of project – 3.5 year programme to investigate impact of potting density on seabed biodiversity and target species – Investigated by setting up sixteen 500x500m experimental areas across the MPA within which fishermen will maintain set levels of fishing activity

The Lyme Bay experimental potting study Four treatments (rocky reef, similar depth): No potting 50 pots 20 pots5-10 pots “lobster refuge”

The Lyme Bay experimental potting study Fishermen in each of the 4 ports within the MPA will be responsible for 1 set of replicates Lead researcher – Adam Rees

Data collection Towed HD video surveys – For large seabed organisms of conservation importance Baited remote underwater video surveys – Enumerate mobile fish and invertebrates

Data collection Experimental quantitative potting – undertaken by fishermen using standard pots and time Spillover analysis (later in study) – Assess whether any evidence of spillover from control areas

Hypothetical results at survey end Threshold

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