MMO Formal Consultation – Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge Special Area of Conservation and Dogger Bank Special Area of Conservation

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is the government’s principal regulator for most activities in English waters. This includes the management of activities in marine protected areas (MPAs), except inside 6nm where IFCAs manage fishing activities in MPAs.

The MMO are currently seeking views on draft byelaws to manage fishing in the Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and the Dogger Bank SAC.

Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge SAC

The Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge SAC was formally designated in 2017 to protect two features: reefs, and sandbanks which are slightly covered by seawater all the time. The SAC straddles both the 6 and 12 nautical mile (nm) boundaries, and therefore falls under two different administrative (Eastern IFCA; 0 – 6 nm) and the area offshore of 6 nm, where MMO leads on the assessment and management of fishing. The assessment is for the portion of the site offshore of 6 nm only. Eastern IFCA will continue to assess and manage fishing activities in the area inshore of 6nm.

The MMO is seeking views on a draft byelaw to manage fishing in the Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge SAC offshore of 6nm only. The proposed management in the draft byelaw is prohibition of bottom towed fishing over the sandbank and biogenic reef features of the site, and prohibition of static gear fishing over the biogenic reef features.

The formal consultation letter for Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge SAC can be found here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/mmo/formal-consultation-mmo-mpa-assessments/supporting_documents/Inner%20Dowsing%20Race%20Bank%20and%20North%20Ridge%20SAC%20Formal%20Consultation%20Letter.pdf

The Dogger Bank SAC

The Dogger Bank SAC was formally designated in 2017 to protect one feature: sandbanks which are slightly covered by seawater all the time. The proposed byelaw will prohibit all bottom towed fishing, including demersal and semi-pelagic trawls, demersal seines and dredges throughout the SAC.

The formal consultation letter for Dogger Bank SAC can be found here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/mmo/formal-consultation-mmo-mpa-assessments/supporting_documents/Dogger%20Bank%20SAC%20Formal%20Consultation%20Letter.pdf

The consultation on both proposed byelaws closes on 28th March 2021. Respond and find further information including charts of the SACs here: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/mmo/formal-consultation-mmo-mpa-assessments/

 

 

design sprint agency