Division 4.1.3 Option 3: MMO byelaw prohibiting bottom towed gear throughout the SCI (‘full site closure’)

Prohibiting bottom towed gear throughout the whole SCI is not necessary to achieve protection of the bedrock reef features and would result in unnecessary economic loss for fishermen using other parts of the SCI. The estimated overall loss of landings as documented in table 1 would be GBP 80,671 instead of for the preferred option of GBP 1,428 and the enforcement costs to administer would be much higher.