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 Cape Bank part of the SCI is not necessary to achieve protection of the bedrock reef feature 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 2 559,3 instead of for the preferred option of GBP 6,40 and the enforcement costs to administer would be much higher.