Division 5 PROPOSED MEASURES

The proposed measures prohibit the use of bottom towed fishing gear in specified areas (Annexes I-III). Bottom towed fishing gear includes any fishing gear pushed or pulled through the water which touches the seabed. This includes demersal otter trawls, demersal beam trawls and towed and suction dredges.

The interactions between these reef features and bottom towed fishing gear have been selected for protection because they have been identified as posing a high risk of deterioration to the features. Other interactions occurring in these marine Natura 2000 sites (for example between bottom towed gear and sandbanks) will be subject to an assessment of impact on a site by site basis (as detailed above) and appropriate management for these interactions will be introduced by the end of 2016.

For each proposed measure, an impact assessment (IA) has been prepared to identify any economic impacts arising (annex IV-VI).