Developing a Marine Nature Reserve for Ramsey

Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Rheynn Chymmltaght, Bee as Eirinys

Full Consultation Document December 2010

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Summary

 Please note that a condensed version of this full technical consultation document is available and can be found at www.gov.im/consultations or a paper copy can be requested from DEFA.

 The Isle of Man Government has a commitment to establish the first Marine Nature Reserve in Manx waters in 2011

 This consultation seeks the input of all marine users, interest groups and the wider public to develop an effective Marine Nature Reserve in Ramsey based on a proposal put forward by the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation.

 A Marine Nature Reserve is a type of Marine Protected Area, an area of the sea protected from activities that impact on ecological features.

 Marine Nature Reserves can bring a wide range of benefits including increases in biodiversity and increases in numbers and size of marine animals and plants.

 The build up of marine life within Marine Nature Reserves can also benefit the wider ocean.

 Well-managed Marine Nature Reserves can also bring diverse social and economic benefits including increased tourism, recreation and educational opportunities.

 Since 2008 the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture (DEFA) has carried out extensive public consultation and awareness raising on Marine Nature Reserves, receiving a high level of support from groups and individuals.

 During Summer 2010 the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation (MFPO), the main fishermen’s organisation on the Isle of Man, came forward with a proposal for permanently protecting part of Ramsey Bay as a Marine Nature Reserve for conservation.

 After detailed discussions using the scientific and fisheries information available for the site, a proposed Marine Nature Reserve boundary was agreed between DEFA and the MFPO.

 The site includes habitats of conservation value including maerl beds and eelgrass meadows in Ramsey Bay and an extensive horse mussel reef in the Ballacash Channel (see Map 1 on page 3 of this Summary).

 The Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation have proposed that the Conservation Zone of the Marine Nature Reserve should be closed to trawling and dredging for scallops and queenies.

 There are ongoing discussions on how the Fisheries Management Zone of the Marine Nature Reserve could be owned and managed by the MFPO as a scallop ranching area.

 The total area of the proposed Marine Nature Reserve is approximately 90km2. The area of the Conservation Zone is approximately 40km2 and the area of the Fisheries Management Area is approximately 50km2.

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 Additional management measures will be required to manage the area effectively which will be based on scientific information, knowledge of uses of the area and their impact on important features and additional local knowledge.

 We need the input of user groups to answer the following key questions (and additional questions which can be found in the main document):

- What activities are you currently involved in within the Ramsey Bay area?

- Do you support the designation of Ramsey Bay as a Marine Nature Reserve?

- Which aspects of the proposal do you support?

- Which aspects do you have concerns about?

- Which activities do you think should continue throughout the proposed Marine Nature Reserve?

- Which activities do you think might need to be restricted within the area?

- Which parts of the proposed Marine Nature Reserve do you think need the highest level of protection?

- Do you have any other relevant information that will help us make the best management decisions for the site?

- Would you be interested in joining an advisory group for the Ramsey Marine Nature Reserve?

 The input of marine users and the wider public of Ramsey and the rest of the Isle of Man is essential to take this proposal forward successfully.

 With your help we can develop an effective Marine Nature Reserve which will protect marine biodiversity, safeguard marine habitats, support sustainable fisheries and enhance opportunities for tourism, recreation and education in Ramsey Bay.

 You can respond quickly and easily to this consultation using the Survey Monkey website:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/KGNKWJB

 We can take you through the consultation questions in person or at one of our scheduled drop-in sessions to be held at Ramsey Town Hall on Saturday 15 January 2011 (10am to 5pm) and Tuesday 18 January 2pm-8pm).

Please contact us to provide a more detailed response.

 For more information or to send in your consultation responses contact:

Fiona Gell, Senior Marine Biodiversity Officer, Fisheries Directorate, Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man IM4 3AS Tel: (01624) 695738 Email: [email protected]

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Summary: The Proposed Boundary for the Ramsey Marine Nature Reserve

Map 1: The area of Ramsey Bay which is proposed as a Marine Nature Reserve

The hatched areas have been proposed by the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation (MFPO) as a potential Marine Nature Reserve. The blue hatched area (on the left and top) is proposed as a Conservation Zone to be protected from all dredging and trawling for scallops or queenies. The brown cross hatched area (to the right) is proposed as a Fisheries Management Zone. The Ramsey Bay Area and the Ballacash Channel Area (to the north east of the Point of Ayre) had both previously been shortlisted as potential Marine Nature Reserve areas and both met OSPAR Commission scientific and socio-economic criteria for Marine Protected Areas (see Appendix 1 and Appendix 6). Ramsey Bay contains important eelgrass meadows and maerl beds and an extensive horse mussel reef is found in the Ballacash Channel (see Map 2 in the main document).

International scientific recommendations and evidence from Marine Protected Areas elsewhere support the establishment of highly protected marine areas. Through this consultation process, DEFA would also like to identify potential highly protected core areas with the site. Highly protected areas are protected from all extraction of marine resources and from as many additional impacts as possible.

The knowledge and support of all marine users and interest groups is required to identify these sites and to develop an effective management plan and byelaws for the proposed Ramsey Marine Nature Reserve.

With the support of fishermen and the local community it is anticipated that the Marine Nature Reserve will be implemented in 2011. 4

1. Marine Nature Reserves

Marine Nature Reserves are a form of Marine Protected Area (MPA), areas of the sea which are protected to some extent from human activities that could have a negative impact on the area. MPAs offer protection to marine species and habitats and their conservation benefits have been clearly demonstrated in scientific studies from around the world. Conservation benefits include increased numbers of species inside the protected area, increased numbers of individual animals and plants, larger sizes of animals with the area and therefore greater potential to produce more young.

Marine animals and plants are able to move long distances, particularly in the early stages of their life when they often join the plankton as eggs and juveniles. The highly mobile nature of the marine environment and marine species means that increases inside an MPA can produce benefits in other areas. Protection also leads to the recovery of habitats which supports colonisation by more species and also re- colonisation by species that had previously disappeared. In addition to environmental benefits, in many instances MPAs have been demonstrated to have benefits to adjacent fisheries, and wider social, economic and community benefits by providing a focus for tourism, recreation and education.

There are now over 5000 MPAs in the world and a number of international and regional agreements on targets for increasing the area of the sea which is protected. International targets include the World Summit on Sustainable Development target for a representative network of MPAs by 2012 to maintain the productivity and biodiversity of important and vulnerable marine and coastal areas. A key target for the Isle of Man is the OSPAR Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic goal for a representative network of MPAs by 2012. The Isle of Man signed up to the OSPAR Convention in 2004, joining all the jurisdictions with a North East Atlantic Coast to promote the sustainable management of the sea.

Under the OSPAR Convention, a network of Marine Protected Areas should be established that will:

“a. protect, conserve and restore species, habitats and ecological processes which have been adversely affected by human activities; b. prevent degradation of, and damage to, species, habitats and ecological processes, following the precautionary principle; c. protect and conserve areas that best represent the range of species, habitats and ecological processes in the maritime area.”

(OSPAR Recommendation 2003/3 on a Network of Marine Protected Areas)

2. Marine Nature Reserves in the Isle of Man

The Isle of Man has had legislation for Marine Nature Reserves since the Wildlife Act was introduced in 1990. The Wildlife Act states that:

“(1) Where, in the case of any land covered (continuously or intermittently) by tidal waters of parts of the sea in or adjacent to the Island up to the seaward limits of territorial waters it appears to the Department expedient, on an application made by the Wildlife Committee that the land and waters covering it should be managed by the Department for the purpose of-

(a) Conserving marine flora or fauna or geological or physiographical features of special interest in the area; or

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(b) Providing, under suitable conditions and control, special opportunities for the study of, and research into, matters relating to marine flora and fauna and the physical conditions in which they live, or for the study of geological and physiographical features of special interest in the area, the Department may , subject to section 37(3), by order designate the area comprising the land and those waters as a marine nature reserve; and the Department shall manage any area so designated for either or both of those purposes.”

There has been one previous attempt to designate a Marine Nature Reserve. In 1992 the Calf Marine Trust put forward a detailed proposal for an extensive MNR around the Calf of Man, based on a high level of scientific information from the Port Erin Marine Laboratory. A lack of community input and understanding at the early stages of the project led to local opposition to the proposal. The proposal was eventually abandoned and although conservation organisations like Manx Wildlife Trust have continued to support the idea of MPAs, no further attempt was made to establish the Calf of Man or any other site as an MPA. Voluntary management measures were proposed for the Calf of Man but were not implemented.

In 2008 the Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project was established to take a community-based approach to establishing the Isle of Man’s first Marine Nature Reserve. Learning from previous experience on the Isle of Man and elsewhere, the project regards community participation and involvement of those who use the sea as essential elements of the selection, designation and management of an MNR.

3. Benefits and Costs of Marine Reserves Well-designed and well-managed Marine Reserves can bring a wide variety of benefits to marine species and habitats. Scientific studies of Marine Reserves have increased over the past decade and there is now a large body of reliable evidence available to describe the benefits of Marine Reserves in a wide variety of places.

Studies from around the world have shown that well-designed, well-managed Marine Reserves can have a wide range of benefits in addition to protecting marine life. They can create new opportunities for economic development through tourism and recreation and other benefits to local communities such as improved access to the marine environment and educational opportunities. In this process we want to look at how we can best develop those opportunities.

There will also be cost implications for a Marine Reserve, including costs for enforcement, monitoring of the effects and basic infrastructure such as mooring buoys, information boards and markers for the site. Marine conservation legislation is currently enforced through a number of organisations, including DEFA Fisheries and Biodiversity Officers and with the support of Police Wildlife Crime Officers, working closely with other organisations, volunteers and the public. It is hoped that by developing a proposal that has come from the fishing industry and by involving the local community in developing the management measures, that enforcement costs will be minimised because the Marine Nature Reserve will have good local support. There are many good examples elsewhere of community wardens and fishermen working together with government enforcement staff to make a Marine Protected Area work. We hope to develop these possibilities through this consultation process.

4. The Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project The Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project was launched in October 2008 with an initial meeting with fishermen followed by a one day stakeholder workshop in November 2008. The workshop was attended by key stakeholders representing a wide variety of marine interests. Participants were asked to give their vision for the future of Manx seas, about concerns about current management, where the Marine Nature Reserve could go and what it should protect. The exercise in identifying potential locations for Marine Nature Reserves came out with a few common themes – the idea of an inshore zone all around the Island protected from dredging and trawling (suggestions varied between a 1km zone all around the Isle of Man through to a zone extending

6 out to the 3 nautical mile limit), The Calf of Man and the Ramsey Bay Area. The full word for word report of the workshop can be found at: www.gov.im/daff/Wildlife/sites/marine.xml

The first year of the project focussed on awareness-raising and gathering information from marine stakeholders. Community meetings were held in January and February 2009 in Port Erin, Port St Mary, Castletown, Peel, Onchan, Douglas, Laxey and Ramsey. Of the 243 people who registered their attendance at the community workshops, 212 responded to a brief survey given out at meetings regarding their support for the project. When asked about their support for the idea of a Marine Nature Reserve in Manx waters, 67.5% strongly supported the idea, 17.5% supported the idea, 3% said that they could live with the idea, 8% said that they had reservations and 4% opposed the idea.

A wide variety of suggestions and concerns were raised at the community meetings. Full word for word reports for the community meetings can be found on the Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project website.

The Process

Initially, the intention of the Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project was to produce a short-list of sites meeting OSPAR selection criteria and to use a further round of stakeholder consultation to arrive at the best possible site to take forward for designation.

The sites identified through this initial process were as follows:

Potential Marine Nature Reserve sites which were assessed and meet the OSPAR Criteria

The following sites were identified as potential Manx Marine Nature Reserves in the initial assessment against the OSPAR criteria (in alphabetical order with a brief summary of their key features of interest):

 Ballacash Channel – extensive horse mussel reef, sand bank features and other reef features.

 Calf of Man – diverse rocky reef habitat, marine protected species.

 Kallow Point – Limestone pavement with diverse rocky reef habitat. Important area for protected species.

 King William’s Bank, Bahama Bank and Ballacash Bank – sandbank features, geological interest, fish spawning grounds.

 Langness and Derbyhaven – diverse rocky reef habitat, eelgrass, diverse sand/mud habitats.

 Laxey Bay – Eelgrass meadow (protected species), ocean quahog bed (OSPAR priority species), good source of larvae to surrounding areas.

 Marine Drive Coast – whales, dolphins and porpoises, important biogenic reef habitats.

 Niarbyl Bay – Basking sharks, whales, dolphins and porpoises. Maerl habitat.

 Port Erin Bay – Basking sharks, fish nursery area (particularly flatfish), former eelgrass beds, long history of research.

 Port St Mary to Peel Coastal Waters – bird breeding, basking sharks, whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals, rocky reef habitat

 Ramsey Bay/Gob ny Rona – maerl bed and eelgrass meadows (protected species), kelp forest, sand bank features

 Scarlett – Kelp forest, geological interest, diverse rocky reef habitat.

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 Sugarloaf Coast and Caves – diverse rocky reef habitat, bird breeding, basking sharks.

 Wart Bank – important for sand eels and associated fish species, trough shell community and geological importance.

Other sites have been suggested by previous reports, through the consultation process or from our research but require additional information for future assessment:

 Douglas Bank Herring Spawning Grounds

 Isle of Man Sandy Mound (large shallow sand area to the east of the Isle of Man)

 Maughold inshore waters/ Maughold to Laxey Head

 Jurby bombing range

 Dredge-free zone encircling the Island (varying between 0.5nm to 3nm offshore all around the coast)

 Western Irish Sea Front – an oceanographic feature associated with high productivity and concentrations of plankton and protected species.

 Honey comb worm reefs (Sabellaria) south of the Isle of Man (recorded by Bangor University Benthic Survey in 2008)

 Offshore Langness horse mussel reef site (thought to have been lost but live reef areas were recorded in 2010)

5. Background to the Ramsey Proposal In response to an opportunity for designating Ramsey Bay which was suggested and supported by the Manx fishing industry, a new approach was proposed.

Ramsey Bay is currently closed to scallop fishing as an Emergency Closed Area which was established in November 2009. In discussions with the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation (MFPO) about options for the future of Ramsey Bay, the MFPO made some initial suggestions about combining a Marine Nature Reserve with a Fisheries Ranching Area. Further negotiation with the MFPO resulted in a proposal for protecting part of Ramsey Bay, to include part of the maerl habitat and the eelgrass beds, and also protecting the horse mussel reef in the Ballacash Channel (see Map 2 for locations of these habitats). The Marine Nature Reserve has initially been proposed as two main management zones, the Conservation Zone and the Fisheries Management Zone. The proposed site has a total area of approximately 90 km2 and includes other habitats such as kelp beds, sand banks and cobble habitat. The Conservation Zone has an area of 40km2 and the Fisheries Management Zone has an area of 50km2.

The two sites which make up the proposed Ramsey Marine Nature Reserve, Ramsey Bay and the Ballacash Channel, had already been assessed as meeting OSPAR criteria and had been suggested as candidate sites through the initial stakeholder consultation. Additional information was put together for the whole site and a paper submitted to the Wildlife Committee of DEFA and to additional marine scientists for their technical advice. The Wildlife Committee approved the change in process from a scientific perspective. A paper also went to the Fisheries Directorate Committee of DEFA where the change in process was approved from a political and management perspective.

This consultation therefore takes forward the proposal and is giving all users of the Ramsey Bay area and other stakeholders the opportunity to contribute to the development of the Ramsey Marine Nature Reserve. When this formal consultation closes on 28 February 2011 we will collate the responses given through the traditional consultation process and also from the workshops and meetings we will be holding. This input and

8 additional scientific and socio-economic information that will be collected during the consultation period will all be used to develop a draft Management Plan for the Marine Nature Reserve and draft byelaws to support the management. A Ramsey Marine Nature Reserve Stakeholder Group will be established with representatives of key interest groups. The draft Management Plan and draft byelaws will be made available in Spring 2011 for further input from stakeholders and it is hoped that they will be finalised by early Summer 2011. Input, information and suggestions from stakeholders will be welcomed throughout this process.

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Map 2: The proposed Marine Nature Reserve areas and some of the main habitat features which would be protected within the area – eelgrass meadows (green triangles), maerl beds (pink dots) and horse mussel reefs (brown rectangle off the Point of Ayre). The Conservation Zone is the area closest to land which is hatched blue and the Fisheries Management Zone is the brown cross-hatched area to the right of the map.

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The MFPO board has proposed that the Conservation Zone, the blue hatched area shown in Map 2 be closed to trawling and dredging for scallops and queenies. It is hoped that the Fisheries Management Zone, the brown cross hatched area, will after further negotiations be managed by fishermen to ensure sustainable fisheries and improved market opportunities for scallops.

Potential for Fisheries Enhancement

The north of Ramsey Bay is thought to act as a source area for scallop populations in the wider Ramsey Bay area and local fishermen believe that protecting this site will assist in the recovery of Ramsey Bay, enhancing fisheries. The Conservation Zone would also protect maerl beds, horse mussel reefs, eelgrass meadows, kelp forests and other habitats from some of the main threats to which they are currently subject. For example, damage to the horse mussel reef detected during monitoring in 2008 was thought to have been caused by fishing.

At an MFPO meeting in September 2010 the fishermen also agreed to extend the emergency closure of Ramsey Bay for another year (to November 2011). The longer term plan for this area is that the Fisheries Management Zone will be leased by the Department of Infrastructure to the MFPO so that they can develop this area for scallop ranching. This zone of Ramsey Bay will therefore act as a buffer zone, with lower fishing effort than outside grounds.

Dredging is not the only activity that impacts on the marine environment and a Marine Nature Reserve would need to manage all the potentially damaging activities threatening the health of the marine ecosystem. The requirement for protection from other threats needs to be assessed in more detail and any further protection would require detailed assessment and consultation. A zoning system within the area may be required to support effective management. For example, the MFPO have requested that a zone be identified for anchoring for fishing boats, preferably alongside the Queen’s Pier. Zoning of different uses has been used in Marine Reserves around the world and has been demonstrated as an effective marine management tool.

Management issues that are yet to be decided:

The MFPO proposal is a significant step towards the designation of the Isle of Man’s first Marine Nature Reserve but many important decisions remain to be made about the site including:

 Whether the Marine Nature Reserve includes all or part of the shore with the area (a Marine Nature Reserve can extend up to the high water mark).

 Where within the proposed Marine Nature Reserve more highly protected core zones or No-Take Zones will be established.

 What other restrictions and management measures may be put in place in zones or throughout the site – for example, mooring buoys to reduce anchor damage, restrictions on damaging uses such as aggregate extraction, land-reclamation and off-shore construction.

 What opportunities can be developed for increasing access and recreational use of the site including interpretation boards, guided visits and involvement of local schools and other organisations.

 What opportunities may exist for developing renewable energy installations within or adjacent to the site.

 How the local community, particularly fishermen and scuba divers, can be involved in research and monitoring of the site.

To make the right decisions on these and many other management issues DEFA requires input from current users of Ramsey Bay, other members of the community and anyone with an interest in the area.

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6. How this site meets internationally agreed scientific and practical criteria

The proposed Ramsey Bay Marine Nature Reserve combines two of the sites which were initially identified as meeting OSPAR Marine Protected Area criteria (see Appendix 1), the Ballacash Channel Horse Mussel Reef and Ramsey Bay. Both sites were fully assessed and found to meet the OSPAR Criteria, an assessment which was approved by the DEFA Wildlife Committee and additional marine science experts. The details of how the sites meet the OSPAR criteria can be found in Appendix 5. The main conservation features identified in the Ballacash Channel area were the extensive horse mussel reef and the sandbank features.

Horse Mussel Reef The area of the horse mussel reef (see Map 2) was estimated using on survey work by carried out by Holt and Shalla (1997) as part of an Environmental Impact Assessment, and surveys carried out from the Prince Madog, the Bangor University Research Vessel (Hinz et al 2008). A small central area of the horse mussel reef was monitored by the Countryside Council for Wales Marine Monitoring Team in 2007, 2008 and 2009, giving much more detailed information about the ecology and condition of the site. As the area is of low interest for scallop and queenie fishing the MFPO were happy for a large buffer zone to be incorporated into the proposed Marine Nature Reserve boundary. This would include adjacent areas of diverse cobble habitat and brittlestar beds and accommodate the possibility that the reef extends to the north west of the extent currently surveyed (Hinz et al 2008). This proposed buffer zone will ensure that the entire feature is protected within the MNR.

Photo 1: Horse mussel reef in the Ballacash Channel – the horse mussels are embedded in the seabed and provide a home for soft corals, sponges and many other animals and plants (Photo Rohan Holt, CCW)

The Ballacash Channel horse mussel reef is a highly valuable site in need of more active management and protection. It is of regional interest and subject to international scrutiny as an OSPAR priority habitat. It is not the ideal site for a community Marine Nature Reserve with a high level of public involvement and would provide few opportunities for tourism or recreation. However, if it is designated as part of the wider Ramsey Bay Marine Nature Reserve it would provide complementary habitat protection and ensure that a whole suite of habitats are protected.

Maerl Beds 12

The main conservation features identified for Ramsey Bay are the maerl beds north of Ramsey and the eelgrass beds off Port Lewaigue. Maerl is a species of seaweed which lays down a coral like skeleton, underneath a thin layer of pink living seaweed and is sometimes known as corals by fishermen. In their 1998 report detailing Port Erin Marine Laboratory underwater surveys carried out between 1994 and 1997, Veale et al (1998) described extensive maerl beds north of Ramsey and identified the site for a further survey. More recent surveys carried out by DEFA in 2008 and 2010 identified substantial areas of live maerl.

Photo 2: Maerl, a red seaweed with a coral-like structure, in Ramsey Bay (photo taken from the DEFA Fisheries Protection Vessel Barrule). The pink pieces are living maerl and the white pieces are dead maerl.

Maerl beds have been well studied in the Firth of the Clyde, Scotland and research there has shown that maerl is home to over 600 species of animals and plants (Barbera et al 2003) and it has also been shown to be an important nursery ground for juvenile queen scallops (Kamenos et al 2004 a, b and c) .

Eelgrass Meadows

Eelgrass is a marine flowering plant which is a protected species under the Isle of Man Wildlife Act. Eelgrass has been reported from Gob ny Rona and Port Lewaigue for many years. Divers on surveys have encountered fresh uprooted eelgrass in the area (Veale et al 1998) and large clumps of fresh eelgrass have been found on the south of Ramsey Beach and at Port Lewaigue after summer storms. Healthy patches of eelgrass were formally recorded around The Carrick by Seasearch divers in June 2010. The area was also identified as an important area for razorshells (suitable habitat is reported as extending south towards Maughold in O’Neill 2010).

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Photo 3: A clump of eelgrass found on the south of Ramsey Beach after a summer storm.

Photo 4: Eelgrass in Manx waters. Eelgrass is a flowering plant which grows underwater. It is protected by Manx law.

Ramsey Bay was suggested as a possible MNR site by participants in the 2008 Manx Marine Nature Reserve Stakeholder workshop for its value as a bass nursery. It was suggested as a Marine Protected Area by Gubbay (2000) and Koskinen (2004).

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Extensive areas of kelp have been reported from the inner Ramsey Bay area but much of this is reported to have been lost in the process of “opening up ground” by some fishermen. Kelp is an important habitat for many associated species. This loss of important habitats and consequent decline in fisheries in the wider Ramsey Bay is one of the reasons fishermen wish to protect the area.

The total area of the proposed Marine Nature Reserve is just over 40km2. The diameter of the horse mussel reef zone is just over 5km, which is the minimum diameter recommended by JNCC for a UK Marine Conservation Zone (Natural England & JNCC 2010). The Ramsey Bay zone is 2km wide at its widest point and approximately 10km long at its longest point, protecting more than the minimum 0.5km recommended area for maerl and eelgrass habitats (Natural England & JNCC 2010).

For more information on these key conservation features please see Appendix 5.

7. Highly Protected Zones

In addition to the proposed closure of the Conservation Zone of the Marine Nature Reserve to trawling and dredging for scallops and queenies, some additional management measures may be required to protect the marine habitats within the area. For effective protection of marine habitats and the wider marine ecosystem, numerous scientific studies from around the world have recommended the use of highly protected cores zones or “No-Take Zones”. These areas allow the seabed to recover to a more natural state and can bring benefits to a much wider range of habitats and species than more limited protection measures. The UK Marine Conservation Zones project is currently developing a new network of Marine Conservation Zones which will incorporate highly protected zones.

Through this consultation process we want to work with marine users to identify damaging or unsustainable activities currently occurring in Ramsey Bay that could be better managed to be more compatible with the protection of marine habitats and the sustainable management of fisheries.

We would also like to identify areas within the proposed Marine Nature Reserve that would benefit from a higher level of protection. These zones are likely to be small areas within the larger Conservation Zone area. There is no intention of developing the whole area as a No-Take Zone. However, it may be necessary to protect small core areas from extractive uses so we will be working closely with commercial fishermen, anglers, conservationists and other groups to identify the best places for these zones.

We would like your suggestions on areas with the proposed Marine Nature Reserve which would benefit from a higher level of protection.

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Consultation Questions

You can print off this section and complete.

You can also complete these questions quickly and easily online at: www.surveymonkey.com/s/KGNKWJB

1. Do you currently use the sea or coast within the Ramsey Bay and Point of Ayre area? Yes □ No □

2. What activities are you involved in/what is your interest in Ramsey Bay? Tick those which apply:

Bait collection Recreational angling from shore Bird/wildlife watching Sailing Fishing (pots) Kayaking/canoeing Fishing (trawling or dredging) Scuba diving Fishing (other) Swimming/walking/visiting the beach Jet skiing None Other watersports Other (please give details) Power boating ______Recreational angling from boat ______

3. Do you represent a particular marine interest group?

Yes □ Please give details ______No □

4. Have you read the Ramsey Bay Marine Nature Reserve consultation paper ? Yes □ No □

5. Have you attended a drop-in session or other meeting about the proposed Ramsey Marine Nature Reserve? Yes □ No □

6. Do you support the designation of Ramsey Bay and the Ballacash Channel as a Marine Nature Reserve? Yes – I strongly support the proposal □ Yes – I support the proposal □ I can live with it □ No – I have reservations about the proposal □ No – I oppose the proposal □

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7. Which aspects of the proposal do you support and why?

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8. Which aspects do you have concerns about and why?

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9. Which, if any, restrictions do you think should be placed on the following activities in the Marine Nature Reserve (MNR)?

Allow Restrict to some Ban throughout Tick those you agree with throughout the areas within the the MNR area MNR area MNR Aggregate extraction Angling - catch and keep Angling - catch and release Bait collection Diving for scallops Dumping of dredged material Gill netting Jet skiing Long lining Oil exploration Pot fishing Power boating Queenie trawling Scallop dredging Scuba diving Tidal turbines Wave generators Windfarms Other ______Other ______Other ______

10. Based on your knowledge of the uses of Ramsey Bay and its features of conservation importance, which areas of the proposed Marine Nature Reserve do you think should have the highest level of protection? Please describe which areas should be protected and from what damaging activities.

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11. Do you have any additional information on current uses of Ramsey Bay?

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12. Do you have any other relevant information that will help us make the best management decisions for the site?

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13. Would you be interested in joining an advisory group for the development of the proposed Ramsey Marine Nature Reserve? Yes □ No □

14. Would you or your organisation like to meet us to discuss this proposal and go through the consultation document? Yes □ No □

15. Would you be interested in participating in a workshop to discuss the Marine Nature Reserve proposal in more detail? Yes □ No □

16. Are there other marine sites in Manx waters which you think would benefit from protection as a Marine Nature Reserve? If yes, please give details? Yes (give details below) □ No □ Don’t know □

Details of any other sites:______

17. Do you have any additional comments or questions on the proposal to develop Ramsey Bay as a Marine Nature Reserve?

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18. If you haven’t already supplied your name and contact details above would you like to be added to our stakeholder list to be kept informed of progress with this project and to find out about opportunities to get involved?

______

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Responding to this Consultation

This stage of the consultation is open for just over 2 months, closing on 28 February 2011.

During this consultation phase we are encouraging marine users and anyone else with an interest in Ramsey Bay or the marine environment to respond to this proposal. Responses can be submitted in writing (letter or email) to the address given below, through one of our workshops to be held in Ramsey over the next two months or directly through a meeting or phone call with us. Please indicate clearly whether or not you wish your comments to be made public (either with your name on them or anonymously).

Contact person: Dr Fiona Gell, Fisheries Directorate, Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture

Telephone: 01624 695738 or 695730

E-mail: [email protected]

Letter: Ramsey Marine Nature Reserve Consultation Fisheries Directorate Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture Thie Slieau Whallian St John’s, Isle of Man IM4 3AS

Stakeholder workshops: We will also be holding consultation workshops in Ramsey in early January 2011 where you can submit your answers to these questions directly and ask any additional questions you may have:

Saturday 15 January 10am-5pm. Drop-in session to talk to Fisheries Directorate staff, ask questions and respond to consultation questions.

Tuesday 18 January 2pm-8pm. Drop-in session to talk to Fisheries Directorate staff, ask questions and respond to consultation questions.

Individual/Group Meeting: If you have a particular interest in Ramsey Bay or any aspect of this proposal we would be very happy to meet with you or your organisation. We can answer any questions you have and also record any specific information you may be able to contribute. Just get in touch and we’ll arrange a suitable time.

This consultation, and all other Isle of Man Government consultation exercises, can be viewed online on the consultation web pages of the Isle of Man Government website at: www.gov.im/consultations.gov

For more information about the work of the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture see our website at: www.gov.im/defa

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Appendix 1

OSPAR Selection Criteria and Information about OSPAR Species and Habitats in Manx Waters

OSPAR is the Oslo Paris Commission for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic. The Isle of Man is signed up to the OSPAR Convention via the UK. Signatories to OSPAR are guided by five Annexes on measures to reduce pollution and other impacts on the marine environment and to attempt to restore marine habitats and ecosystems in the region. One of the targets under OSPAR Annex V is the protection of marine areas in the North East Atlantic by designating a network of Marine Protected Area by 2012. For more information about the OSPAR convention please see the OSPAR website: www.ospar.org.

The OSPAR Criteria for the selection of Marine Protected Areas are divided into Ecological Criteria and Practical Criteria and are outlined below:

Ecological criteria An area qualifies for selection as a Marine Protected Area if it meets several but not necessarily all of the following criteria. The consideration and assessment of these criteria should be based on best available scientific expertise and knowledge.

1. Threatened or declining species and habitats/biotopes The area is important for species, habitats/biotopes and ecological processes that appear to be under immediate threat or subject to rapid decline as identified by the ongoing OSPAR (Texel-Faial) selection process.

2. Important species and habitats/biotopes

The area is important for other species and habitats/biotopes as identified by the ongoing OSPAR (Texel- Faial) selection process.

3. Ecological significance

The area has:

 a high proportion of a habitat/biotope type or a biogeographic population of a species at any stage in its life cycle;  important feeding, breeding, moulting, wintering or resting areas;  important nursery, juvenile or spawning areas; or  a high natural biological productivity of the species or features being represented.

4. High natural biological diversity

The area has a naturally high variety of species (in comparison to similar habitat/biotope features elsewhere) or includes a wide variety of habitats/biotopes (in comparison to similar habitat/biotope complexes elsewhere).

5. Representativity

The area contains a number of habitat/biotope types, habitat/biotope complexes, species, ecological processes or other natural characteristics that are representative for the OSPAR maritime area as a whole or for its different biogeographic regions and sub-regions.

6. Sensitivity

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The area contains a high proportion of very sensitive or sensitive habitats/biotopes or species.

7. Naturalness

The area has a high degree of naturalness, with species and habitats/biotope types still in a very natural state as a result of the lack of human-induced disturbance or degradation.

Practical criteria/considerations

1. Size

The size of the area should be suitable for the particular aim of designating the area, including maintaining its integrity, and should enable the effective management of that area.

2. Potential for restoration

The area has a high potential to return to a more natural state under appropriate management.

3. Degree of acceptance

The establishment of the MPA has a comparatively high potential level of support from stakeholders and political acceptability.

4. Potential for success of management measures

There is a high probability that management measures and the ability to implement them (such as legislation, relevant authorities, funding, and scientific knowledge) will meet the aims for designation.

5. Potential damage to the area by human activities

It is an area where significant damage by human activity may happen in the short term.

6. Scientific value

The area has a high value for scientific research and monitoring.

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Appendix 2

Joint Press Release by Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation and the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture

Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture

Rheynn Chymmyltaght, Bee as Eirinys

Fisheries Directorate

News Release

25 October 2010

Innovative Manx fishermen lead the way in

Marine Nature Reserve selection

DEFA today announced the next stage in their Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project consultation.

John Shimmin MHK, Minister for DEFA said:

“The Manx Fish Producers Organisation has proposed a 40km2 section of Ramsey Bay and the Ballacash Channel as an area to be closed to scallop dredging and queenie trawling. This, in turn, has been supported by the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture as a suitable area to develop plans for a Marine Nature Reserve.

“This positive and proactive move by the Manx fishing industry is a fantastic development in the sustainable management of Manx seas. By working together to protect Ramsey Bay we can ensure the long-term future of our fisheries and at the same time the spectacular marine life of the area. Last week DEFA reseeded part of the bay with 100,000 young scallops which will help the bay to provide a vital role in replenishing nearby fishing grounds. 22

“Ramsey Bay is particularly suitable as a Marine Nature Reserve because it will allow the Isle of Man to protect areas of diverse marine habitats including maerl beds, eelgrass meadows and kelp forests. A large additional area around the Ballacash Channel which is home to an extensive horse mussel reef will also be protected. These habitats are important because they are home to numerous species of plants and animals, stabilise the seabed, keep our seas clean and also store carbon like tropical rainforests. Maerl habitats are also known to play an important role as a nursery ground for commercially important species such as cod and queenies. Protecting these special habitats effectively will also help Manx fisheries achieve Marine Stewardship Council accreditation as sustainable fisheries, a standard increasingly demanded by supermarkets and other seafood outlets.”

“Under the proposal, Ramsey Bay would be established as a Marine Nature Reserve. The Wildlife Committee, established to provide scientific and conservation advice to the Isle of Man Government has assessed the proposal and confirmed that the site meets international scientific criteria for Marine Protected Areas. It is anticipated that formal consultation on the site will start at the beginning of December. I look forward to hearing the views on all those with an interest in our wonderful marine natural heritage as we move towards confirmation of our first Marine Nature Reserve.”

Tom Bryan-Brown, Chief Executive of the Manx Fish Producers said: “The fishermen of this organisation have proposed that this area of Ramsey Bay should be shut down to scallop and queenie fishing. This will hopefully help the stocks of scallops and queen scallops but will also by association, fulfil the Island’s obligation to the protection of particular marine species & habitats. The fishermen are pleased to be taking a proactive role in the creation of this Marine Protected Area.” The Ramsey Marine Nature Reserve proposal is the perfect opportunity for the Isle of Man to once again demonstrate to the world that when fishermen lead the way, marine conservation and fisheries management really can work in harmony, with benefits to all concerned!

ENDS

Notes

1. The Port Erin Closed Area is an excellent example of how a Marine Reserve can work effectively, allowing scallops to build up inside the area and producing more young which can seed adjacent fishing grounds. Port Erin Closed Area has now been in place for over 20 years and is used all over the world as an example of effective fisheries management using Marine Reserves.

Experience from Port Erin has helped Manx fishermen to support and become involved in the designation of a network of 4 closed areas, chosen specifically to enhance and protect the Isle of Man scallop fishery. However, the proposal for Ramsey Bay differs, in that as well as an intention to enhance and protect the scallop fishery in and around the Bay, areas of seabed and valuable habitats will be protected for their intrinsic natural value, rather than fisheries enhancement.

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2. At the request of fishermen, the majority of Ramsey Bay was closed to scallop fishing in December 2009. This emergency closure was due to expire on October 31st 2010. However, the MFPO has requested a further 12 month closure of this area, to allow further recovery of scallops stocks within it, and to extend protection for the other habitats within the proposed MNR.

3. Many within the Manx community have already provided DEFA with a huge amount of help and support with their Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project. Over the past two years hundreds of people have attended workshops around the Island, provided vital information or taken part in projects such as Seasearch which help us understand more about Manx marine life. There have been studies of uses of the coast and local knowledge has been brought together with scientific research to inform the process.

4. The full consultation document on the proposal to designate parts Ramsey Bay as a Marine Nature Reserve is in preparation. It is anticipated that this will be released in December. Details will be sent to all stakeholders who have previously registered their interest in the project, they will be posted on the Isle of Man Government consultations website and they will be made widely available to all interested parties. Interested parties will also be invited to at least one meeting to assist in developing proposals.

5. DEFA’s Wildlife Committee is composed of local conservation scientists, technical staff of DEFA and additional marine scientists join the committee to consider marine matters. The Committee is tasked with providing the Department with impartial scientific advice.

6. For more information about the marine life of Ramsey Bay and for high resolution photographs please contact DEFA.

For more information:

Andy Read, Director of Fisheries Tel: 01624 685837

Tom Bryan-Brown, Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation Tel: 01624 842144

Fiona Gell, Senior Marine Biodiversity Officer, Fisheries Directorate, DEFA Tel:01624 695738/07624 473753

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Horse mussel reef in the Ballacash Channel – the horse mussels are embedded in the seabed and provide a home for soft corals, sponges and many other animals and plants (Photo Rohan Holt, CCW)

Pink coral-like maerl bed in Ramsey Bay. Similar sites in Scotland were home to over 600 species of marine animals and plants. (Photo: DEFA/Bangor University)

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An example of the diverse seabed found north of Ramsey Bay – bryozoans (plant-like animals) and plumose anemones. (Photo: Bangor University)

Some of the 100,000 young scallops that have been used to reseed Ramsey Bay. The scallops are tagged so that their progress and survival can be monitored by scientists. Fishermen from the Isle of Man Fish Producer’s Organisation advised the Department on the exact placement of these scallops, to ensure that they have been placed in areas where they will thrive, and in time provide planktonic larvae that will enhance the fishery in surrounding areas.

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The area of Ramsey Bay which is proposed as a Marine Nature Reserve for the benefit of fisheries and conservation.

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Appendix 3

Marine Conservation Society Press Statement

Isle of Man takes protection measures for fishing grounds

In support of the announcement described in the Isle of Man Government's press release, Dr Jean-Luc Solandt, Biodiversity Policy Officer at the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) states:

“The Marine Conservation Society applauds Isle of Man scallop fishermen, and their representatives, for setting up new marine protected areas to the north of the island. These areas will benefit local fishermen, helping to secure livelihoods and the regeneration of seabed wildlife.

“The Isle of Man was the first location in the British Isles where a zone was set up to scientifically study the effect of a closure on scallop fishing. This came at the end of the 1980s, at a time when scallop catches were down and fishermen and local scientists agreed that an experimental protection area could provide answers. In that small closed area, scallop numbers eventually reached 20 times the number found in a control site, and catches increased around the edge of the closed area. As a result, fishermen have come to support these measures, and there are now five experimental sites dotted around isle of Man waters.

“Other areas around the world which have been set aside as Marine Protected Areas have shown a tremendous response to such measures. On the whole, the weight of marine life recovers over five fold, and the diversity increases by over 100%. Fish, and shellfish, grow large inside these reserves, and go on to breed, and therefore supply surrounding waters with greater catches of fish.

“Our seas are exhausted. But marine reserves and protection have incredible value. We know they work from the extensive science that has proven their positive effect on fish and wildlife. It’s up to all stakeholders to ensure that they are introduced now and into the future. We applaud, and thank those fishers on the Isle of Man that have helped deliver this benefit for both wildlife and man.’

“It’s a shame that there is such continued resistance to these sorts of measures from much of the United Kingdom’s fishing representatives. It’s high time for us to get on and develop these measures in order to encourage the much needed recovery of our seas.

“MCS has developed a website that allows the public to have a say on where Marine Protected Areas should be established called www.yourseasyourvoice.com. Already over 28

5,000 people have contributed thoughts on over 1,600 locations they feel should be protected. Please make your voice heard, and add to this growing community.”

The attached press release also contains photographs and a map of the area, along with details for local contacts at the Isle of Man Government and the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation.

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Appendix 4: Manx Wildlife Trust Press Release

PRESS RELEASE Eleanor Stone, Marine Officer, Manx Wildlife Trust [email protected]

DATE: Wednesday 27th October 2010

Manx Marine Nature Reserve Project Manx Wildlife Trust The Manx Wildlife Trust welcomes the news from the Department of Environment, Food & Agriculture, that the Manx Marine Nature Reserve Treisht Vanninagh Y project has entered its next phase and that the designation of a Marine Nature Doogys Feie Reserve is in sight. We also applaud the fishing industry for their initiative and for recognising the comprehensive benefits of a marine protected area. Tynwald Mills With the support of the fishermen, the management and success of a marine St Johns nature reserve will be much greater. Isle of Man IM4 3AE

The area that has been proposed as a Marine Nature Reserve include three Tel: 01624 801985 priority habitats (horse mussel reefs, eelgrass beds & maerl beds), recognised Fax: 01624 801022 through international conventions as being of high conservation importance. Email: enquiries@ In turn, these habitats support several other plant and animal species, so their manxwt.org.uk protection has further benefits for the marine ecosystem as a whole. The designation of this area as a Marine Nature Reserve would allow already damaged areas to recover and prevent any further destruction of these valuable habitats.

We look forward to the continuing consultation on this proposal and the chance to be involved in the designation of the Isle of Man’s first Marine Nature Reserve.

END

Chairman Dr S. Jeffcoate

Registered Charity No 225 IOM

Registered Company No 5297 IOM

Protecting MANX WILDLIFE for the future

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Appendix 5

Assessment of how the Ballacash Channel and Ramsey Bay meet OSPAR Selection Criteria

(a) BALLACASH CHANNEL HORSE MUSSEL REEF AND SURROUNDING AREA

 Threatened or declining species and habitats

Horse mussel beds are identified by OSPAR as threatened or declining in the North East Atlantic region. At a meeting about the science and management of horse mussels in Portaferry in January 2010, Manx horse mussel reefs were identified as some of the best examples of the habitat in the British Isles. They are also amongst the most vulnerable to impacts, in the absence of conservation designations or other practical conservation measures. In an evaluation of the decline of horse mussel reef habitats across the OSPAR region, Rees (2009) concludes that current evidence indicates severe declines in areas with intensive scallop fishing. An extensive horse mussel bed off Langness was reportedly lost (Hawkins et al 1990, Holt et al 1998 and A. Brand pers. comm.). A recent Bangor University survey identified a small area of high quality horse mussel reef in the vicinity of the Langness site (G. Lambert pers.comm), indicating that at least some of this previously extensive area has survived. Horse mussel beds were lost from Strangford Lough in Northern Ireland and this is thought to have been as a result of scallop dredging and other fishing impacts. A multi- million pound project is currently running in Strangford Lough to restore horse mussel reefs and avoid EU infraction proceedings.

 Important species and habitats/biotopes In the European Union, horse mussel reefs may be protected under the EU Habitats Directive within the habitats “Reefs” and “Large shallow inlets and bays”. In the UK, horse mussel reefs are included as a Habitat Action Plan under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. A number of UK Special Areas of Conservation have been established with horse mussel reefs as one of the conservation features and the new Marine Conservation Zones being established in UK waters have identified horse mussel reefs as Features of Conservation Interest which will be protected in the areas in which they occur.

 Ecological significance Horse mussel reefs are biogenic reefs which provide a substrate and habitat for many other species to thrive. The Ballacash Channel horse mussel reef covers a large area (a minimum of 16km2 was estimated by Hinz et al 2008) and is one of relatively few similar sites throughout the British Isles. Horse mussel reefs are noted for their productivity and their role in nutrient cycling, with large numbers of filter feeders (the mussels themselves) and forming a substrate for many more. Rees (2009) states that there is good evidence that:-

“Modiolus beds have a role in benthic productivity which is disproportionate to their extent, have high biodiversity and may be locally important in providing both refugia and feeding opportunities for young fish.”

The mussels also stabilise the substrate on which they grow (Rees 2009).

The wider marine area within the northern part of the proposed Marine Nature Reserve has a wide variety of other ecological roles, including areas used for herring spawning and a potentially important role in the life history of sea trout in the Irish Sea.

 High natural biological diversity The Point of Ayre horse mussel reef is strongly associated with the soft coral Alcyonium digitatum (dead men’s fingers) but has many other species associated with it including numerous species of sponges, bryozoans and other invertebrate animals. Over 270 species were found to be associated with the Ballacash Channel horse mussel reef (Holt and Shalla 1997). Over 300 species were found associated with the habitat in Scotland (Mair et al 2000).

 Representativity Horse mussels are considered a representative habitat for the OSPAR region.

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 Sensitivity Horse mussel reefs can take decades or possibly centuries to develop and are vulnerable to damage from fishing gear and also from major offshore developments such as aggregate extraction. Monitoring of the Ballacash Channel site using fixed quadrats for dive surveys showed significant damage to the study site by what looked like trawl gear (CCW 2008). Rees (2009) highlights the sensitivity of the habitat:

“Although individual large mussels are relatively resistant to mechanical damage, disturbance to bed structures and breakages by heavy fishing gear is the most significant anthropogenic threat to these features. Repeated disturbance can eliminate beds entirely.”

Holt et al (1998) relate the fragility of the habitat to the extent to which it is embedded in the seabed. The Ballacash Bank reef is relatively raised and therefore potentially more vulnerable. Rees (2009) advises that OSPAR signatories should work to protect horse mussel reef areas as OSPAR Marine Protected Areas.

As horse mussels can live for many decades, they can also accumulate toxic contaminants and horse mussel samples from the Point of Ayre showed levels of heavy metals which made them unfit for human consumption (Government Analyst 2007).

 Naturalness The small monitoring site within the horse mussel reef appeared to be in a relatively natural condition when monitoring began in 2007. Unfortunately, by 2008 the site had been subject to damage, thought to have resulted from a trawl going through the monitoring site, demolishing some of the mound features which horse mussels naturally build up on the sea bed. Cook et al (2010) recorded a significant change in the animals associated with the site following the fishing damage. Abundance of all species except hermit crabs decreased following damage to the site with particularly large decreases in soft corals, featherstars, anemones and hydroids (plant-like animals). During monitoring in 2009 further damage was observed and a “blow-out” effect recorded where the reef had declined further as a result of the destabilising effect of the damage. The naturalness of the wider site has not been determined but it is likely to be patchy with some areas in better condition than others.

How the site meets the socio-economic criteria

 Size The total size of the horse mussel site has been estimated at 16km2 (Holt and Shalla 1997, Hinz et al 2008). The horse mussel reef is likely to be patchy within this area and it is thought that the whole feature would be protected with the proposed Marine Nature Reserve. The proposed Marine Nature Reserve site around the horse mussel reef has a diameter of over 5km, the minimum recommended in the UK Ecological Network Guidance (Natural England & JNCC 2010).

The area would be delineated by two straight lines which would be easy to police and the outer boundary is defined by the Manx 3 nautical mile limit, a recognised boundary in Manx waters.

 Potential for restoration The area is rarely fished according to the MFPO (Tom Bryan-Brown pers. comm.) and from analysis of vessel monitoring (Hinz et al 2008, Murray pers. comm.). Some whelk potting and lobster potting does go on around the edges of the site. The monitoring site has very high numbers of live horse mussel per unit area but surrounding areas have relatively few and large numbers of dead shell. This may indicate that the area of living horse mussel reef has decreased but more research would be needed to confirm this. More information is needed on the level of recruitment of young horse mussels to the site as lack of new settlement may be an issue. Developing collaborative research with partners around the Irish Sea may help us develop a more active management plan for this habitat which could involve restoration which would be supported by protection as a Marine Nature Reserve. The Modiolus Restoration Research Group in Strangford Lough is developing effective techniques to assist in the restoration of horse mussel reefs (A. Mahon pers. comm.) which could be applied within the Ballacash Channel area if appropriate. However, any restoration work would be expensive and the

32 priority for the Marine Nature Reserve would be to ensure effective protection of the healthy reef areas we still have.

 Degree of acceptance The site has been actively proposed and supported by the Board of the MFPO and by Ramsey fishermen, giving an excellent degree of acceptance from the sector potentially most impacted by the Marine Nature Reserve. Support for protecting Ramsey Bay and the Ballacash Channel has come from a number of different marine user groups during the initial consultation process and as a result of the recent press release which announced Ramsey as the proposed site (see Appendix 2 for the joint press release issued by DEFA and the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation), including representatives of the pot-fishing sector, angling community and conservation organisations on and off the Isle of Man (see Appendix 3 For press statements issued by the Marine Conservation Society, an international marine conservation organisation based in the UK and Appendix 4 for a press statement from the Manx Wildlife Trust). A recent survey of the area showed that the horse mussel bed and its vicinity had extremely low concentrations of scallops compared to the rest of Manx waters, with only 5 queen scallops being counted in 1145 photographs of the seabed in the area (Hinz et al 2008).

 Potential for success of management measures This part of the site is offshore and logistically difficult to inspect or to enforce, except through Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) and licensing of other industrial activities. Ongoing improvements in reporting from VMS systems and future requirements for electronic logbook records will support electronic and remote enforcement of protected areas. Additional VMS reporting can be required from vessels in the vicinity of Marine Protected Areas, a technique used effectively for the Port Erin Fisheries Closed Area. This has cost implications which would have to be assessed. However, with the high level of support of the site designation from Manx fishermen good enforcement of the site should be possible.

 Potential damage to the area by human activities

The core area of the horse mussel reef which was monitored between 2007-2009 has evidently been subject to low levels of direct human damage in the past because the complex biogenic reef has been able to establish. In 2008 there was clear evidence of human damage to the site, with parallel tracks likely to have been caused by a trawl going through the area. There are extremely low levels of scallops and queen scallops in the area and horse mussels and the adjacent brittlestars have the potential to cause major gear fouling and therefore expense to fishermen, so future damage is only likely to be accidental. Management measures will be needed to raise awareness of the site across the fishing industry to reduce possibility of accidental damage.

The area is currently subject to a low level of fishing for lobsters and whelks. There is no evidence that this is causing direct damage to the reef but any fishing will have an impact on the wider ecosystem.

The area to the north east of the Island has been identified as suitable for the development of renewable energy installations. Sensitively developed renewable energy installations could complement protection as a Marine Nature Reserve. The UK Marine Conservation Zones project has taken a positive approach to looking at the opportunities offered for co-location of windfarms and Marine Protected Areas. An area close to the horse mussel reef has been licensed for aggregate prospecting. Future developments of this nature could pose a potential risk to the feature.

 Scientific value The Ballacash Channel horse mussel reef and surrounding area is well-studied with major surveys completed by Holt and Shalla (1997) and Hinz et al (2008). From a conservation perspective it is the most highly monitored individual site in Manx waters, as a result of the three years of monitoring carried out in partnership with the Countryside Council for Wales Marine Monitoring Team. Good baseline data exists and the area has a high scientific value.

 Networking issues In Wales the main horse mussel reef habitats are protected as Special Areas of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and the remains of Strangford Lough’s horse mussel bed are protected as a Marine Nature Reserve and undergoing restoration. Additional horse mussel reefs in the Irish Sea are currently under

33 consideration for inclusion in the new Marine Conservation Zones being established as part of the Irish Sea Conservation Zones project. Protecting a significant area of horse mussel reef would make a valuable contribution to the OSPAR network of Marine Protected Areas.

 Climate change issues The horse mussel reef is located at around 36m depth so may be less vulnerable in the short term to sea level changes and temperature increases. In the longer term, horse mussels are towards the southern end of their range in the Irish Sea (Holt et al 1998) so may be subject to changes in distribution as sea temperatures change. Ocean acidification will particularly affect shelled animals that lay down calcium carbonate so horse mussel reefs are likely to be vulnerable to this impact in the medium to long term. The recruitment of horse mussels does not currently appear to be regular so this species may also be vulnerable to the effects of climate change on spawning and recruitment events. Horse mussel reefs may play an important role in climate change mitigation by storing carbon in a similar way to forests. This is an area of research that is rapidly developing.

(b) RAMSEY BAY

Site overview

 Threatened or declining species and habitats Both maerl beds and eelgrass beds are on the OSPAR list of threatened or declining habitats. Eelgrass beds have a very limited extent in Manx waters, with small confirmed sites at Langness and Garwick. Maerl is more widespread. In the initial analysis of the Isle of Man benthic survey (Hinz et al 2010), nine areas of maerl were identified within survey stations, including one site in the north of Ramsey Bay. More research is needed but maerl habitat appears to vary greatly in quality and there are apparently large but unquantified areas of dead and damaged maerl in Manx waters. The maerl in Ramsey Bay appears to be healthy but doesn’t form the deep beds of maerl encountered elsewhere.

 Important species and habitats/biotopes Maerl beds are highly diverse and are potential nursery grounds for juvenile queenies (Kamenos et al 2004 a&b), one of the most important commercial species in Manx fisheries. Eelgrass is a protected species under the Wildlife Act.

 Ecological significance The maerl bed north of Ramsey is the most extensive maerl bed that has been systematically surveyed in Manx waters. A relatively large area of highly structurally complex and diverse habitats will have a great ecological significance to the surrounding area. Kelp is also an ecologically important habitat. The diverse mosaic of habitats encountered in Ramsey Bay is of particular ecological importance.

 High natural biological diversity The Ramsey maerl beds had a high number of species associated with them in the surveys carried out by the Port Erin Marine Laboratory divers (Veale et al 1998). Full species lists are given in the reports. Detailed analysis of species numbers in maerl beds in the Clyde indicated that more than 600 species were associated with the habitat (Barbera et al 2003). Eelgrass beds also have a high associated diversity, providing shelter for juvenile fish and shellfish and a substrate for species of seaweed and other encrusting or epiphytic organisms.

 Representativity Maerl and eelgrass are representative British Isles and OSPAR region habitats and have been protected as part of Special Areas of Conservation in Wales, Scotland and England. Maerl and eelgrass beds are also Features of Conservation Interest for the designation of the new UK Marine Conservation Zones.

 Sensitivity See Appendix 6 Tables 1,2 and 3 for a full assessment of the impact Maerl is sensitive to damage by dredging and other mobile fishing gear. It is also sensitive to sedimentation and shading. Eelgrass is sensitive to disturbance of the seabed such as dredging and anchoring and also to burying and siltation. Both eelgrass and maerl are identified as particularly sensitive to human impacts in Holt et al (1997). Hall-Spencer et al (2010) identified scallop dredging, construction and fish-farming as the main

34 threats to maerl habitats in the UK. Aggregate extraction within or adjacent to the site could lead to heavy sedimentation which both habitats would be highly sensitive to.

 Naturalness

The maerl beds north of Ramsey appear to be in a relatively natural state. A rapid survey of the area in 2008 showed high levels of live maerl and but the level to which the habitat has been impacted by fishing cannot currently be determined (Murray 2009, pers. obs.). Hall-Spencer et al (2010) concluded that within our OSPAR Region (III) “scallop dredging reduces the complexity, biodiversity and long-term viability of [maerl] habitats”.

The current input into the site of Ramsey’s raw sewage is a potentially major impact which has been raised repeatedly through the initial stakeholder consultation process. However, this issue will be addressed over the coming years through the installation of improved sewage treatment facilities. The installation of secondary treatment for Ramsey sewage is planned Updating of the current sewage treatment up to at least secondary level is currently scheduled for 2012/13 for Port Lewaigue and for 2015/16 for Ramsey (subject to budget and Tynwald approvals). The implementation of these treatment systems will greatly improve water quality in the Bay and also opportunities for increased recreational uses. The maerl habitat is close to the Ramsey outfall and the eelgrass is close to the Lewaigue outfall. The current patchy distribution of eelgrass in the south of the Bay may indicate decline but will need further assessment. Anecdotal information indicates that kelp habitats have decreased in extent as dredge fishing has extended into new areas. This has been identified by some fishermen as leading to a loss in natural scallop refuges which has impacted the fishery in the wider Bay.

How the site meets the socio-economic criteria

 Size Further research is required to assess the total area of maerl, eelgrass, kelp and other habitats in Ramsey Bay. In their survey of the maerl beds north of Ramsey Veale et al (2000) estimated that maerl is present over an area of 9.35km2, and represents over 50% of the habitat over an area of 2.55 km2. A significant proportion of the maerl in Ramsey Bay would not be protected by the proposed Marine Nature Reserve but those areas would be afforded continued temporary protection through the extension of the Emergency Closure and through additional management measures of the site which the MFPO are hoping to develop as a scallop ranching zone. The area to be protected for maerl and eelgrass features exceeds the minimum diameters recommended by Natural England and JNCC (2010) which is 0.5km2 for both maerl and eelgrass.

 Potential for restoration Studies from elsewhere indicate that maerl, kelp and eelgrass habitats would all respond well to protection from dredging, trawling and other damaging impacts. The status of eelgrass bed requires monitoring and more information would be required to assess the potential for this habitat to benefit from protection.

 Degree of acceptance

This part of the site also has a high level of support from local fishermen. Fishermen fully appreciate the value of the north of Ramsey Bay as a larval source area for the wider bay. It is this area that Ramsey fishermen were particularly keen to see protected as a Fisheries Closed Area and Marine Nature Reserve. Anecdotal and local knowledge of the site thus aligns with available scientific information to support the protection of the area as a fisheries management tool and to protection features of conservation importance. The outer waters of Ramsey Bay are very important to commercial fishermen so it was necessary to draw a realistic boundary that included important shallow water habitats whilst excluding part of the productive fishing grounds.

At the 2009 Marine Nature Reserve Community Meeting in Ramsey, the majority of attendees supported the concept a Marine Nature Reserve in Manx waters and many had concerns that sewage pollution would preclude Ramsey from consideration as a Marine Nature Reserve. It is therefore anticipated that there would high community support for the designation and Ramsey Commissioners have already expressed their support for the concept. Ramsey Bay is ideally suited as a community Marine Nature Reserve with lots of opportunities

35 for access for recreation and education. The habitats of most conservation interest are in relatively shallow water and are therefore accessible to recreational divers.

The site would be adjacent to the current Ramsey North Shore ASSI and Ramsey Estuary ASSI, thus protecting the wider interacting ecosystem. Plans to refurbish Ramsey Pier could be complementary in bringing attention to Ramsey Bay and improving access to the marine environment. The sensitive development of the proposed marina in Ramsey Harbour could also be complementary in promoting recreational uses of Ramsey Bay, whilst maintaining important ecosystems services in the area.

 Potential for success of management measures Locating an MNR in the shallow nearshore waters of Ramsey Bay has the potential for good public access and involvement. The proposal has come from the Manx Fish Producers’ Organisation, it has been supported by fishermen and Ramsey Commissioners have also given the site their initial support. A wide range of opportunities to improve access to Ramsey Bay and to increase tourism and recreational opportunities could be explored.

 Potential damage to the area by human activities See Appendix 6 Tables1, 2 and 3 for a full assessment of the impact of activities on marine habitats. The Ramsey Bay area has been significantly modified by fishing in recent decades. Raw sewage currently goes directly into Ramsey Bay and this is inevitably having an impact on the marine environment but this should come to an end when the IRIS scheme is extended to Ramsey and Lewaigue over the next few years. Ramsey Bay was suggested at the Manx Marine Nature Reserve Stakeholder Workshop as a potential location to develop watersports because of the shelter afforded by the bay and the low numbers of basking sharks and marine mammals (porpoises, whales etc) using the area. Development of well-managed recreational uses of Ramsey Bay would be unlikely to impact on the seabed habitats.

 Scientific value The maerl studies carried out by Port Erin Marine Laboratory divers (Veale et al 2000) provide a good basis for further study. There would be value in assessing contribution made to local fisheries with a specific research project. Additional survey work by DEFA in 2008 and 2010 have confirmed the presence of good quality maerl habitats. The maerl appears to form a relatively thin layer on the surface of sediment rather than a deep layer as has been found at other sites. The site is one of only three confirmed locations for eelgrass in Manx waters and is therefore an important monitoring station for this protected species.

 Climate change issues The maerl beds are in relatively shallow water and so may be more subject to changes in temperature and possible changes in sea level. Eelgrass is thought to be one of the marine species that may benefit in the short term from sea temperature rise.Both maerl and eelgrass (a species of seagrass) have the potential to act as natural carbon sinks, storing carbon that would otherwise be in the atmosphere as carbon dioxide. In a recent IUCN report seagrass was identified as one of the key marine habitats which acts as a natural carbon sink. Globally seagrass habitats are thought to be responsible for 15% of ocean carbon storage (Laffoley and Grimsditch 2009).

 Networking issues Maerl is a potential settlement area for juvenile commercial species (particularly queenies and cod) so the Ramsey Bay MNR could link into the current network of Fisheries Closed Areas. Maerl and eelgrass sites have been protected elsewhere in Irish Sea, so an MNR in Ramsey Bay could form part of a wider network. Protection of a significant maerl site would make an important contribution to the regional OSPAR Marine Protected Area Network. Particle tracking work by Bangor University indicates that Ramsey Bay may be self-seeding to a certain extent so benefits may be likely to be experienced more locally as well (Neill and Kaiser 2008) .

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Appendix 6

References

Barbera, C. et al (2003). Conservation and management of Northeast Atlantic and Mediterranean Maerl Beds. Aquatic Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems.13(S1):65-76.

Cook, R., F.R. Gell, R.H. F. Holt, T. Holt, C. Lindenbaum, J.S. Porter, R. Seed, L.R. Skates, T.B. Stringell & W.G. Sanderson. (2010). Physical impacts on biodiversity hotspots: Effects on a biogenic horse mussel reef. Poster. European Marine Biology Symposium 45, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Gubbay, S. (2000). Review of sites of Marine Nature Conservation Importance around the Isle of Man. A Report to the Manx Wildlife Trust.

Hall-Spencer, J. M., J. Kelly & C.A. Maggs. (2010). Background document for maerl beds. OSPAR Commission Biodiversity Series.

Hawkins, S.J., A. J. Geffen & E.M. Fisher. (1990). The status of marine nature conservation in the Isle of Man. A report to the Isle of Man Government. Port Erin Marine Laboratory, University of Liverpool.

Hinz, H., L. G. Murray. & Kaiser, M.J. (2008) Side-scan-sonar survey of the Horse mussel (Modiolus modiolus) beds off the Point of Ayre (August 2008). Fisheries & Conservation report No. 4, Bangor University. Pp. 19.

Hinz, H., L. G. Murray, F. R. Gell, L. Hanley, N. Horton, H. Whiteley & M. J. Kaiser.(2010) Seabed habitats around the Isle of Man. Fisheries & Conservation report No. 12, Bangor University. pp.29.

Holt, T., R.G. Hartnoll, S.J. Hawkins and D.R. Jones. (1997). The sensitivity of marine communities to man-induced change. In Nature Conservation and the Irish Sea, Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report No.15.

Holt, T.J., Rees, E.I., Hawkins, S.J. and Seed, R. (1998) Biogenic Reefs (volume IX). An overview of dynamic and sensitivity characteristics for conservation management of marine SACs. Scottish Association for Marine Science (UK Marine SACs Project). 170 pp.

Holt, T.J. & Shalla, S.H.A. (1997). Pre- and post-drilling survey of block IOM 112/19. A report to Elf Enterprise Caledonia Ltd. Port Erin Marine Laboratory, University of Liverpool.

Kamenos, N. A., Moore, P. G. and Hall-Spencer, J. M. (2004a). Nursery-area function of maerl grounds for juvenile queen scallops Aequipecten opercularis and other invertebrates. Marine Ecology-Progress Series 274, 183-189.

Kamenos, N. A., Moore, P. G. and Hall-Spencer, J. M. (2004b). Attachment of the juvenile queen scallop (Aequipecten opercularis (L.)) to Maerl in mesocosm conditions; juvenile habitat selection. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 306, 139-155.

Kamenos, N. A., Moore, P. G. and Hall-Spencer, J. M. (2004c). Maerl grounds provide both refuge and high growth potential for juvenile queen scallops (Aequipecten opercularis L.). Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology 313, 241-254.

Koskinen, M. (2004). Selecting sites for Marine Protected Areas in Isle of Man Coastal Waters. MRes Placement Project Report to DAFF.

Laffoley, D.d'A. & Grimsditch, G. (eds). 2009. The management of natural coastal carbon sinks. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. 53 pp.

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Mair, J.M., Moore, C.G., Kingston, P.F. & Harries, D.B. (2000) A review of the status, ecology and conservation of horse mussel Modiouls modiolus beds in Scotland. Scottish Natural Heritage Commissioned Report F99PA08.

Murray, L.G., Hinz, H. & Kaiser, M.J. (2009) The Isle of Man Aequipecten opercularis Fishery: Science and Management. Fisheries & Conservation report No. 10, Bangor University. pp.33.

Natural England and JNCC. (2010). Ecological Network Guidance. Marine Conservation Zone Project.

Neill, S.P. & Kaiser, M.J. (2008) Sources and sinks of scallops (Pecten maximus) in the waters of the Isle of Man as predicted from particle tracking models. Fisheries & Conservation report No. 3, Bangor University. Pp. 25.

O’Neill, R. (2010). An assessment of razor clam (Ensis spp.) beds and the feasibility of a small-scale sustainable fishery on the Isle of Man. MSc Thesis, University of Aberdeen.

Rees, I. (2009). Assessment of Modiolus modiolus beds in the OSPAR area. Report on behalf of JNCC for the OSPAR Commission (2008 – revised 2009). http://www.ospar.org/html_documents/ospar/html/p00425_BDC%20VERSION%20UK_Modiolus.pdf Veale, L., R. Thompson & M. Bates.(1998). Isle of Man sublittoral survey 1994-1997. Port Erin Marine Laboratory, Isle of Man.

Veale, L., R. Thompson & M. Bates. (1999). Isle of Man sublittoral survey 1994-1997. In Monitoring the Marine and Coastal Environment. Irish Sea Forum Seminar Report No.22.

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Reference for this document:

Gell, F.R. & L. Hanley. 2010. Developing a Marine Nature Reserve for Ramsey. Full Consultation Document. Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, Isle of Man Government. 38pp.

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