Document Control Title DRAFT Dogger Bank Special Area of Conservation (SAC) MMO Fisheries Assessment 2020 Authors T Barnfield; E Johnston Approver V Morgan Owner T Barnfield Revision History Date Author(s) Version Status Reason Approver(s) 19/06/2020 T Barnfield; V.A0.1 Draft Introduction and Part V Morgan E Johnston A 06/07/2020 T Barnfield; V.A0.2 Draft Internal QA of V Morgan E Johnston Introduction and Part A 07/07/2020 T Barnfield; V.A0.3 Draft JNCC QA of A Doyle E Johnston Introduction and Part A 14/07/2020 T Barnfield; V.A0.4 Draft Introduction and Part V Morgan E Johnston A JNCC comments 26/07/2020 T Barnfield; V.BC0.1 Draft Part B & C N Greenwood E Johnston 29/07/2020 T Barnfield; V.BC0.2 Draft Internal QA of Part B N Greenwood E Johnston & C 30/07/2020 T Barnfield; V.BC0.3 Draft JNCC QA of A Doyle E Johnston Introduction and Part A 05/08/2020 T Barnfield; V.BC0.4 Draft Part B & C JNCC N Greenwood E Johnston comments 06/08/2020 T Barnfield; V.1.0 Draft Whole document N Greenwood E Johnston compilation 07/08/2020 T Barnfield; V.1.1 Draft Whole document N Greenwood E Johnston Internal QA 18/08/2020 T Barnfield; V.1.2 Draft Whole document A Doyle E Johnston JNCC QA 25/08/2020 T Barnfield; V1.3 Draft Whole Document G7 Leanne E Johnston QA Stockdale 25/08/2020 T Barnfield; V1.4 Draft Update following G7 Leanne E Johnston QA Stockdale This document has been distributed for information and comment to: Title Organisation Date sent Distributed to Comments received V.A0.3 JNCC 07/07/2020 Alice Doyle Yes (14/07/2020) V.BC0.3 JNCC 30/07/2020 Alice Doyle Yes (05/08/2020) V1.2 JNCC 18/08/2020 Alice Doyle Yes (24/08/2020) 1 DRAFT Dogger Bank Special Area of Conservation (SAC) MMO Fisheries Assessment 2020 Contents Document Control ...................................................................................................... 1 1. Summary ............................................................................................................. 5 2. Introduction ......................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Sub features of Dogger Bank ‘sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time’ .................................................................................................... 8 2.1.1 Subtidal sand ............................................................................................. 8 2.1.2 Subtidal coarse sediment ........................................................................... 9 2.1.3 Subtidal mixed sediments .......................................................................... 9 2.1.4 Subtidal mud .............................................................................................. 9 2.2 Scope of this assessment – fishing activities assessed .................................. 12 3. Part A Assessment ............................................................................................... 13 3.1 High risk interactions ....................................................................................... 14 3.2 Activities not taking place ................................................................................ 14 3.3 Potential pressures exerted by the activities on the feature ............................ 16 3.4 Significance of effects/impacts ........................................................................ 17 4. Part B Assessment ............................................................................................... 21 4.1 Fishing Activity Descriptions ........................................................................... 23 4.1.1 Existing management .............................................................................. 23 4.1.2. Evidence Sources ................................................................................... 23 4.1.3. Dogger Bank fishing fleet ........................................................................ 25 4.1.3.1. Aggregated Method: Anchored nets/lines ............................................ 25 4.1.3.2 Aggregated Method: Demersal Trawls .................................................. 25 4.1.3.3 Aggregated Method: Demersal Seines ................................................. 26 4.1.3.4 Aggregated Method: Dredges ............................................................... 26 4.1.4. VMS & Landings Data ............................................................................. 26 4.1.5 MMO and Royal Navy Sightings .............................................................. 43 2 4.1.6 Summary .................................................................................................. 43 4.2 Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed AND Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion ................................................................................................. 44 4.2.1 Impact of anchored nets/lines .................................................................. 44 4.2.2 Impact of demersal trawls ........................................................................ 44 4.2.3 Impact of demersal seines ....................................................................... 46 4.2.4 Impact of dredges .................................................................................... 47 4.2.5 Pressure conclusion ................................................................................. 48 4.3 Changes in suspended solids (water clarity) AND smothering and siltation rate changes ................................................................................................................ 50 4.3.1 Impact of demersal trawls, demersal seines and dredges ....................... 50 4.3.2 Pressure conclusion ................................................................................. 52 4.4 Removal of non-target species ....................................................................... 53 4.4.1 Impact of anchored nets/lines .................................................................. 53 4.4.2 Impacts of demersal trawls....................................................................... 54 4.4.3 Impacts of demersal seines...................................................................... 55 4.4.4 Impacts of dredges ................................................................................... 56 4.4.5 Pressure conclusion ................................................................................. 57 4.5 Removal of target species ............................................................................... 58 4.5.1 Impacts of anchored nets/lines ................................................................. 58 4.5.2 Impacts of demersal trawls and seines .................................................... 59 4.5.3 Impacts of dredges ................................................................................... 61 4.5.4 Pressure conclusion ................................................................................. 62 4.6. Part B conclusion ........................................................................................... 64 5. Part C assessment ............................................................................................ 64 5.1 In combination assessment ............................................................................. 64 5.2 Pressures exerted by fishing and plans or projects ......................................... 65 5.2.1 Abrasion/disturbance of the substrate on the surface of the seabed AND Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed, including abrasion ............................................................................................. 71 5.2.2 Deoxygenation ......................................................................................... 73 5.2.3 Hydrocarbon & PAH contamination .......................................................... 75 5.2.4 Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS) ............ 76 5.2.5 Litter ......................................................................................................... 77 3 5.3 Part C conclusion (fishing in combination with relevant activities).............. 77 6. Assessment result ................................................................................................ 78 6.1 Fishing alone ................................................................................................... 78 6.2 In combination ................................................................................................. 78 7. Management options ............................................................................................ 78 8. Review of this assessment ................................................................................... 79 9. Conclusion ........................................................................................................... 80 10. References ......................................................................................................... 80 Annex 1 - MMO methodology ................................................................................... 88 Annex 2 - Assumptions used to calculate spatial footprint (Pr-values) ..................... 92 1. Pr-value background ...................................................................................... 92 1.1. Introduction ..........................................................................................