Document Control Title Dogger Bank Special Area of Conservation (SAC) MMO Fisheries Assessment 2021 Authors T Barnfield; E Johnston; T Dixon; K Saunders; E Siegal Approver(s) V Morgan; J Duffill Telsnig; N Greenwood 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 25/01/2021 T Barnfield; V2.0 – 2.4 Draft Updates following NGreenwood; K Saunders; new data availability J Duffill Telsnig T Dixon; E and QA Siegal 01/02/2021 T Barnfield; V2.5 Final Finalise comments Nick Greenwood K Saunders; E and updates Siegal 1 Dogger Bank Special Area of Conservation (SAC) MMO Fisheries Assessment 2020 Contents Document Control ............................................................................................................ 1 Glossary of MPA terms.................................................................................................... 5 1. Summary................................................................................................................... 9 2. Introduction ............................................................................................................. 10 2.1 Sub-features of Dogger Bank ‘sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time’ ....................................................................................................... 12 2.1.1 Subtidal sand................................................................................................. 12 2.1.2 Subtidal coarse sediment ............................................................................. 13 2.1.3 Subtidal mixed sediments............................................................................. 13 2.1.4 Subtidal mud ................................................................................................. 13 2.2 Scope of this assessment – fishing activities assessed .................................... 16 3. Part A Assessment .................................................................................................... 17 3.1 High risk interactions............................................................................................ 18 3.2 Activities not taking place .................................................................................... 18 3.3 Potential pressures exerted by the activities on the feature .............................. 19 3.4 Significance of effects/impacts ............................................................................ 21 4. Part B Assessment .................................................................................................... 25 4.1 Fishing Activity Descriptions................................................................................ 27 4.1.1 Existing management ................................................................................... 27 4.1.2. Evidence Sources ........................................................................................ 27 4.1.3. Dogger Bank fishing fleet ............................................................................ 29 4.1.4. VMS & Landings Data ................................................................................. 31 4.1.5 Spatial footprint analysis using Pr-values.................................................... 54 4.1.6 MMO and Royal Navy Sightings .................................................................. 59 4.1.7 Summary ....................................................................................................... 59 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 ...................................................................................................... 60 4.2.1 Impact of traps and anchored nets/lines...................................................... 60 2 4.2.2 Impact of demersal trawls............................................................................. 61 4.2.3 Impact of demersal seines ........................................................................... 65 4.2.4 Impact of dredges ......................................................................................... 66 4.2.5 Pressure conclusion ..................................................................................... 68 4.3 Changes in suspended solids (water clarity) AND smothering and siltation rate changes ...................................................................................................................... 70 4.3.1 Impact of demersal trawls, demersal seines and dredges ......................... 70 4.3.2 Pressure conclusion ..................................................................................... 72 4.4 Removal of non-target species............................................................................ 74 4.4.1 Impact of anchored nets/lines and traps...................................................... 74 4.4.2 Impacts of demersal trawls........................................................................... 75 4.4.3 Impacts of demersal seines.......................................................................... 76 4.4.4 Impacts of dredges ....................................................................................... 77 4.4.5 Pressure conclusion ..................................................................................... 78 4.5 Removal of target species ................................................................................... 80 4.5.1 Impacts of anchored nets/lines and traps.................................................... 80 4.5.2 Impacts of demersal trawls and seines ....................................................... 81 4.5.3 Impacts of dredges ....................................................................................... 84 4.5.4 Pressure conclusion ..................................................................................... 84 4.6. Part B conclusion ................................................................................................ 87 5. Part C assessment ................................................................................................. 87 5.1 In combination assessment ................................................................................. 87 5.2 Pressures exerted by fishing and plans or projects ........................................... 88 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 .................................................................................................. 95 5.2.2 Deoxygenation .............................................................................................. 97 5.2.3 Hydrocarbon & PAH contamination ............................................................. 99 5.2.4 Introduction or spread of invasive non-indigenous species (INIS)........... 100 5.2.5 Litter ............................................................................................................. 101 5.3 Part C conclusion (fishing in combination with relevant activities) ............. 102 6. Assessment result ................................................................................................... 102 6.1 Fishing alone ...................................................................................................... 102 6.2 In-combination .................................................................................................... 102 3 7. Management options ............................................................................................... 102 8. Review of this assessment...................................................................................... 105 9. Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 106 10. References............................................................................................................. 106 Annex 1 - MMO methodology ..................................................................................... 118 Annex 2 - Assumptions used to calculate spatial footprint (Pr-values)..................... 122 1. Pr-value background ......................................................................................... 122 1.1. Introduction