Article 6.2 (Habitats Directive) Risk Assessment The effects of fisheries on Qualifying Interests in Special Areas of Conservation in Irish coastal waters Marine Institute Rinville Oranmore, Co. Galway Version 2.0 July 2015 1 Table of Contents 1 Preface .................................................................................................................................... 7 2 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ 8 3 Executive summary ................................................................................................................ 9 4 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 13 5 Structure and layout of the assessment ................................................................................. 13 5.1 Structure ....................................................................................................................... 13 6 Scope of the Assessment ...................................................................................................... 15 6.1 Definitions .................................................................................................................... 15 6.2 Geographic scope ......................................................................................................... 15 6.3 Sites included in the assessment and CO status ........................................................... 17 7 Fisheries ................................................................................................................................ 25 7.1 The Irish fishing fleet ................................................................................................... 25 7.2 Fleet structure ............................................................................................................... 25 7.3 Trends in the inshore fleet 2006-2014 .......................................................................... 26 7.4 Activity of the fleet ....................................................................................................... 28 7.5 Types of fisheries ......................................................................................................... 29 7.6 Fishing capacity and licences ....................................................................................... 29 7.6.1 Vessel capacity transfer rules ............................................................................... 29 7.6.2 Primary and secondary fishing licences ............................................................... 30 7.7 Additional legislation impinging on shellfish fisheries ................................................ 31 7.7.1 Shellfish classification and production areas ........................................................ 31 7.8 The status of fish stocks ............................................................................................... 32 7.8.1 Molluscs ............................................................................................................... 33 7.8.2 Crustaceans ........................................................................................................... 33 7.8.3 Herring .................................................................................................................. 34 7.8.4 Sprat ...................................................................................................................... 34 2 7.8.5 Hake ...................................................................................................................... 34 7.8.6 Cod ....................................................................................................................... 34 7.8.7 Haddock ................................................................................................................ 35 7.8.8 Whiting ................................................................................................................. 35 7.8.9 Plaice .................................................................................................................... 35 7.8.10 Megrim ................................................................................................................. 35 7.8.11 Sole ....................................................................................................................... 36 7.8.12 Angler fish ............................................................................................................ 36 7.8.13 Mackerel and horse mackerel ............................................................................... 36 7.9 Data on fisheries for risk assessment ............................................................................ 39 8 Fisheries: fishing effort and spatial extent ............................................................................ 41 8.1 Description of fisheries Quigleys Point to Benwee Head ............................................ 41 8.1.1 Crustacean and mollusc trap fisheries .................................................................. 41 8.1.2 Benthic dredge fisheries ....................................................................................... 42 8.1.3 Set net fisheries..................................................................................................... 44 8.1.4 Bottom trawl fisheries .......................................................................................... 45 8.1.5 Pelagic fisheries .................................................................................................... 46 8.1.6 Hook and Line fishing .......................................................................................... 47 8.1.7 Seine netting ......................................................................................................... 48 8.2 Maps of fishing activity Quigley Pt to Benwee Hd ...................................................... 49 8.3 Description of fisheries Benwee Head to Slyne Head .................................................. 56 8.3.1 Crustacean and mollusc trap fisheries .................................................................. 56 8.3.2 Benthic dredge fisheries ....................................................................................... 57 8.3.3 Set net fisheries..................................................................................................... 58 8.3.4 Bottom trawl fisheries .......................................................................................... 60 8.3.5 Pelagic fisheries .................................................................................................... 61 8.3.6 Hook and Line fishing .......................................................................................... 62 8.4 Maps of fishing activity Benwee Hd to Slyne Hd ........................................................ 62 3 8.5 Description of fisheries at Loop Head to Slyne Head .................................................. 69 8.5.1 Crustacean and mollusc trap fisheries .................................................................. 69 8.5.2 Benthic dredge fisheries ....................................................................................... 69 8.5.3 Set net fisheries..................................................................................................... 71 8.5.4 Bottom trawl fisheries .......................................................................................... 72 8.5.5 Pelagic fisheries .................................................................................................... 73 8.5.6 Hook and Line fishing .......................................................................................... 74 8.6 Maps of fishing activity Slyne Hd to Loop Hd. ........................................................... 74 8.7 Description of fisheries Loop Head to Reen Point ....................................................... 81 8.7.1 Crustacean and mollusc trap fisheries .................................................................. 81 8.7.2 Benthic dredge fisheries ....................................................................................... 82 8.7.3 Set net fisheries..................................................................................................... 84 8.7.4 Bottom trawl fisheries .......................................................................................... 85 8.7.5 Pelagic fisheries .................................................................................................... 86 8.7.6 Hook and Line fishing .......................................................................................... 87 8.7.7 Beam trawls .......................................................................................................... 88 8.8 Maps of fishing activity Loop Head to Reen Point ...................................................... 90 8.9 Description of fisheries Reen Point to Carnsore Point ................................................. 96 8.9.1 Crustacean and mollusc trap fisheries .................................................................. 96 8.9.2 Benthic dredge fisheries ....................................................................................... 97 8.9.3 Set net fisheries..................................................................................................... 99 8.9.4