When new management measures are applied to fishing in designated areas, fishing activity that previously happened in that area may stop completely, change type or move (be displaced) to other areas. These changes may result in alternative fishing/environmental interactions that regulators now need to consider. Recognising this, Natural England established the Fisheries Displacement Project Steering Group to oversee the delivery of a literature review of fishing effort displacement and the production of a template setting out the various aspects of fishing displacement. For each aspect of fishing effort displacement, the evidence sources available to regulators to consider were identified. The outputs of this work were produced for English regulators although it has wider application.

The Fisheries Displacement Project Steering Group comprised of Natural England, Defra, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Centre for Environment Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Marine Management Organisation and the Association of Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities. The project was fully funded by Natural England. The contractors delivering the work were ABPMer who were assisted by the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO) and ICF.

The outputs of this project will be tailored by each regulator to meet their specific needs. Monitoring requirements and identification of research priorities to fill identified knowledge gaps to further understand the nature and impacts of displacement were set out.

Suzannah Walmsley, fisheries specialist at ABPmer said, “We are pleased to be asked to develop guidance and templates for the steering group. The number of management measures applied to the fishing sector in England is expected to increase in the coming years. It is therefore important that the nature of potential displacement and its resulting impacts are better understood so that holistic management and mitigation decisions are made”.

Duncan Vaughan, Senior Specialist Marine Fisheries at Natural England said “all parties involved in the management of the marine environment and fishing activities are aware that management measures have the potential to displace fishing effort as management measures are in essence trying to drive change – in this case improving the health of our protected marine environment. This project is intended to help both fisheries regulators and the industry better understand the scale and type of fishing displacement when management measures aimed at changing fishing behaviour within a protected area are considered. By doing this, it is hoped that better outcomes for both the marine environment and fishermen can be identified”. The report of this work is available on the following webpage:

Natural England has published ‘Displacement of fishing effort from Marine Protected Areas (NECR241)’. This report was commissioned to help better understand the nature and impacts of any potential displacement and the findings will be used by Natural England and other partners to support the design, implementation and monitoring of management measures in MPAs. See http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5674265573064704.

For further information on the outputs of this work please contact:  Duncan.vaughan@naturalengland.org.uk

Duncan Vaughan  Senior Environmental Specialist -Marine Fisheries, Natural England