The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is asking for views to decide how fisheries should be managed in marine protected areas. Site assessments include recommendations for managing fisheries in MPAs. The MMO have today published site summary assessments for nine marine protected area (MPA) sites in English inshore waters (0 to 12nm), and are asking fishermen and conservationists to test their findings and submit any new evidence by 15 February 2016.

The draft sites assessments look at the impact different fishing activities have on MPA features including sand banks, reefs and wildlife such as the spiny lobster. By understanding what fishing activity takes place in these areas and how they interact with the MPA features, if required, the right and necessary management measures can be introduced. The sites assessed include marine conservation zones (MCZ) and European marine sites (EMS). Go to this site for fuller details:

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/mmo-seeks-views-on-mpa-site-assessments-for-fisheries