The Canyons MCZ is located in the far south-west corner of the UK continental shelf. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) MPA fisheries assessment of fishing impacts at this site, taking into account advice from JNCC and scientific literature, has concluded that coral gardens, cold-water coral reefs and sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities and deep-sea bed are sensitive to the impacts of demersal fishing activities, including demersal trawls, demersal seines and anchored nets and lines. For these features, they conclude that they cannot rule out a significant risk that these fishing activities are hindering the site’s conservation objectives. Therefore, the conservation objectives are currently unlikely to be achieved without management of these activities. Three management options were presented in the call for evidence:

Option 1: No fisheries restrictions. Introduce a monitoring and control plan within the site.
Option 2: Reduce/limit pressures. Due to the potential impacts of demersal gears (bottom towed gears, including demersal trawls and demersal seines, and anchored nets and lines) on the features of the site, management would be introduced to reduce the risk of the conservation objectives not being achieved. This may be through a zoned management approach and/or limiting the activity/intensity of these activity types.
Option 3: Remove/avoid pressures (whole site prohibition). Demersal fishing activities (bottom towed gears, including demersal trawls and demersal seines, and anchored nets and lines) will be prohibited in all areas of the site.

During the call for evidence 20 responses were received relating specifically to The Canyons MCZ. These included responses from individuals, fishers, non-governmental organisations, industry groups and other government departments. Of these responses 18 were in support of management being introduced, and two responses were neither in favour nor opposed to the introduction of management.

All respondents, apart from one highlighted that the second option (whole site prohibition) would be beneficial to the site and provided reasons.

Nevertheless, based on the updated assessment, MMO has concluded that option 2 (reduce/limit
pressures (zoned closure for bottom towed gears and anchored nets and lines)) is the preferred option and has developed a byelaw to prohibit these gears over sensitive parts of the site.

The proposed measures which will come into force on 13 June, will allow fishing with bottom towed gear and anchored nets and lines to continue in part of the site, but MMO has concluded that there is not a significant risk of ongoing fishing in this area hindering the site’s conservation objectives.

Read the Decision Document, Fisheries Assessment, MCZ Bylaw and Regulatory Triage Assessment here