Consultation on measures to protect marine biodiversity interests in Lyme Bay from the impact of fishing with dredges and other towed gear
Sea Fisheries Conservation Division
Defra
Area 2C
17 Smith Square
Nobel House
London, SW1P 3JR
Direct line: 0207 270 8307
Fax: 0207 270 8309
Website: www.defra.gov.uk
7 September 2007
Dear Consultee
Consultation on measures to protect marine biodiversity in Lyme Bay from the impact of fishing with dredges and other towed gear
I am writing to consult you on proposals aimed at protecting the biodiversity features in Lyme Bay.
Lyme Bay is an area of the sea and seabed off the south west coast of England. It stretches from Start Point to Portland Bill and is almost bisected by the county line of Devon and Dorset. It was identified as a Sensitive Marine Area in the 1994 and may be one of the five most significant areas of biodiversity round the English coast, as over 300 marine species are present. It is also a very important fishery for South West Scallopers, who derive in excess of £2 million pounds landings from the area, and for other local fisheries.
There has been a number of proposals for action to protect the biodiversity in the Lyme Bay reefs, especially the pink sea fan populations and NE have awarded a tender to consultants to identify a number of possible new SACs, of which Lyme Bay is a primary candidate. Last year Defra reached a voluntary agreement with the South West Inshore Scallopers Association to stop fishing in four discrete areas of Lyme Bay. At the time we made it clear that we would consult more widely on the possibilities for protecting biodiversity in Lyme Bay.
The enclosed combined consultation paper is inevitably a somewhat different consultation to the normal, in that many of the arguments, supporting evidence and data were looked at in some detail last year. We would, however, like your views on the options summarised below, and invite you to suggest any others you consider would achieve the objectives of the proposal - to protect marine biodiversity interests in Lyme Bay. The options in the paper are:
A: continue to rely on the areas of protection agreed last year in which towed gear is excluded. This would be either through the existing voluntary agreement amongst members of SWISA not to fish in the designated areas or by the introduction of a byelaw or Order banning the use of towed gear in these closed areas.
B: exclude the use of all towed gear, by either SFC Byelaw or Order, in the closed areas proposed by NE in August 2006. This would protect an area of 25 square miles of reef habitat in three discrete blocks, essentially bringing the current voluntary closed areas closer to the coast.
C: exclude the use of all towed gear, by either SFC Byelaw or Order, in the closed areas in the 60 square mile area originally proposed by NE in May 2006.
Within the consultation document we also ask specific questions about scalloping and other commercial fishing operations and diving operations so that we can gather the necessary socio-economic data to try to better assess the affects of the different options. In particular we would invite you to consider the following
The consultation documents and full list of consultees can be found at: www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/lymebay-biodiversity/index.htm
- Consultation Letter
- Partial Regulatory Impact Assessment
- Schedule of documents available on request
- List of consultees
We welcome your comments on the proposals and also ask that you provide as much information as possible on the impacts of the proposals, both positive and negative, to you and your business. Please send your comments by 21 December 2007:
Patrick Cotter
Defra
Area 2D Nobel House
17 Smith Square
London, SW1P 3JR
Email: lyme.baycon@defra.gsi .gov.uk
In line with Defra's policy of openness, at the end of the consultation period copies of the responses we receive may be made publicly available through the Defra Information Resource Centre, Lower Ground Floor, Ergon House, Horseferry Road, London SW1P 2AL. The information they contain may also be published in a summary of responses. If you do not consent to this, you must clearly request that your response be treated confidentially. Any confidentiality disclaimer generated by your IT system in e-mail responses will not be treated as such a request. You should also be aware that there may be circumstances in which Defra will be required to communicate information to third parties on request, in order to comply with its obligations under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and the Environmental Information Regulations.
The Information Resource Centre will supply copies of consultation responses to personal callers or in response to telephone or e-mail requests (tel: 020 7238 6575, email: defra.library@defra.gsi.gov.uk). Wherever possible, personal callers should give the library at least 24 hours' notice of their requirements. An administrative charge will be made to cover photocopying and postage costs.
If you have any complaints about the way in which the consultation process has been run, you should direct them to Marjorie Addo, Defra’s Consultation Co-ordinator, Area 7B Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London SW1P 3JR.
Yours faithfully
Colin Penny
Department for Environment and Rural Affairs
Page last modified: 27 November 2007
Page published: 7 September 2007