MARINE PROTECTED AREAS :

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MARINE PROTECTED AREAS CLOSED AREAS FOR
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT A EUROPEAN CONTEXT
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Joe Horwood CENTRE FOR ENVIRONMENT, FISHERIES
AQUACULTURE SCIENCE (CEFAS) Marine science
agency UK Department for Environment, Food
Rural Affairs (Defra)
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CEFAS 500 staff 3 locations 53m 73m Research
Vessel
Key areas - Fisheries Marine Environment Marine
Ecology
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MPAs - THE ANSWER FOR FISHERIES 1. Closed
areas are a useful tool 2. Closed areas may be
full or partial 3. Their utility for fisheries
should be evaluated on a case by case
basis
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EU DRIVERS FOR MPAs-CLOSED AREAS Sustainable
Fisheries Protection of Biodiversity, Habitats,
Species WSSD - network of MPAs by 2012 5th North
Sea Conference - MPAs by 2010 OSPAR - network of
MPAs EU Biodiversity Plan for Fisheries - closed
areas
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EU FISHERIES CLOSED AREAS Many examples None
exclude all activity Plaice Box - 38,000
km2 Norway Pout - 95,000 km2 2001 North Sea Cod
Box Sandeel Box to protect predators
Hence a large experience -
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EU Regulated Areas
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Area closed to fishing over 14 February to 30
April 2001 as part of the North Sea cod recovery
programme.
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CLOSED AREAS ARE A TOOL - Alter fishing
intensity and pattern Effects can be
approximately evaluated Can be very poor for
migratory fish May be very good for more static
fish MAIN POINT IS TO DO THE SUMS
! ! ! ! !
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EVEN IF IT LOOKS OK - Closed areas tend to
impact local communities Derogations weaken
effectiveness Must be enforceable Effort will be
diverted There is also the ENVIRONMENTAL
dimension
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THE ENVIRONMENT FISHERIES Closed Areas
essential for some habitat protection
- e.g. EU cold water corals But temporary
closed areas for fisheries may
caused ecological concerns - Our fishing
patterns are very conservative helping to
maintain biodiversity .... but
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2001 North Sea cod closure diverted fishing

onto undisturbed areas
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• FOR FISHERIES MANAGEMENT SENSU STRICTO
• THE UTILITY OF ANY ONE AREA DEPENDS UPON -
• THE BIOLOGY - eg static, migratory
• THE FISHERY - where, when, what size nets
• OTHER REGULATIONS IN PLACE - effort, TACs
• OTHER PRACTICAL SOCIO-ECONOMICS
• THERE IS ALSO A SIGNIFICANT ROLE FOR FISHERIES
• CLOSED AREAS IN A POTENTIAL IMPACT UPON
• ECOSYSTEM MANAGEMENT

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MPAs - THE ANSWER FOR FISHERIES 1. Closed
areas are a useful tool - for
sustainable fisheries managing the
environmental effects of fishing 2. Closed areas
may be full or partial 3. Their utility for
fisheries should be evaluated on a
case by case basis for both fisheries
and ecosystem utility