Marine Protected Areas Bottom Towed Fishing Gear Byelaw 2023
MMO byelaw covering specified areas in the following 13 marine protected areas.
Applies to England
Documents
Details
The byelaw covers specified areas in the following 13 marine protected areas:
- Cape Bank Marine Conservation Zone;
- East of Haig Fras Marine Conservation Zone;
- Farnes East Marine Conservation Zone;
- Foreland Marine Conservation Zone;
- Goodwin Sands Marine Conservation Zone;
- Haig Fras Special Area of Conservation;
- Haisborough, Hammond and Winterton Special Area of Conservation;
- Hartland Point to Tintagel Marine Conservation Zone;
- Lands End and Cape Bank Special Area of Conservation;
- North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef Special Area of Conservation;
- Offshore Brighton Marine Conservation Zone;
- South of Celtic Deep Marine Conservation Zone; and
- Wight-Barfleur Reef Special Area of Conservation.
Details
The byelaw was made by the Marine Management Organisation in 2023 and then confirmed by Secretary of State on 1 February 2024. The byelaw will come into force on 22 March 2024.
The purpose of the byelaw is to protect marine fauna and habitats, including rock, reef and associated biological communities, from the impacts of bottom towed fishing gear. The byelaw prohibits the use of bottom towed fishing gear in specified areas within the 13 marine protected areas listed above.
More information on the sites is available from Joint Nature Conservation Committee and Natural England.
A signed copy of the byelaw will be provided for inspection by emailing conservation@marinemanagement.org.uk