Community proposals are now afoot for a larger network of angler-friendly Marine Protected Areas around the COAST of Arran that would also permit creel-fishing and diving

COAST’s AGM on the 3rd March 2011 - announced and gained initial support for - a proposal to establish a larger Marine Protected Area (MPA) off the coast of Arran. The main drive behind the MPA is to protect the coastal waters from bottom trawling and dredging activities – it will not affect static creel fishing or recreational sea-angling.  Further meetings are now planned in villages around the island over the coming months and COAST hopes that there will be widespread feedback from around the island about the proposals.

What are the proposals?

Initial draft proposals suggest the MPA could stretch south from the Dhunnan (one mile north of the existing NTZ) to encompass the whole of Lamlash Bay around the eastern Arran coast, continuing around Pladda island and along the southern coast to beyond the reefs known as the Iron Rock Ledges off Corriecravie. The MPA outer boundary could be marked by a straight line boundary, possibly three miles off shore, as suggested by Arran’s last creel fisherman who has extensive knowledge of the whole area. Along with SNH and Marine Scotland Compliance we have learned that whatever the site that is designated for protection, a larger buffer zone needs to be implemented at the same time, in order that the site has appropriate protection against damaging impacts.

Who will it affect?

A Marine Protected Area is not the same as a No Take Zone. The proposed MPA will not stop anglers, divers or creel fishermen from operating in the area. It is proposed that it affect only the less selective and more intensive and damaging fishing methods of bottom trawling and dredging.

Why?

There are a whole range of reasons why the MPA would be of benefit

On a purely scientific level, the area contains many Priority Marine Features including :-

• at least seven maerl beds;
• probably the largest area of remaining seagrass in the Clyde,
• muddy substrate with sea pens;
• important tidal rocky reefs, one of which has the only known jewel anemones in the Clyde area;
• extensive kelp beds along the south coast;
• an area south of Bennan Head which has historically been known as an important herring spawning area;
• the area also contains important resident seal and otter populations

Besides the biodiversity advantages of this proposal, COAST are confident of broad community support. As you know COAST volunteers have many years of experience in canvassing for an MPA and NTZ, and doing basic research through Seasearch and diving. In addition we now have experience in the direct management of the NTZ.

There are at least four clear additional reasons why a MPA on Arran would be a positive way forward:

1. It would be ideally situated in the centre of the Firth of Clyde. The Clyde is desperate for renewal, sustainability and a strategy for management for the future.
2. It is a rich biodiverse coastal environment which has already a considerable wealth of scientific knowledge, built up over time from both academic and community work.
3. It is an ideal location for supervision and for further research with good access to mainland Scotland.
4. COAST could be pivotal in facilitating some of the studies.

What's the procedure from now?

Although we have a large amount of scientific data for most of the proposed area, there are still a few locations along the south coast that we intend to survey within the next six months.

COAST feels that this area should be in SNH’s proposal to the Scottish Government.  If this proposed MPA is not accepted as a direct SNH proposal, COAST would wish to propose it as a third party designation.

But for now, we will hold a number of community meetings to receive feedback about the proposals and gauge the general level of support. The 50 islanders present at COAST's AGM last month unanimously supported the idea. We look forward to updating you once the wider consultation has concluded.