answer text |
<p>It is essential that all damaging activities are prevented in Marine Protected
Areas (MPAs). Not all fishing activities will require management, only those likely
to damage the designated features of a MPA, such as trawling on the seabed. 'Supertrawlers'
generally target fish within the water column and so are unlikely to damage the seabed
habitats for which most MPAs are designated.</p><p> </p><p>The Marine Management Organisation
(MMO) and Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities assess each MPA site and
develop appropriate management measures. 98 MPAs in inshore waters now have management
measures in place to protect sensitive features from bottom towed fishing gears. For
MPAs in our offshore waters, the MMO has embarked on an ambitious three-year programme
to fully manage any harmful fishing activity.</p><p> </p><p>On 8 June 2021, the Government
published its response to the Benyon Review into Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs).
The Government accepted the central recommendation that we should take forward some
pilot sites and we will designate these next year. HPMAs prohibit extractive, destructive,
and depositional uses, allowing only non-damaging levels of other activities to the
extent permitted by international law. As such, bottom trawlers and super trawlers
would not be permitted to fish in HPMAs.</p>
|
|