Call for evidence – MMO assessment of fishing activity impacts in marine protected areas – Stage 2

The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is seeking additional evidence and views on our draft MPA fisheries assessment of the impacts of fishing using bottom towed gear on certain designated features of 13 marine protected areas (MPAs). MMO manages activities in the 230,000 square kilometres of seas around England. We are responsible for assessing the impacts of fishing on designated features of MPAs and, if required, developing byelaws or other management measures to further MPA conservation objectives. Following EU Exit, the UK is now an independent coastal state. In January 2021, MMO received new byelaw-making powers through the Fisheries Act 2020 to manage fishing throughout English waters for the purpose of conserving marine flora, fauna and habitats. This means we can now manage fishing in English offshore MPAs. Four offshore MPAs have already been reviewed and byelaws introduced through Stage 1 of the MMO’s work to sup