Special Areas of Conservation cSACs Rathlin Annex 1 features - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
The Case of Strangford Lough Biogenic Reef Restoration Joe Breen Marine Division Department of the Environment (NI ) Capacity building workshop for Europe on ecosystem conservation and restoration to support achievement of Aichi Biodiversity
Capacity building workshop for Europe on ecosystem conservation and restoration to support achievement of Aichi Biodiversity Targets Isle of Vilm International Academy for Nature Conservation
Rathlin
Strangford Lough
uncovered mudflats & sandflats, reefs
Murlough Bay
covered, Atlantic salt meadow
Special Areas of Conservation cSAC’s
A Jewel in the Crown of Nature Conservation
S.P.A. and S.A.C. Marine Nature Reserve
Also RAMSAR, ASSI, NNR etc...
Conservation Zone
Communities and substrates – Erwin 1977
Natural undamaged biogenic reef
Damaged biogenic reef
Prawn/queen scallop trawling permitted ‘93 King scallop dredging permitted ‘93 Section 14 Oyster Dredging application 2002
Sites with Modiolus ‘dominant’ (Erwin et al) 1987
Monitoring conducted by DARD Scientists often joint funded by DOE. Mainly Broadscale acoustic methods using RoxAnn and Side scan sonar ground-truthed by video sledge.
1993 2000
Year Area Modiolus Area of scattered shell 1993 8.13 3.84 2000 2.1 8.93
Source DARD 2002
There was no significant change between 1993 and 2000 in the area of Modiolus habitat coverage;
Such areas may be the result of physical disturbance to Modiolus clumps, such as trawling activity
RoxAnn Surveys Single beam acoustic discrimination mapping system
WP1 Nature and Extent of community change within Strangford Lough WP2 The current biological and ecological status of Strangford Modiolus
WP11 National Workshop and bringing together of findings WP12 Recommendations to Government
Mahee Island IslandMore Reagh Island Island Taggart Conly Island Pawle Island Roe Is Rainey Island Sketrick Island Dunsy Island Chapel Island South Island Salt Island Trasnagh Island Darragh Island Green Island Chapel Island Inishanier Long Island Green Island Drummond Island Inisharoan Great Minnis Jackdaw Island Parton Is Little Minnis Shark Island Calf Island Ballyhenry Island Bird Island Round Island Hen Is Veagh Bird Island Gull Rock Dunsy Rock Black Rock DunnyNeil West DunnyNeil East
Legend
Other communities Modiolus beds Modiolus beds - damaged Mud with dead shell Nephrops bed Coastline 10mContour Islands
SLECI divesite positions 2003
Commissioned our own independent survey of the current status of all
feature interests within Strangford, SLECI
Advised DARD that there is and has been credible scientific evidence
that bottom fishing reduces complexity and diversity of Modiolus biogenic reefs and hence they are consenting an action which is in breech of the Habitats Regulations
The dive survey reveals that there are perhaps only three remaining
reefs in the Lough(this includes the areas were boats are excluded)
We advisedDARD that in light of this recent evidence they as
Competent Authority should invoke the ‘Precautionary Principal’ by banning trawling/dredging until such time as we fully understand exactly what is happening in Strangford Lough. Failure to do so could result in Infraction Proceedings against the UK for permitting damage to a Natura 2000 site.
DARD Minister Pearson invoked temporary ban on all mobile fishing activity within Strangford Lough 1st December 2003, immediate effect midnight on day of announcement. Cited precautionary principal.
ELEMENTS OF THE RESTORATION PLAN
(1) Strict protection of the remaining extant Modiolus biogenic reefs and areas where they were previously reported within Strangford Lough through: Maintaining the temporary ban
including disturbance by anchoring, potting and diving (2) Reviewing possible impacts from extant consented activities, e.g. sewage discharges, commercial fishing and aquaculture These measures may require amended and/or new legislation where it is found that existing measures (including voluntary codes of conduct) are found not to be sufficient to control an actual or potential threat to the interest feature.
(2) Monitoring of the effectiveness of protection measures including: Compliance monitoring (policing of banned activities and activities within zoned areas) Detailed reef mapping Monitoring natural recovery
(3) Intervention action. There is a need to identify methodologies aimed at artificially restoring the reef feature in the event of natural recovery failing to achieve a trend towards Favourable Conservation Status (FCS). These will include: Pilot-scale studies to assess whether conditions in areas based
restoration. Translocation of natural Modiolus reefs. Experimental re-seeding of historical Modiolus reef sites.. This element will require the following lines of research: Production of young mussels for re-seeding. Establishing the most suitable sites for re-seeding and mussel recruitment . Creating favourable sites, through provision of artificial substrate for both wild and laboratory-reared seed.
As part of the delivery of the Restoration Plan
OBJECTIVES: Modiolus Restoration Plan 2005 DARD DOENI Identify, map and protect Modiolus reef within 1 year To assess if conditions are favourable for restoration using pilot translocation trials To show evidence of recovery of Modiolus reefs towards ‘Unfavourable Condition, Recovering’ within 5 years OBJECTIVES: Modiolus Restoration Research Project 2007 DARD DOENI QUB To restore Modiolus reefs to ‘Favourable Conservation Status’ ‘My authorities wish to reassure the Commission that they are committed to ensuring no further deterioration to the biogenic reefs.’ Second secretary Environment COMMITMENT 2004 Reef Mapping Monitoring Restoration & Intervention trials Scientific advice & Recommendations
Objective 1 Reef mapping Undertaking 1: Identify good condition Modiolus Undertaking 2: Identify poor condition Modiolus Undertaking 7: Determine distributional range of Modiolus
Method Description Advantage Disadvantage
Boundary Mapping Using diver mounted sonar beacon and DPVs to map the edge
Could produce accurate boundary maps of habitat Beds too fragmented to find edge No quantitative data collected Transect mapping 100 m leaded line 20-25 Photo quadrats taken Quantitative and Qualitative data of Modiolus community Historical comparison Does not deliver clear boundary to a reef habitat ROV Video Ray- deployed Ruled out obviously unsuitable area without wasting diver time Small area covered Technical difficulties
Mapping data collection
1973-2005 2008-2010
North: Dunsey Island to Gransha Point South: Southern tip of Island Taggart to Kate’s
Pladdy
Modiolus condition definitions
Modiolus Condition
Grade
Continuous clumps (> 5 Ind. clump -1) or > 1 clump m -2
1
Discrete clumps (> 3 Ind. clump -1) < 1 clump m -2
2
Modiolus present ( 0 – 3 Ind. clump -1) < 1 clump m -2
3
Modiolus absent
4
North: Dunsey Island to Gransha Point South: Southern tip of Island Taggart to Kate’s
Pladdy
Conclusions
established
Hadd Rock has disappeared (Green Island Passage, Slave Rock).
area revealed (central channel up to Craigyourran)
There has been an overall decline of Modiolus densities within the current
range since 2003
The greatest decline has occurred in the area north of Long Sheelah
(condition indices, presence/absence transects and density calculations)where recruitment is also low.
Modiolus at Round Island Pinnacle and Brown/Black rock decreased only
slightly recruitment is higher within these areas.
Potential cause is continued disturbance due to increase in static gear
fishing which is a non selective extractive fishery, not managed by quota and may cause physical disturbance to recovering reefs.
The Departments did not introduce total protection
Conclusions of MRRG
Objective:
create conditions favourable for their recovery Critical Actions:
protection zone
the Lough.
assist transition to the fishing permit scheme.
Objective: To investigate options to restore Modiolus reefs and
implement agreed approaches.
Critical Actions: Appoint a post-doctorate researcher to take forward the
intervention action.
Set up a Restoration Working Group with stakeholders. Evaluate translocation/intervention methodology and
secure the necessary approvals and resources.
Implement intervention methodology.
b b b
Objective: To record temporal and spatial changes in the extent and
condition of biogenic reefs, including Modiolus populations and associated communities.
Critical Actions Develop long-term monitoring protocol. Review rate and extent of recovery. Compare with Modiolus reef outside Strangford Lough.
GENETIC CONNECTIVITY AND DIVERSITY OF
Complete mitochondrial and microsatellite analyses of M. modiolus populations and link with previously completed analyses; Determine levels of connectivity and diversity.
Isle of Man Wales Scotland N.Irelan d Norway Isle of Man Scotland Wales
Southern Limit
SLECI
MRRG
MRRG II 2013-2016
Total
In fact there is no computer now, or likely to be in the future, which can integrate and correlate with the speed of the human brain the hundreds of variables noted with a single human glance If it looks alright, then it probably is? R H Parker 1974, Science
‘If you are going to achieve anything you MUST take the management of Strangford Lough away from Portaferry, Belfast and maybe even London. You MUST get as far away as possible from people who have a direct interest in the discussions. The principal justification for any marine protected area MUST be the conservation of the resource and NOT the maintenance of privilege which, with time, has become a right.’