Executive Summary

This is the first of two reports looking at the concept of a marine protected area in the waters surrounding Fair Isle (Shetland) and the second report in the RSPB series Managing the sea for birds. It provides an illustrative management plan for a marine protected area in Fair Isle waters based on conservation objectives for seabirds. The aims of the report are to:

1. Present the case for a more integrated approach to managing Fair Isle's surrounding marine environment;
2. Provide illustrative recommendations that could form the basis for a marine management scheme in Fair Isle waters;
3. Contribute to the debate on managing marine areas for conservation purposes;
4. Promote the case for designation of marine Special Protection Areas to Government.

The report presents the case for a marine protected area in Fair Isle waters (Appendix 1 and 2). Fair Isle supports a high diversity of breeding seabird species, nine at nationally important levels and two at internationally important levels. In recognition of this, the island is designated a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the EC Wild Birds Directive (79/409). The current SPA boundary is restricted to the terrestrial area – the surrounding marine environment is therefore not afforded any specific management measures. Recent fluctuations in seabird breeding productivity and inshore fish stocks have caused serious concern amongst the Fair Isle community. Any degradation of Fair Isle's marine resource has the potential to inflict significant economic damage on an island that is heavily reliant on the marine environment for tourism and traditional fishing activities.

The concept of a marine protected area in Fair Isle waters has the enthusiastic backing of the Fair Isle community and the landowner (The National Trust for Scotland). It is viewed as critical to delivering more sustainable use of the Fair Isle marine resource. The recently launched Fair Isle Marine Environment and Tourism Initiative (FIMETI), comprising the Fair Isle Bird Observatory Trust, the Fair Isle Committee & Community Association and The National Trust for Scotland, aims to deliver a more integrated approach to managing Fair Isle waters through consultation with all user groups.

An illustrative management plan forms the basis of the main report. This follows a recently developed methodology for designing management measures for marine protected areas (RSPB, 1997). The plan addresses both the administrative framework of the proposed protected area, and the range of management measures that may be necessary. Four elements are considered essential for the administrative framework. These are the establishment of a committed management group, with local representation; close liaison between this and 'competent authorities'; promotion of the site to the public; and establishment of an environmental management system open to public scrutiny. Of these four, the commitment of 'relevant authorities' in the management group to use their powers to protect the site would be particularly important.

The conservation objectives and general principles are drawn from the requirements of the EC Wild Birds and Habitats & Species Directives, to maintain or restore 'at favourable conservation status' natural habitats and species of wild flora and fauna. Three site-specific objectives are identified:

1. Ensure the maintenance and protection of Fair Isle’s internationally and nationally important seabird populations;
2. Maintain and, where appropriate, restore a natural marine ecosystem on which the functions, distribution, abundance and long-term survival of these internationally and nationally important seabird populations depend;
3. Maintain and, where appropriate, restore the quality of the physical environment necessary to preserve the biodiversity and natural functioning of the marine ecosystem.

Matters which must be addressed to achieve these objectives (Chapter 3) and a range of management measures (Chapter 4) are identified to facilitate a clearer understanding of the legal and administrative implications. An analysis of the management measures (Table 2) reveals that there are few legal constraints on putting the illustrative recommendations into practice. The majority require minimal change or are extensions of existing programmes of work or existing measures. The report also shows that it is possible to manage the site without introducing a regime which severely limits existing activities. The main challenges for implementation are undoubtedly those which relate to the management of fisheries, particularly the already heavily-regulated Shetland sandeel fishery.

More sustainable use of Fair Isle waters has implications for all user groups. The recommended management measures would therefore have many wider benefits. These are an integral part of this illustrative plan. (A second report, by The National Trust for Scotland, is planned to fully address these wider issues of concern.) Implementation of the recommended management measures would require the full involvement of all user groups. The Fair Isle community and FIMETI partner-bodies should therefore inter alia have key roles in this process.

It is hoped that this report will encourage more detailed discussion, and, by providing greater clarity, will progress the general case for the designation of marine Special Protection Areas. On Fair Isle, the existing favourable consensus should enable the illustrative recommendations to form the basis for a marine management scheme. It is hoped that this will progress the aim of the Fair Isle community and others to deliver a more integrated approach to managing their marine environment.

Why Fair Isle waters require protection

1. Fair Isle supports breeding seabird populations of international importance.
2. Waters adjacent to Fair Isle rank as the second most important area for seabirds in the North Sea, based on the number of species occurring in the area at internationally important levels (Skov et al, 1995).
3. The existing SPA affords only terrestrial protection to these seabird populations.
4. Fair Isle’s breeding seabird populations have been studied by Fair Isle Bird Observatory since 1948, and monitored systematically as part of the JNCC UK Seabird Monitoring Scheme since 1986.
5. A number of seabird species breeding on Fair Isle have suffered low breeding productivity in some recent years, which has been linked to shortages of a major prey item (sandeels).
6. Fair Isle supports a community with a long history of culture and traditions linked to the marine resource.
7. Fair Isle's natural heritage (and especially its seabird populations) is a key factor in attracting visitors: tourism is central to the island's economic base.
8. The concept of a marine protected area has the enthusiastic backing of the entire Fair Isle community, the landowner and other user groups.
9. The Fair Isle community has already taken a lead in seeking action to replace over-exploitation of the marine resource with integrated management for sustainable use of the marine environment.
10. The Fair Isle Marine Environment and Tourism Initiative will provide an administrative framework for targeted action by the community and other partners.

    

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Last modified: February 05, 2002