Marine Protected Areas and Sandeels (Ammodytes marinus & A. tobianus)
Position paper
Summary
1.
Due to their limited movements and dependence on areas of well flushed sands,
sandeels are vulnerable to localised depletion. MPAs may be necessary to promote
resilience within this important prey resource.
2.
Sandeels are a priority for the North and West MPA regions (within OSPAR Regions II
and III respectively) and, because of their regional ecological significance, have also
been considered in the east MPA region (within OSPAR Region II).
3.
On the basis of information on contribution and connectivity among sandeel
aggregations, five important sandeel areas have been identified. It is recommended
that these be included within new single or multi feature MPA search locations (see
Figure 1 overleaf). One of the sandeel areas already has protective measures in place.
4.
In the west, an area north of Lewis is proposed because it is associated with:
5.
a.
locally high density of larvae
b.
presence of suitable sediment
c.
fished area
d.
export of larvae to other north west sandeel grounds
In the north, an area west of Orkney is proposed because it is associated with:
a.
very high larval densities
b.
presence of suitable sediment
c.
extensive export of larvae affecting recruitment from Shetland to the Moray
Firth
6.
Areas off the Shetland coast in the vicinity of Mousa and south to Boddam Voe are
proposed since these are the preferred areas for young of the year in the Shetland
region and protecting this region would therefore minimise mortality on the recruiting
fish when year class strength is low.
7.
In the east, part of Turbot bank is proposed since this area has been subject to
occasional intensive sandeel fisheries and there is little potential for re-colonisation
from the Firth of Forth banks that are currently protected by a temporary closure and it
can supply recruits to other east MPA grounds.
8.
Given the protection provided by the current temporary closed area covering most Firth
of Forth grounds, consideration should be given to making this closure a permanent
measure.
1
Figure 1
MPA search locations that could make a contribution to the protection of the
sandeel MPA search feature
NB this map does not show the full suite of MPA search locations in Scottish waters
2
Purpose of document
9.
This interim position paper has been produced to support identification of MPA search
locations suitable for conserving sandeels.
10.
Sandeels are search feature priorities throughout the North and West MPA regions
(OSPAR Region III) but none of the search locations discussed at workshop 3 include
significant sandeel aggregations. Aggregations off Lewis and the north-west mainland
coincide with areas used by priority cetaceans and breeding seabirds. Whilst sandeels
were not included as a search feature priority in the East MPA region, some sandeel
aggregations outside the current fishery closure may be important to protect due to
their size and isolation from protected grounds as well as the role they play in
supplying recruits to other sandeel grounds.
Distribution in Scottish waters
11.
Following settlement, sandeels spend much of their life buried in coarse sands 1 and so
their settled distribution reflects the distribution of such habitat2,3. Marine Scotland
Science has information on the distribution of early hatched larvae in the plankton, presettled pelagic 0-group and settled A. marinus. This data was collected over a range of
geographical scales from ICES rectangle level (0.5° latitude x 1.0° longitude) down to
< 1 km for particular banks. Detailed maps of fished areas are also available through
collaborative work with Scottish and Danish fishers. Data on seabed sediments and
bathymetry have been used to model the extent of potential habitat in Scottish waters.
In the west region, data on areas previously fished, trawl records and suitable sediment
indicate aggregations are typically < 25 km2 (Figure 2).
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Distribution of sandeels and predicted habitat in the West MPA region
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100017908. © Crown copyright and database right [2012]. All rights reserved. Bathymetry © GEBCO. NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION. Map copyright SNH 2012.
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In the north, the only previously fished grounds are similarly small patches of suitable
habitat around the Shetland Isles, although there is a large spawning area to the west
and north of Orkney. The maximum annual landings by ICES rectangle for this region
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are shown in Figure 3. The east region has larger aggregations and fishing was
previously concentrated around Turbot and Firth of Forth banks, although the later are
mostly now protected by the north east UK precautionary fishery closure that extends
out to 1°W (Figure 4). There are records from plankton and trawl surveys on the
distribution of A. tobianus, although far less is known than for A. marinus as this
species mostly occurs in bays from the mid-tide level over sandy shores to shallow
sub-littoral depths of 30 metres.
Figure 3
Distribution of sandeels in the North MPA region. Numbers refer to maximum
landing per ICES rectangle by Scottish vessels
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Role of MPAs for sandeels
13.
Marine Scotland’s Marine Nature Conservation Strategy advocates a three pillar
approach to conservation in the marine environment; with the three pillars representing
species-specific measures, site protection and a wider seas policy approach. ICES
provide management advice for North Sea sandeels at a population scale, one of
which (SA4, north-west North Sea) corresponds to the East MPA region4. The
precautionary north east UK sandeel fishery closure (Article 29a from Council
Regulation No 850/98) within this region, limits fishing on most of the Firth of Forth
sandeel grounds. Turbot bank is the other major fished bank in the east region.
Scottish coastal fisheries were regulated under national legislation and local plans but
no landings have been made in recent years.
14.
Due to their importance in North Sea food webs, it is important to maintain sandeel
abundance at a level high enough to provide food for a variety of predator species. A
number of marine predators are reliant on sandeels at particular locations and times of
year and so past concerns over this species have tended to be locally focussed. The
most abundant sandeel species in Scottish waters, A. marinus, is characterised by
bank affiliated resident juvenile and adult life stages2,5 coupled to specific areas of
sediment1 with dispersal to other areas confined to a drifting larval stage6-10 and a short
pelagic juvenile phase10. This life strategy renders sandeel aggregations potentially
vulnerable to localised depletion by fishing or other pressures. In addition, sandeel
growth rate in Scottish waters is low relative to that of most North Sea grounds12 and
areas of habitat are small relative those in the central and eastern North Sea3.
Together, these factors appear to make Scottish sandeel aggregations more
vulnerable to collapse than those further south and east. For these reasons temporary
or permanent closures may be necessary to promote sustainable populations of this
important prey resource.
15.
To evaluate the impact of an MPA it is important to have an understanding of
connectivity and the spatial scale of population processes affecting productivity. This
information is available for A. marinus from a number of EU and nationally funded
programmes. Tagging studies5,13 have found that recapture rate declines sharply with
distance from release with very few recaptures beyond 10 km. Further evidence for
limited movements of settled sandeels comes from an analysis of length composition
variation across habitat patches that found aggregations > 28 km apart, even on the
same bank, could have different rates of growth and mortality following settlement14.
Simulations of larval duration and observations of larval and pelagic juvenile
distribution indicate that young produced on Firth of Forth banks and close to the north
west coast tend to be retained and that for other grounds there is generally little
exchange beyond 100 kms8,9. Hence, it is possible to define the spatial scale of
protection needed to reduce local mortality on settled sandeels and consider the
potential export of recruits from a protected area to other aggregations.
16.
Christensen and colleagues (2009)15 simulated the effect of an ICES rectangle scale
MPA for A. marinus in the central North Sea. Their simulation indicated a net benefit to
regional abundance and fishery yield by around 6 to 10 years after protection. This
benefit arose from the increase in mature fish abundance in the protected area and
spill over and export to adjacent banks. The implementation of the Scottish east coast
closure in 2000 was associated with a reduction in sandeel mortality and an increase in
availability to seabirds16,17. However, it is also important to recognise that protecting
areas can only help to mitigate the natural variability in population dynamics, as
fluctuations in abundance around Shetland and off the east coast have continued
following fishery closures. Indeed, these natural fluctuations have led to the
maintenance of the precautionary north east closure.
5
Evidence base
17.
For areas that are currently or were historically important to sandeel fisheries, there is
information on density distribution and trends in abundance. This includes an annual
MSS trawl recruit survey of the 19 Shetland grounds conducted between 1985 and
2007 and an annual dredge survey of the east region since 2008. There are also
various data sources for the Firth of Forth grounds going back to 1997. Annual fishery
landings data are available at the ICES rectangle level. Outside these fished areas,
there are records of sandeel occurrence, data on potential habitat and some records of
larval distribution. Records of A. tobianus in Scottish waters largely support the view
that this is a coastal species. Several process based studies since 1990 have provided
a detailed understanding of population dynamics.
MPA search locations
OSPAR Region III Celtic Seas (West MPA region)
18.
None of the existing search locations coincide with previously fished areas which are
all found north of 57°N. The main areas targeted by the sandeel fishery when in
operation were mostly off Lewis, north Minch and off North Rona. These areas also
correspond to concentrations of newly hatched larvae in icthyoplankton surveys
conducted north of 57°N. Larval transport modelling8 suggests there is no significant
exchange between aggregations around Lewis and the north-west mainland with
aggregations south of the Minch or east of 4°W (Figure 5). Larvae produced around
North Rona tend to be advected more than 100 kms and generally to the east.
Figure 5
Density distribution of newly emerged A. marinus larvae (n.m-2 water column)
corrected for cumulative mortality. Polygons give indication of extent of larval
transport based on duration of 70 days. See Proctor, Wright and Everitt (1998)
for further details
8°0'0"W
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Scottish coastal sandeel grounds
Fishing Grounds Jensen et al. 2011
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DD Parallel 2 = 58.5).DThe exact limits of the UK
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Coastline - Ordnance Survey Licence number
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5 All rights reserved. Bathymetry © GEBCO. NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION.
100017908. © Crown copyright and database right [2012].
Map copyright SNH 2012.
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19.
Sandeels are a prey to some priority species and seabirds. Former fished areas off
Lewis and the north-west mainland coincide with high densities of guillemots and
kittiwakes at sea during the breeding season18 and concentrations of minke whales in
June, when sandeel are active19 as well as Risso and white beaked dolphins
!( (
(Figure 6). Very little is known about sandeels south of the Minch, although the seabed
(
sediments are largely unsuitable (Figure 2). Records of sandeel presence and suitable
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habitat within the Skye to Mull search location has(( (been
linked to Minke whale foraging
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aggregations near Eigg19 and Coll and Tiree20 but only in the spring when sandeels!( ( are
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Figure 6
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(
!
(
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Area of overlap between sandeels,
priority cetaceans and breeding seabird
!
concentrations in the West MPA region
( !( (
6°0'0"W
( ( (
(
( 0( 2.5
Scottish fishing grounds
Rissos_Broad_Search_Area
White_beaked_dolphin
5
Nautical Miles( (
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Kittiwake_breeding
Density ind/km2
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0-1
2 - 10
11 - 50
51 - 100
!
101 - 200
(
Guillemot
(
0-1
2 - 10
11 - 100
Lewis
(
101 - 1000
Sandeel presence in demersal gears 1922 - 0nwards
PRESABS
0
1
A.tobianus_records
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DENSITY_IN
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Kinlochbervie
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Log10 Numbers.h-1
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2-3
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58°0'0"N
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Map projected in(Europe Albers Equal Area Conic (Modified Standard Parallels - Standard Parallel 1 = 50.2; Standard Parallel 2 = 58.5). The exact limits of the UK
( Shelf( are set out in orders made under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964 (© Crown Copyright). Coastline - Ordnance Survey Licence number
Continental (
100017908.( © Crown copyright and database right [2012]. All rights reserved. Bathymetry © GEBCO. NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION. Map copyright SNH 2012.
(
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(
6°0'0"W
OSPAR Region II Greater North Sea - (North and East MPA regions)
!
20.
During the 1980s the sandeel fishery in this region operated on 19 grounds around the
Shetland Isles11. Extensive investigations of this area indicated that the habitat extent
was comparatively small compared to North Sea regions and both empirical and
(
(((
modelling studies
indicate this area is likely to be a net sink for recruiting sandeels,
dependent on occasional influx of young of the year from the large spawning area to
the west and north of Orkney7,11,21.
21.
The Fetlar to Haroldswick MPA search location (formerly Bluemull Triangle to Holm of
Skaw), partly contains the Balta fishing grounds (Figure 7). This ground was never
particularly productive when the fishery was in operation. However, due to the isolation
from grounds to the south these grounds were important to sandeel reliant seabirds
breeding nearby. The waters around Mousa were an important fishing ground and the
area of most persistent sandeel recruitment in Shetland10.
7
(
(
Figure 7
Location of sandeel grounds (orange shaded polygons) in relation to the Fetlar to
Haroldswick MPA search location (green polygon) and the Mousa Special Area
of Conservation (blue shaded area)
2°0'0"W
Scottish MPA Project Area
Initial MPA search locations (Feb.2012-rev_10)
Third_Party_Proposals_V1
MousaSAC
0 2 4
Nautical Miles
!
(
Sandeel presence in demersal gears 1922 - 0nwards
( ( (
!
(!
(!
!
(
(
(
0
1
Scottish fishing grounds
(
!
(
PRESABS
(
¯
!(
!
(!
(!
!
!!!
!
OSPAR Region II
Greater North Sea
!(
!
(
60°0'0"N
(
!
( !
!
!
!
(
!!!
!
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(
!
!
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60°0'0"N
!
!
Map projected in Europe Albers Equal Area Conic (Modified Standard Parallels - Standard Parallel 1 = 50.2; Standard Parallel 2 = 58.5). The exact limits of the UK
Continental Shelf are set out in orders made under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964 (© Crown Copyright). Coastline - Ordnance Survey Licence number
100017908. © Crown copyright and database right [2012]. All rights reserved. Bathymetry © GEBCO. NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATION. Map copyright SNH 2012.
(
22.
(! (
None of the previously proposed MPA search locations are likely to offer significant
protection to sandeels and so new locations should be considered for long-term
protection of this important forage species. These new locations need to be based on
local productivity and connectivity. Local abundance, estimated from larval production,
adult density or fishery landings provide an indication of local productivity. Connectivity
and replication can be assessed from the magnitude and spatial extent of larval
transport from sandeel grounds. Given the evidence base described above, a number
of new areas of importance to sandeels can be defined as presented in Table 1.
(
(
!
!(
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! !!
!!!!!!
!!
(
(
( (
!
(
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(
23.
Given that sandeels are only vulnerable to specialised fine meshed trawls and
potentially scallop dredges, it is unlikely that area protection would have much impact
on other fisheries. Other pressures that might alter their habitat would have to be
considered.
Table 1
(
( (
Summary of areas where sandeels were assessed as a potential driver in the
identification of new MPA search locations
Area
OSPAR
Region
Other
mobile
species
Comments / Evidence
Cellar
Head
off
Lewis
Celtic
Sea
[III]
White
beaked
and
Risso’s
dolphin
Locally high density of larvae near to the presence of
suitable sediment and the highest maximum annual
landings of any west coast sandeel ground (11 k
tonnes). Significant potential for larval export to other
north west grounds8.
8
Area
OSPAR
Region
Other
mobile
species
Comments / Evidence
West of
Orkney
Greater
North
Sea
[II]
n/a
Very important area of larval production6. Extensive
presence of suitable sediment. Importance to larval
export to grounds from Shetland and south to the
Moray Firth8.
Mousa
and
Boddam
Voe
Greater
North
Sea
[II]
n/a
Preferred areas for young of the year in the Shetland
region as indicated by persistent 0-group settlement
regardless of year-class strength11. Accounted for
highest fishery landings.
Turbot
bank
Greater
North
Sea
[II]
n/a
Part of north west North sub-population (ICES SA4).
Subject to occasional intensive sandeel fisheries with
summed landings from 1984-1997 of 49204 and
94319 tonnes in ICES rectangles, respectively. Larval
export south and east but potential for exchange from
Firth of Forth banks is sporadic and low that are
currently protected by a temporary closure.
Eastern extent of sandeel fished ground (east of 00°
10’ E) corresponds to the edge of the bank, with a
predominantly mud sediment (Scotia 2000 survey).
Firth of
Forth
banks
Greater
North
Sea
[II]
n/a
Part of north west North sub-population (ICES SA4).
Much of this area is currently protected by the
precautionary north east UK sandeel fishery
closure (Article 29a from Council Regulation No
850/98) which requires re-opening criteria to be
agreed between the UK and Denmark.
Issues and opportunities
24.
Sandeels were not considered a search feature priority in the East MPA region largely
because of the precautionary closure presently in force. The most important area in
terms of historical landings and as a foraging area for marine predators is the Firth of
Forth banks. However, sandeels from the protected Firth of Forth banks are rarely
likely to provide a source of recruits for areas such as the Turbot bank 7 because the
local hydrographic conditions tend to retain larvae. Turbot and the associated banks
have been subject to occasional and intensive fishing pressure and little is known
about the local consequence of this17. Therefore, whilst the sub-stock approach to
management implemented by ICES17 since 2011 reduces that risk, it is worth
considering closing part of the fished grounds to minimise any risk of localised
depletion and promote re-colonisation from adjacent areas. However, Turbot and the
associated banks are not especially important to breeding seabirds or cetaceans.
25.
The new proposed locations would provide sufficient replication in the MPA network for
sandeel based on model estimates of larval transport. Further research by MSS is
ongoing to test past model estimates of connectivity, using otolith microchemistry.
26.
The north east UK sandeel fishery closure closed area has had a positive benefit to
sandeel abundance16 and reliant predators17. However, as this is a temporary measure
it is worth considering whether more permanent protection is warranted.
9
Next steps
27.
Where possible, locations important for sandeels will be integrated with other search
feature priorities to develop new MPA search locations for presentation to workshop 4.
Other important areas form new MPA search locations that are specific to this species.
28.
Following discussion at the MPA workshop 4, there may be revisions to the search
locations to take account of any new information on this species or related search
feature priorities.
References
1. Wright, P.J., Jensen, H. and Tuck, I. (2000). The influence of sediment type on the
distribution of the lesser sandeel, Ammodytes marinus. Journal of Sea Research 44(34): 243-256.
2. Wright, P.J., Pedersen, S.A., Donald, L., Anderson, C., Lewy, P. and Proctor, R. (1998).
The influence of physical factors on the distribution of lesser sandeel, Ammodytes
marinus and its relevance to fishing pressure in the North Sea. ICES, Copenhagen
(Denmark).
3. Freeman, S., Mackinson, S. and Flatt, R. (2004). Diel patterns in the habitat utilisation of
sandeels revealed using integrated acoustic surveys. J. Exp. Mar. Biol. Ecol. 305(2):
141-154.
4. ICES. (2010). Report of the Benchmark Workshop on Sandeel (WKSAN), 6-10
September 2010, Copenhagen, Denmark. ICES CM 2010/ACOM:57.
5. Kunzlik, P.A., Gauld, J.A. and Hutcheon, J.R. (1986). Preliminary results of the Scottish
sandeel tagging project. ICES, COPENHAGEN (DENMARK).
6. Munk, P., Wright, P.J. and Pihl, N.J. (2002). Distribution of the early larval stages of cod,
plaice and lesser sandeel across haline fronts in the North Sea. Estuarine Coastal and
Shelf Science 55(1): 139-149.
7. Wright, P.J. and Bailey, M.C. (1996). Timing of hatching in Ammodytes marinus from
Shetland waters and its significance to early growth and survivorship. Marine Biology
126(1): 143-152.
8. Proctor, R., Wright, P.J. and Everitt, A. (1998). Modelling the transport of larval sandeels
on the north-west European shelf. Fisheries Oceanography 7(3-4): 347-354.
9. Christensen, A., Jensen, H., Mosegaard, H., John, M.S. and Schrum, C. (2008).
Sandeel (Ammodytes marinus) larval transport patterns in the North Sea from an
individual-based hydrodynamic egg and larval model. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and
Aquatic Sciences 65(7): 1498-1511.
10. Jensen, H., Wright, P.J. and Munk, P. (2003). Vertical distribution of pre-settled sandeel
(Ammodytes marinus) in the North Sea in relation to size and environmental variables.
ICES Journal of Marine Science 60(6): 1342-1351.
11. Wright, P.J. (1996). Is there a conflict between sandeel fisheries and seabirds? A case
study at Shetland. In Aquatic predators and their prey. Edited by S.P.R. Greenstreet and
M.L. Tasker. Fishing News Books, Blackwell Science, Oxford. pp. 154-165.
12. Boulcott P., Wright P.J., Gibb F., Jensen H. and Gibb I. (2007). Regional variation in the
maturation of sandeels in the North Sea. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64: 369-376.
10
13. Gauld, J.A. (1990). Movements of lesser sandeels (Ammodytes marinus Raitt) tagged in
the northwestern North Sea. J. Cons. Ciem. 46(3): 229-231.
14. Jensen, H., Rindorf, A., Wright, P.J. and Mosegaard, H. (2011). Inferring the location
and scale of mixing between habitat areas of lesser sandeel through information from
the fishery. ICES Journal of Marine Science 68: 43-51.
15. Christensen A., Mosegaard H. and Jensen, H. (2009). Spatially resolved fish population
analysis for designing of MPAs: influence on inside and neighbouring habitats. ICES
Journal of Marine Science, 66: 56-63.
16. STECF/SGMOS 07/03 (2007). Working group report on evaluation of closed area
schemes.
17. Daunt, F., Wanless, S., Greenstreet, S.P.R., Jensen, H., Hamer, K.C. and Harris, M.P.
(2008). The impact of the sandeel fishery closure on seabird food consumption,
distribution, and productivity in the northwestern North Sea. Canadian Journal of
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 65: 362-381.
18. Wright, P.J. and Begg, G.S. (1997). A spatial comparison of common guillemots and
sandeels in Scottish waters. ICES Journal of Marine Science 54: 578-592.
19. Anderwald, P., Evans, P.G.H., Dyer, R., Dale, A, Wright, P.J. and Hoelzel, A.R. (in
press). Spatial Scale and Environmental Determinants in Minke Whale Habitat Use and
Foraging. Marine Ecology Progress Series.
20. Macleod, K., Fairbairns, R., Gill, A., Fairbairns, B., Gordon, J., Blair-Myers, C. and
Parsons, E.C.M. (2004). Seasonal distribution of minke whales Balaenoptera
acutorostrata in relation to physiography and prey off the Isle of Mull, Scotland. Marine
Ecology Progress Series 277:263-274.
21. Poloczanska, E.S., Cook, R.M., Ruxton, G.D. and Wright, P.J. (2004). Fishing vs.
natural recruitment variation in sandeels as a cause of seabird breeding failure at
Shetland: a modelling approach. ICES Journal of Marine Science 61(5): 788-797.
11