Blue Marine Foundation Lyme Bay Potting Experiment

Prof Martin J AttrillDirector, Plymouth University Marine Institute

Lyme Bay Monitoring Programme

• PUMI been monitoring recovery of reefs for last 5 years

Change in fishing activity recorded

• Socio-economic analysis led by PML

Towed GearStatic Gear

• What is the impact of increased static gear fishing effort?

• Set maximum levels to allow survival of local small boat fishermen?

The Lyme Bay experimental potting study

• Marine Institute partnering BMF to deliver research component of project– 3.5 year programme to investigate impact of

potting density on seabed biodiversity and target species

– Investigated by setting up sixteen 500x500m experimental areas across the MPA within which fishermen will maintain set levels of fishing activity

The Lyme Bay experimental potting study

• Four treatments (rocky reef, similar depth):

No potting 50 pots20 pots5-10 pots

“lobster refuge”

The Lyme Bay experimental potting study

• Fishermen in each of the 4 ports within the MPA will be responsible for 1 set of replicates

Lead researcher – Adam Rees

Data collection

• Towed HD video surveys– For large seabed

organisms of conservation importance

• Baited remote underwater video surveys– Enumerate mobile fish and

invertebrates

Data collection

• Experimental quantitative potting– undertaken by

fishermen using standard pots and time

• Spillover analysis (later in study)– Assess whether any

evidence of spillover from control areas

Hypothetical results at survey end

Threshold

Thank you

mattrill@plymouth.ac.uk@mjattrill

www.plymouth.ac.uk/marine