A 'No-Take Zone' (NTZ) is an area of sea that has been
temporarily or permanently closed to fishing and other extractive
activities to protect fish stocks and natural habitats. NTZs can
enable the ecosystem within the area to recover (at least
partially) from the effects of fishing or other activities such as
dredging. Many NTZs have been established around the world ranging
in size from a fraction of 1km2 to 10km2 or more.
Experience from active NTZs around the world indicates
fishermen can expect larger catches of fish close to the zone
boundaries. As no fishing is allowed within the NTZ, the survival
rates of young fish should improve. The subsequent increase in
larger fish may then spill over into neighbouring areas. However,
their value depends on the life history and dynamics of the target
stock. For example, plaice in the North Sea spend the first few
years of life in relatively restricted habitats. Consequently,
large reductions in juvenile mortality could be achieved with an
appropriately situated NTZ. As they mature, the plaice migrate out
of the zone, boosting yields to the fishery. As part of the
management strategy for North Sea plaice, a protected area of
38000km2 has been designated – the 'plaice box'. This
has been shown to be relatively successful despite derogations for
small beam trawlers to enter the box to fish for shrimp. Yields to
the plaice fishery may, however, be greater if this area were to
become a NTZ. In contrast, for a highly migratory species, NTZ may
be of limited use where the species would be subject to displaced
fishing effort outside the NTZ.
NTZs must be coupled with a reduction in overall
fishing
effort if they are to realise their full potential. Experience
in the North Sea has shown that fishing effort from within an area
that was closed moved to other nearby waters. This increase in
nearby effort more or less cancelled out any beneficial effects of
the closed area. NTZs offer benefits for both commercial fisheries
and nature conservation. NTZs of the right size and location
(particularly as part of an appropriately designed network) could
help in the restoration of fish numbers in the waters around the UK
and enhance the marine environment.
In April 2004, the 'Invest in Fish South West' initiative was
launched. This three year project focuses on the Celtic Sea and
English Channel and aims to provide a long term strategy for
managing fishing on a regional basis, taking locally important
characteristics into account. The project will investigate a
variety of scenarios for fisheries management, which includes
establishing no take zones, as well as the use of different gear
types. Each scenario will be tested for their economic, social and
environmental implications. The end result of this 'bottom-up'
approach will be a series of recommendations from stakeholders to
the UK government for fisheries management in the region.