14.4.11.4
VMS Data
147. Based on previous analysis of effort and landings data, a significant proportion of activity recorded in the vicinity of the proposed East Anglia THREE project is by vessels under-15m in length. This is particularly true of the inshore areas of the cable corridor. As VMS satellite data are only representative of the activity of vessels over-15 metres in length a significant proportion of activity close to shore will not be represented by either MMO or Marine Scotland datasets.
14.4.11.4.1 MMO Data 148. Figure 14.47 and Figure 14.48 show the distribution of fishing activity by the over- 15m fleet as represented by VMS value and effort, respectively.
149. The proposed East Anglia THREE project is located in an area of relatively low fishing activity. Higher value areas are located to the west in the Wash and to the north around the Silver Pit. VMS densities within the East Anglia THREE site are low and fall within the lowest value category (less than £6,000). Higher values are recorded immediately south-west of the East Anglia THREE site, within the offshore cable corridor, as well as immediately east of the East Anglia THREE site, on the edge of the East Anglia Zone. Although UK VMS data is not categorised by gear type, based on previous analyses of MMO statistics a considerable proportion of this offshore activity is by beam trawlers, significant numbers of which will be from the Anglo- Dutch fleet. Further areas of relatively high VMS densities are located closer to shore over the inshore cable corridor.
150. In general, areas of highest VMS effort densities mirror those observed for value: areas of high effort within the proposed East Anglia THREE project are located south- west of the East Anglia THREE site and in the vicinity of the inshore area of the cable corridor. Effort is generally low in other areas.
14.4.11.4.2 Marine Scotland Data 151. Figure 14.49 to Figure 14.51 show the distribution VMS integrated with relative landings values from the over-15m demersal otter trawl, demersal static gear and pelagic fleets, respectively.
152. In all cases, relative value is generally low in areas occupied by the proposed East Anglia THREE project. Areas of slightly higher value are recorded directly over the offshore cable corridor in the inshore cable analysis area by vessels deploying demersal mobile gears. Demersal static nets (most likely wreck netters targeting cod) record higher value landings to the east of the East Anglia Zone. Pelagic vessels record slightly increased values in a discrete area to the south of the East Anglia East Anglia THREE site and a small north-eastern section of the offshore cable corridor.
Preliminary Environmental Information May 2014
East Anglia THREE Offshore Windfarm
Chapter 14 Commercial Fisheries Page 58
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