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