|
Summary of environmental impacts
Shoreline fishing activities can cause compaction
and erosion impacts where participants seek to access the water
in sensitive areas.
Bait digging for recreational fishing can have
significant impacts on the communities and ecological balance
of mud and sand flats and rocky shores (see related species
collection study, Fowler 1999).
Irresponsibly discarded fishing tackle can
have an impact on wildlife both on shore and in the water.
Shoreline angling and sea fishing can take
place in the vicinity of seal and dolphin habitats and may lead
to disturbance.
Disturbance to other wildlife caused by shoreline
fishing will vary depending upon its proximity to wildlife habitats,
the time it takes place and the vulnerability of the wildlife.
Although shoreline fishing is a quiet activity
associated with limited movement of participants, the activity
takes place throughout the year and participants often seek
out locations which are inaccessible for other activities. Where
these locations coincide with wildlife habitats, disturbance
to wildlife may be observable, particularly at feeding, breeding
and roosting times.
For sea fishing, disturbance to wildlife caused
by the motorboats required to access fishing sites will vary
depending upon its proximity to wildlife and the vulnerability
of the wildlife to disturbance. Where the activity is undertaken
on a large scale, impacts on fish stocks may be discernible.
Except in erodible shoreline fishing areas,
the activity’s contribution to erosion is minimal.
|
Issue
|
mSAC Feature
|
|
|
Low flushing estuaries
|
Fast flushing estuaries
|
Mud and sand flats not covered by sea water at low tide
|
Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water at
all times
|
Low flushing large shallow inlets and bays
|
Fast flushing large shallow inlets and bays
|
Reefs
|
Lagoons
|
Submerged or partly submerged sea caves
|
Grey seal
|
Common seal
|
Bottlenose dolphin
|
|
Recreational bait collecting1
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
m
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
|
Launching2
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
|
m
|
m
|
|
m
|
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
|
Anchoring2
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
|
Swing moorings2
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
|
Marina berthing2
|
see marina fact file
|
|
Engine emissions2
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
|
m
|
m
|
m
|
|
Noise disturbance2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
|
Discarded fishing tackle
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
w
|
w
|
w
|
|
Disturbance to wildlife
|
w *
|
w *
|
w *
|
w *
|
w *
|
w *
|
w
|
w
|
|
w *
|
w *
|
m
|
Key to impacts
Blank Square - not applicable
m - minimal
w - observable,
likely to be location specific
w * - observable
at certain times, minimal at other times
l - appreciable
Notes
- disturbance to benthic communities
- sea angling
Next Section
|
