Prince Edward Island Marine Protected Area - Africana II Rise Restricted Zone

To contribute to a national and global representative system of marine protected areas, by providing protection for unique species, habitats and ecosystem processes including foraging grounds and shelf areas with increased nutrients; to provide scientific reference points that can Inform the management of the area and to be able to understand better the impacts of Climate Change on the whole Southern Ocean; to facilitate integrated and ecologically sustainable management of marine resources of the area; and to reduce the ecological impacts of fisheries and other extractive industries including effects on by-catch species such as albatrosses and petrels.

Species of Concern: penguins, albatrosses, petrels, seals, orca, Patagonian toothfish

Restrictions

1. No person may fish or attempt to fish, except for toothfish and only if authorised in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act by the Minister responsible for Fisheries. Fishing for toothfish is capped at levels of legal fishing effort in terms of annual numbers of hooks for each zone as detailed in Annexure 4 to the regulations and this effort level may be reviewed jointly by the Minister and the Minister responsible for Fisheries after 10 years.
2. A permit may be issued by the Minister in terms of section 83 of the Marine Living Resources Act if additional fishing effort is necessary for scientific purposes.
3. Fishing methods, including but not limited to bottom trawling; and gillnetting, which may cause damage to benthic habitats, benthic species or seabirds are prohibited.
4. A fishing vessel authorised in terms of the Marine Living Resources Act to fish must carry a scientific observer on board.
5. A vessel, which is not in possession of a permit in terms of section 13 of the Act to fish for toothfish and which vessel traverses the restricted zones:
a) must stow all fishing gear, and
b) may not carry fish on board.