An exploration of potential effects on fisheries and exploited stocks of a network of marine protected areas in the North Sea

WWF Netherlands has developed a proposal for a network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the North Sea. Most of the MPAs in this network are already protected under the Natura 2000 framework and/or the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. WWF Netherlands aims to engage with stakeholders and build support for this proposed MPA network. One of the most prominent of these stakeholders is the fishing industry. To provide input for the discussion with stakeholders, the current study investigates potential fishery effects of a total fishery ban in each of the marine protected areas. This represents a hypothetical choice to facilitate comparison with existing scientific literature and calculations of quantity and value of catches and does not reflect a proposal for a total fishery closure of the entire network by either IMARES or WWF Netherlands.