Knowledge of fishing methods is crucial in the understanding of MCZs and fishing activity within them.

Always interesting to follow the progress of the freezer trawler, Dirk Dirk when brought to the attention of the public via social media as often happens with the big Dutch and similar pelagic boats. This AIS map tracks her passage from IJmuiden to her current position off North Cornwall. 

A quick look at her AIS track would show that she left Ijmuiden and then spent the voyage close to the 12 mile limit from off Devon and along the Cornish coast and around Lands End where she is currently fishing. 

The Voyage and Fishing Activity (September 27 - October 2, 2025) The voyage can be broken down into a rapid transit phase and a fishing phase:

Phase 1: Transit of the English Channel (September 27, 2025)

The trawler made quick progress through the English Channel, maintaining high transit speeds (up to 15.0 kn):

2025-09-27 05:00 UTC: The vessel was in the central-eastern English Channel at Lat: 50.5036, Lng: -0.5097, heading West-South-West at 263.6 ∘

(Speed: 15.0 kn). 2025-09-27 10:00 UTC: It was halfway across at Lat: 50.3689, Lng: -2.1794, continuing its course at 244.7 ∘

(Speed: 10.7 kn).

2025-09-27 20:00 UTC: By evening, the Dirk Dirk had rounded the corner of South-West England and was at Lat: 50.0158, Lng: -4.6678, heading South-West at 217.2 ∘

(Speed: 10.6 kn).

Phase 2: Entering Western Approaches and Initial Activity (September 28-29, 2025)

The vessel's track became less linear as it entered the fishing grounds:

2025-09-28 06:45 UTC: The vessel moved into the Western Approaches at Lat: 49.5707, Lng: -6.5331, turning North-West at 311.5 ∘

(Speed: 12.2 kn). 2025-09-28 11:04 UTC: A few hours later, it was slightly north and turned back towards the East-North-East at 67.5 ∘

(Lat: 50.1885, Lng: -6.6234; Speed: 11.3 kn). This complex track suggests it was exploring or moving between known grounds west of Land's End/Scilly Isles. 2025-09-29 00:15 UTC: The vessel was now at Lat: 50.9457, Lng: -5.7071, significantly north, near the entrance to the Bristol Channel or St George's Channel. It was briefly heading West at 269.1 ∘

(Speed: 11.2 kn).

Phase 3: Fishing in the Bristol Channel Approaches (Latest Data, up to October 2, 2025)

The map image showing a highly dense, crisscrossing track (Screen Shot 2025-10-02 at 14.08.08.jpg) is highly characteristic of a trawler repeatedly dragging nets in a localized area. This confirms the Dirk Dirk was, or had been, "Engaged in Fishing" in the waters off South-West England (Cornwall/Bristol Channel approaches).

2025-10-02 03:01 UTC: The most recent AIS record shows the vessel at Lat: 50.3628, Lng: -5.7910. It was heading North-East at 61.3 ∘

(Speed: 11.4 kn). This position is close to the Cornwall coast, likely signaling either a final pass, a movement to a new fishing area, or a transit towards a port after completing its fishing activities.

In summary, the Dirk Dirk made a swift transit of the English Channel and commenced its fishing operations in the waters of the Celtic Sea and the approaches to the Bristol Channel by September 28th, with the last recorded position placing it off the coast of Cornwall on the morning of October 2nd.

Further analysis could indicate that she has been operating inside the South West Approaches to the Bristol Channel MCZ. It should also be noted that not every MPA (MCZ, SPA or SAC) is subject to any kind of management legislation.

Conclusion on Location

This slow speed is consistent with trawling/fishing activity, which is confirmed by the dense, crisscrossing track shown in the image background.

Vessel Type and Environmental Impact

What is more important to the story is the nature of fishing method used by vessels like the Dirk Dirk.

The critical context is the vessel's method of fishing:

• Mid-Water Trawling: The Dirk Dirk is a pelagic trawler using nets that are towed high in the water column (mid-water trawls).

• Seabed Protection: Unlike bottom trawls, mid-water trawls are specifically designed to catch shoaling species (like mackerel and herring) and are operated with no intentional contact with the seabed. The gear is typically kept off the bottom to avoid damage to the net itself.

• Conclusion on MCZ Impact: Given that the South West Approaches to the Bristol Channel MCZ is designated to protect vulnerable seabed habitats (subtidal coarse and sand sediments), the Dirk Dirk's activity, while occurring within the zone, poses negligible risk of physical damage to the protected seabed features. The use of static (non-towed) fishing gear in this zone is the activity least likely to be affected by management measures.

The voyage thus shows the Dirk Dirk efficiently transited from the Netherlands to the high-value pelagic fishing grounds in the Celtic Sea and was engaged in its target fishery, operating its mid-water gear in an area that is sensitive to bottom-towed fishing, and appears to be non-destructive to the specific seabed features protected by the Marine Conservation Zone.