New Marine Conservation Areas in the UK

Natural England is currently progressing 6 draft Special Areas for Conservation (SACs) and 2 potential Special Protection Areas (SPAs). One of these sites, Liverpool Bay, crosses into Welsh inshore waters and is being progressed jointly with Countryside Council for Wales (CCW). The Outer Thames Estuary pSPA has a small section within offshore waters, and the Joint Natura Conservation Committee (JNCC) are progressing entirely offshore SACs within the same time period, for all information relating to offshore SACs.

In parallel with proposing these sites for designation, Natural England will provide Government with an indication of the likely positive and negative economic, social and environmental impacts of these designations (through impact assessments).

The Habitat and Birds Directives do not permit socio-economic impacts to influence the choice of sites or their boundaries. The UK as a member state must identify the sites and boundaries based only on the presence of habitats and bird populations supplied in the Directives. This means that the impact assessments cannot influence site selection or boundaries. However they are required as a matter of Government policy, and may be used to inform the design of any measures that may be needed to manage activities so that the sites are conserved.

In a separate exercise, Natural England is also working with JNCC to begin identifying those areas that could be recommended as Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) under the Marine Bill currently being considered by Parliament. The identification of MCZs will follow a separate process and a later timetable than that for Natura 2000 sites, and will be developed through stakeholder involvement in four regional MCZ projects; Finding Sanctuary (South West England), Irish Sea Conservation Zones, Net Gain (North Sea), and Balanced Seas (South-East England). CCW is working with the Welsh Assembly Government on a similar project in Welsh waters.

• See full marine conservation area progress report, with lists of draft SACs/potential SPAs, on Natural England's website
  More ...