Marine Sites Consultation
This page contains
information on the Offshore Marine Natura consultation
process which JNCC undertook on behalf of the UK government
between 20th December 2007 and 14th March 2008. The report of
responses received to the consultation and amendments made in light
of the comments received is now available.
The Offshore Marine
Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.)
Regulations 2007 entered into force on
21st August 2007 and form the legal basis for the
implementation of the EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and
Birds
Directive (79/409/EEC) in UK offshore waters. These
Offshore Marine Conservation Regulations require the selection
of Special Areas of
Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in waters
beyond 12 nm of the UK's coast in order to protect offshore
species and habitats. Further
information on the Offshore Marine
Conservation Regulations is available from Defra.
The consultation was on the first tranche
of possible Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in UK
offshore waters. These sites were put forward by JNCC to the
UK Government on the basis of the selection criteria contained
within the EC Habitats Directive Annex III,
and EC
Guidance on implementation of the Natura 2000 network in the marine
environment.
Further information on Marine Natura
2000, the identification of offshore SACs, and the
offshore SAC selection process is
available from JNCC's website.
The five candidate SACs and two possible SACs in UK
offshore waters are listed below:
1)
Braemar Pockmarks;
- 2) Scanner Pockmark;
- 3) North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef;
- 4) Haig Fras;
- 5) Stanton Banks;
- 6) Darwin Mounds;
- 7) Wyville Thomson Ridge.
(Click on map to enlarge)
The aim of this formal consultation was to seek the view of
all interested parties on:
- the scientific case for identification of
the seven areas as offshore SACs; and
- the assessments of the likely economic impact of
designation of each site.
Offshore SAC Consultation Report
As required by Regulation 8 (4) of the Offshore Marine
Conservation (Natural Habitats, & c.) Regulations 2007 the
Joint Nature Conservation Committee has compiled a report which
describes the representations made about the proposals to include
seven offshore sites on the list of areas eligible for selection as
Sites of Community Importance under Council Directive 92/43/EEC
('the Habitats Directive').
Offshore SACs: SAC
Selection Assessments
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Offshore SACs: Revised
SAC Selection Assessment Documents |
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Braemar Pockmarks (Annex I Submarine structures
made by leaking gases)
This site was submitted to the European
Commission on 1st September 2008 and is now a candidate SAC
(cSAC).
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Scanner Pockmark (Annex I Submarine structures
made by leaking gases)
This site was submitted to the European Commission on 1st
September 2008 and is now a candidate SAC (cSAC).
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North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef
(Annex I Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water
all the time and Annex I Reefs)
This site remains as possible SAC (pSAC) as it has
been formally recommended to Government by JNCC but has not yet
been submitted to the European Commission, pending resolution of
issues raised during the consultation.
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Haig Fras (Annex I Reefs)
This site was submitted to the European Commission on 1st
September 2008 and is now a candidate SAC (cSAC).
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Stanton Banks (Annex I Reefs)
This site was submitted to the European Commission on 1st
September 2008 and is now a candidate SAC (cSAC).
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Darwin Mounds (Annex I Reefs)
This site was submitted to the European Commission on 1st
September 2008 and is now a candidate SAC (cSAC).
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Wyville Thomson Ridge (Annex I Reefs)
This site remains as possible SAC (pSAC) as it has been formally
recommended to Government by JNCC but has not yet been submitted to
the European Commission, pending resolution of issues raised during
the consultation.
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[Copyright information for images in table: Image 1: Copyright
© Hartley Anderson Ltd, 2005; Image 2: Copyright © Sue Scott;
Image 3: Copyright © BMT Cordah, 2003; Image 4:
Copyright © Ivor Rees, 2000; Image 5: Copyright © MESH, 2006;
Image 6: Copyright © Brian Bett, NOC, 1999; Image 7: Crown
Copyright © 2006.]