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Annex I Sandbanks

 
Annex I Sandbanks which are slightly covered by sea water all the time are elevated seabed features, consisting of sandy sediments permanently covered by sea water. Water depth above sandbanks is seldom more than 20m below chart datum, but some sandbanks may extend into deeper waters. Sandbanks can be classified topographically (for example, those associated with headlands, the open shelf or estuary mouths) or by sediment type (for example, gravelly and clean sands, or muddy sands). Shallow sandbanks may support vegetation, such as eelgrass or maerl, but this is less common in waters away from the coast.
 
Organisms found on and in shallow sandbanks include a variety of worms, crustaceans, molluscs, urchins, starfish and crabs.  Sandy habitats can be important as nursery areas for a variety of fish species. They also act as feeding grounds for seabirds, seals and cetaceans, by providing a source of sandeels and other prey species. Further information about Annex I Sandbanks is provided on JNCC's website, and the formal EU interpretation of this habitat is available in the EU's Interpretation Manual of European Habitats.
 
Offshore sites should be selected to represent the main variants of this habitat occurring offshore, having regard to geographical range (Hopkins & Buck 1995). Offshore site identification should also complement the shallow sandbank habitats already represented within the SAC series inshore. On current information, sites selected will encompass the following topographical variants:
 
  1. Sandy mounds
  2. The following tidal current sandbank types (Dyer & Huntley 1999)
    • Type 1 open shelf ridge sandbanks.
    • Type 2 estuary mouth sandbanks.
    • Type 3 headland associated banks.
 
Sites are also likely to be selected to represent both 'active' and 'relict' banks (indicated by sandwave presence and shape), as their flora and fauna are likely to differ. Within the above categories, sites may also be chosen to represent the biological communities of the range of relevant sediment types (gravelly and clean sands, and muddy sands). This Annex I habitat can include sandbank features which extend below 20m water depth, according to the EU Interpretation Manual.
 
Site boundaries are likely to be drawn wider than the area of habitat (either singular or multiple sandbanks) to take into account the conservation of the structure and function of the habitat and also the mobile nature of the habitat. 
 
The map below represents areas of potential Annex I sandbank habitat (areas of sandy sediment in less than 20 m water depth using bathymetry calculated to the Lowest Astronomical Tide datum). Through offshore biological and geomorphological survey, JNCC is working to confirm Annex I sandbank presence and identify those sites which merit selection as SACs. For information on the identification of Annex I Sandbank SACs within 12nm of the coast, please contact the relevant country conservation agency (Natural England (formally English Nature), Northern Ireland Environment Agency, Scottish Natural Heritage or the Countryside Council for Wales). 
 
Sandy Sediment in Less than 20m Water Depth
 
References:
Dyer, KR & Huntley, DA (1999) The origin, classification and modelling of sand banks and ridges. Continental Shelf Research, 19, 1285-1330
 
CEC (2007) Guidelines for the establishment of the Natura 2000 network in the marine environment.  Application of the Habitats and Birds Directives. 112 pp. Accessible at: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/marine/index_en.htm
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