Offshore SACs

Since August 2007 the UK has had the legal mechanism to designate SACs in the UK offshore marine area under the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 2007.

JNCC is responsible for selecting SACs in the UK offshore marine area. This includes waters beyond 12 nautical miles, within British Fishery Limits and the seabed within the UK Continental Shelf Designated Area. For areas within the UK Continental Shelf Designated Area, but beyond the British Fishery Limit, JNCC can recommend SACs for habitat features associated with the seabed.

Where a site crosses the 12 nautical mile boundary, if the site lies more than 90% in offshore waters it will be progressed by JNCC. Sites between 10 and 90% in offshore waters will be progressed jointly by JNCC and the relevant country conservation agency.

The first five sites were submitted to the European Commission on 31st August 2008. These are now candidate SACs. A further eight sites have been formally recommended to Government by JNCC. Six of these are possible SACs and two are draft SACs. Four of the possible SACs (Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge; Haisborough, Hammond and Winterton; Bassurelle Sandbank and North-West Rockall Bank) are currently being consulted upon, the other two (Wyville Thomson Ridge and North Norfolk Sandbanks) were consulted upon in 2007-2008. JNCC hope to formally consult upon the two draft SACs (Dogger Bank and Hatton Bank) in 2010.