SPAs with marine components
The Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) (as amended)
requires EU Member States to designate Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for the
conservation of species listed on Annex I to the Directive, and all
species of regularly occurring migratory birds.
Existing SPAs with marine components
A network of SPAs has already been established for Annex I
species and regularly occurring migratory species which make use of
important terrestrial and coastal sites in the UK, and some of
these existing SPAs have marine components. SPAs with marine
components are defined as those sites with qualifying Birds
Directive Annex I species or regularly occurring migratory species
that are dependent on the marine environment for all or part of
their lifecycle, where these species are found in association with
intertidal or subtidal habitats. A map of the 73 SPAs with marine
components in the UK and a list of their
marine interest features are available (last updated November
2008). GIS users may also download
GIS boundary data for SPAs with marine components.
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bird species make significant use of the marine
environment around the UK (and Gibraltar). In addition, the
following SPA habitat classes are considered marine as
they are covered (continuously or intermittently) by the sea:
- N01 Marine areas and Sea inlets;
- N02 Tidal rivers, Estuaries, Mud flats, Sand flats and
Lagoons (including saltwork basins).
- N03 Salt marshes, Salt pastures and Salt steppes;
Some coastal SPAs comprising 'N05 Shingle, Islets or Sea cliff
habitats' contain qualifying Birds Directive Annex I species or
regularly occurring migratory species that are dependent on the
marine environment. Many of these coastal SPAs do not, at present,
include significant intertidal or subtidal areas and therefore are
not considered to be ‘SPAs with marine components’. Contingent on
Government policy, these SPAs may be extended seawards to encompass
marine areas in the future.
Identification of further SPAs with marine
components
Although the UK has SPAs with marine components, to
date only one entirely marine SPA has been designated
in British waters; Bae Caerfyrddin/Carmarthen Bay SPA
(Wales) was classified in 2003 for its non-breeding aggregations of
common scoter. Work is currently underway by the JNCC and the
four country nature conservation agencies1 to
identify further SPAs with marine components that will comprise a
suite of entirely marine SPAs.
It is anticipated that the final suite will include sites
within both UK territorial and offshore waters.
JNCC is leading on the selection of sites within the
UK offshore
area (beyond 12nm of the coast). The identification of sites
that lie within territorial waters (within 12nm of the coast)
is the responsibility of the relevant country conservation agency,
although JNCC provide scientific advice on the identification of
these sites on their behalf.
A list of marine bird species for which entirely marine SPAs
are being considered is available. Sites are currently being
considered for these species within four main types of marine
SPA:
The work of JNCC in progressing marine SPA issues is carried out
by the JNCC's Marine SPA team, and is steered
by the Marine Natura Project Group, chaired by
independent JNCC Committee member Professor Lynda Warren. As
guidance and methods are devised we are consulting with
stakeholders and marine experts through consultation exercises
and/or relevant fora.
Marine SPA news
One way in which the Marine SPA team keeps stakeholders informed
of their work is through an electronic newsletter. If you
wish to subscribe to this, please send an email to
.
Previous Marine SPA newsletters:
July 2008
1 The four country nature conservation
agencies are Natural England (NE) (formally English Nature),
Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside (CNCC)
(Northern Ireland), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and the
Countryside Council for Wales (CCW)
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