Identification and selection of offshore SACs for Annex I
habitats
SACs are being identified in UK offshore waters for
Annex I Reefs, Sandbanks which are slightly covered by
sea water all the time and Submarine structures made by
leaking gases. Offshore SAC are selected on the
basis of the selection criteria contained within the Habitats
Directive Annex III, and
EC Guidance on implementation of the Natura 2000 network in the
marine environment.
JNCC and the country conservation agencies have developed
more detailed guidelines on the practical
application of the Annex III selection criteria in
terrestrial and coastal areas, and will shortly be making
available inter-agency guidance on the selection of SACs
in UK waters away from the coast. European case law also
provides additional interpretation on how to select sites, for
example that the selection of sites and their boundaries must be on
a scientific basis only (Case
C-371/98) and not take socio-economic factors into account.
The Annex III selection criteria for habitats are:
- The degree of representativity of the natural habitat type on
the site.
- The area of the site covered by the natural habitat type in
relation to the total area covered by that natural habitat type
within the national territory.
- Degree of conservation of the structure and functions of the
natural habitat type concerned and restoration possibilities.
- Global assessment.
SAC boundaries are delineated to include the area of
habitat requiring protection, using straight lines and simple
shapes. Boundary delineation requires that the integrity of
the site interest features be maintained, but should
avoid (where possible) inclusion of areas of habitat which do not
require protection under the Habitats Directive. It should be noted
that SAC boundaries need not be the same as the boundaries of
any management measures within the site. Detailed
guidance on defining
boundaries for marine habitat SACs fully detached from the
coast has been developed by JNCC.
Since 2002, JNCC has been refining information on Annex I
habitat distribution in UK offshore waters. The map on
the right is an updated version of that presented in
JNCC’s Offshore Natura 2000
report (published in 2002), and shows those areas where,
to the best of our knowledge, Annex I habitat might be
present. The map also shows the seven sites
JNCC has already recommended to Government as
SACs. Please note that this map of potential Annex I
habitat does not indicate the distribution or extent of future
offshore SACs.
Through biological and geomorphological survey, JNCC is
working to i) confirm the presence of Annex I habitat in
offshore waters, ii) determine the extent of these habitats
and iii) describe their associated biological
communities. Ongoing offshore survey will help to ensure that the
range of Annex I habitats present in UK offshore waters
are included within SAC network. It is likely that at
least 8 and possibly up to 15 additional SACs will need to be
identified to fully represent the different Annex I habitat types
in the offshore marine area. A limited number (less than
10) of inshore sites are also likely to be recommended to
Government for Annex I habitats. The aim is to complete the UK
contribution to the network of sites by 2010, as required by the
European Commission.