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Guidance for assessing the significance of noise disturbance against Conservation Objectives of harbour porpoise SACs (England, Wales & Northern Ireland) 2020

Abstract

JNCC Report 654, 'Guidance for assessing the significance of noise disturbance against Conservation Objectives of harbour porpoise SACs (England, Wales & Northern Ireland)', provides advice to competent authorities on what could constitute Significant Disturbance within harbour porpoise Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland marine areas. It also provides guidance on a noise management approach to keep underwater noise within levels that do not affect a site’s integrity.

This guidance was the culmination of several years of inter-agency discussion as well as consultation with regulators, industry and Non-Governmental Organisations. The advised noise management approach aims to reduce accumulated noise at times of the year where porpoise occur in higher densities, while incentivising industry to use low-noise methods to reduce their disturbance footprint in time and space.

This report accompanies a series of associated JNCC resources, including a report providing updated information on Effective Deterrent Ranges published in 2025 (JNCC Report 803). Please go to: Guidance on noise management in harbour porpoise SACs (2020); and New updated Effective Deterrent Ranges (2025) to find out more.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2020·06·01

Citation
JNCC. 2020. Guidance for assessing the significance of noise disturbance against Conservation Objectives of harbour porpoise SACs (England, Wales & Northern Ireland). JNCC Report 654, JNCC, Peterborough, ISSN 0963-8091.

Lineage
The guidance on noise management in harbour porpoise SACs was published in 2020.

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC publisher

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2025·09·11

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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