lizard point
As part of the UK’s contribution of designated sites to the EU’s Natura 2000 network the coalition government has named 15 new marine sites to be protected. 13 of the sites will be protected as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) and 2 areas will be protected as Special Protection Areas (SPA). The news sites will ensure the conservation of a wide range of marine organisms from sponges and sea squirts through to sea birds. The range of habitats covered by the new areas is also diverse with sandbanks, reefs and caves being among the types of habitats covered.
The new protection will mean that fishing, dredging and other developments such as off shore wind farms will be restricted or banned altogether. Consultation and research is still on going at a number of sites including Dogger Bank which is considered to be a potential site for a large scale wind farm and a major contribution to the UK renewable energy target, however it’s also a major nursery for commercial fisheries. All 15 sites have been named following substantial research and consultation to ensure the sites offer the best in conservation resources.
Marine Environment Minister, Richard Benyon, said, “Our seas are home to some of the most diverse species and habitats in the world and they need just as much protection as our land. Today (2010-08-20) is a major step forward in helping us to achieve clean, healthy and vibrant seas where marine life can thrive.”
The sites located all around the UK coast will cost about £4 million to set up and have an annual running cost of £1.3 million to manage and monitor the new areas. If the new reserves are accepted by the European commission for inclusion in the Natura 2000 network it will effectively double the area of the marine environment that the UK has under conservation or protection status. This will mean that more than 4% of the UK’s marine area will be covered by conservation measures.
The new candidate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are:
- Inner Dowsing, Race Bank and North Ridge
- North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef
- Haisborough, Hammond and Winterton
- Margate and Long Sands
- Bassurelle Sandbank
- Lyme Bay and Torbay
- Prawle Point to Plymouth Sound and Eddystone
- Lizard Point
- Land’s End and Cape Bank
- Shell Flat
- Red Bay
- North-West Rockall Bank
- Wyville Thomson Ridge
The new Special Protection Areas (for birds) are:
- Outer Thames Estuary
- Liverpool Bay/Bae Lerpwl (agreed with the Welsh Assembly Government)
The sites were proposed following investigation by partner organsiations Natural England, Countryside Council for Wales and Joint Nature Conservation Committee. They were given the task to identify relevant sites to be proposed to the government. Natural England are responsible for inshore marine areas (0 – 12 miles off the coast) around the English coast, the Countryside Council for wales are responsible for inshore marine areas (0 – 12 miles off the coast) around the welsh coast and the Joint Nature Conservation Committee are responsible for off shore marine areas (12 – 200 miles off the coast) around the UK.
photo credit: Karen Roe
