Environmentally Sensitive Areas
It is the operators’ responsibility to identify the environmental sensitivities relevant to the areas
where they intend to conduct any activities or develop a field, at the earliest opportunity, and to
then include any potentially interested parties in the stakeholder consultation processes. To assist
with the assessment process for the offshore sector, DECC is in the process of compiling a list of all
the Blocks on the UKCS that identifies the principle sensitivities that are pertinent to the activities
regulated by DECC, with a view to additionally transferring the data to a GIS-based system when the
list is completed. The list will incorporate links to sites where it will be possible to obtain more indepth detail regarding specific considerations. The sensitivities included in the list will include:
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Protected Areas
Fisheries
Seabirds
Cetaceans
Oil and Gas Activity (including relevant licensing guidance)
Gas Storage Activity (Including Carbon Dioxide Storage)
Renewables Activity
Aggregate Extraction Activity
MOD Activity
Shipping Activity
As an interim measure, the following links, although not exhaustive, can be used to provide the
information necessary to identify the principle sensitivities. As soon as the new Block list has been
completed, it will be added to this webpage.
Protected Areas
http://og.decc.gov.uk/assets/og/licences/rounds/26/sac-map.pdf
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1455
http://www.mczmapping.org/
Fisheries
http://www.cefas.co.uk/media/29947/sensi_maps.pdf
http://www.statistics.gov.uk/hub/agriculture-environment/fish/fishing-industry
http://marinemanagement.org.uk/fisheries/statistics/annual.htm
http://www.cefas.defra.gov.uk/our-science/fisheries-information/marine-fisheries/commercialspecies.aspx
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Agriculture-Fisheries/PubFisheries
Seabirds
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=2407
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-1553
Cetaceans
http://jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2713
http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/scans2/inner-finalReport.html
http://biology.st-andrews.ac.uk/coda/documents/CODA_Final_Report_11-2-09.pdf
http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/docs/ATLAS%20part%201%20of%203.pdf
Oil and Gas Activity
http://og.decc.gov.uk/en/olgs/cms/licences/licence_data/licence_data.aspx
http://og.decc.gov.uk/en/olgs/cms/environment/permits_stats/permits_stats.aspx#opppr
http://og.decc.gov.uk/en/olgs/cms/licences/lic_rounds/lic_rounds.aspx
Renewables, Gas Storage and Aggregate, Extraction Leases, Interests and Active Search Areas
http://og.decc.gov.uk/en/olgs/cms/licences/lic_rounds/26th_round/26crown/26crown.aspx
http://infrastructure.independent.gov.uk/projects/
http://www.bwea.com/ukwed/offshore.asp
http://www.thecrownestate.co.uk/marine/aggregates/
MOD Activity
http://og.decc.gov.uk/en/olgs/cms/licences/lic_rounds/26th_round/26th_round.aspx
http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/MicroSite/DIO/WhatWeDo/Operations/ModSafeguarding.htm
Shipping Activity
http://og.decc.gov.uk/en/olgs/cms/licences/lic_rounds/26th_round/26shipping/26shipping.aspx
http://www.shipais.com/index.php
http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/default.aspx?level0=100
DECC Strategic Environmental Assessment Information
http://www.offshore-sea.org.uk/site/index.php
Other Useful Links
http://www.marinemanagement.org.uk/index.htm
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2011/03/16182005/0
http://www.maritimedata.co.uk