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Marine Strategy Forum: Marine Nature Conservation Update
1.
This paper provides an update on recent developments and plans on marine
nature conservation.
Draft Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)
2.
The UK is committed to identifying a network of Special Protected Areas
(SPAs) in the marine environment by the end of 2015.
3.
SNH and JNCC identified 14 SPA proposals in July 2014 and since then work
has been ongoing to prepare the package of information for a public consultation.
The ongoing work has included work to develop draft conservation objectives.
4.
SNH also identified 4 additional MPA proposals in July 2014 and work has
been ongoing to prepare the package of information for a public consultation.
5.
The aim is to consult on the 14 draft Special Protection Areas (dSPAs) and 4
MPA proposals this summer in a consultation led by SNH and JNCC. The Marine
Scotland contract to prepare a draft impact assessment for these site proposals has
been completed and the report is in its final stages to inform the consultation
following input from the Project Advisory Group that was held on the 16 April. SNH
and JNCC are developing management options along with other supporting papers
for the site proposals to provide a comparable level of detail and information as for
the 2013 MPA consultation.
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
6.
The UK considers it is sufficient in marine Special Areas of Conservation
(SACs) for habitats. Whilst the UK has submitted harbour porpoise as a qualifying
feature of the Skerries and Causeway SAC, further work has been undertaken to
identify other potential sites for harbour porpoise.
7.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has completed a new
analysis of the largest and most comprehensive set of data for harbour porpoise in
UK waters. Initial advice indicates that there are several potential sites around the
UK. Marine Scotland is awaiting final advice from the JNCC and Scottish Natural
Heritage. In anticipation of this advice Marine Scotland is working with the other UK
administrations on proposals for a public consultation in summer 2015, preferably
timed to coincide with the above consultations in Scotland on SPA and MPA
proposals .
Management of protected areas
8.
The first consultation on inshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Special
Areas of Conservation(SACs) management measures closed on 2 February and
covered a total of 20 sites. Following 14 drop-in events around the country and
4,974 responses to the public consultation, Marine Scotland has taken account of
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the views provided during the consultation and is finalising proposals to implement
the measures.
9.
Development of approaches for another 20 inshore sites has begun, with preconsultation regional workshops already held, and the aim is for consultation on
these 6 MPAs and 14 SACs planned to start in July 2015.
10.
Development of joint recommendations for fisheries measures under the
Common Fisheries Policy is on-going for 8 offshore SACs. The process of
developing joint recommendations for 12 offshore MPAs has also begun and 2
workshops were held in March 2015. The aim is to have all the measures in place by
the end of 2016.
Demonstration & Research MPA Proposals
11.
The assessment for the remaining D&R MPA proposal from Fair Isle is
nearing completion and advice will shortly be drafted whether to take the proposal
forward for Ministers for consultation along with the other proposed designations.
Update on the EU Fitness Check of the EU Nature Legislation (Birds and
Habitats directives) (REFIT)
12.
The European Commission and their contractor have been using the first half
of 2015 to gather evidence of how the Nature Directives have performed to date.
They have issued a questionnaire to 4 specific groups in each MS:



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Competent authority for nature (Defra with input from other administrations)
Other public sector body (DECC)
Private sector (Energy UK)
Non-governmental organisation involved in nature conservation (the Joint
Links supported by 100 UK NGOs)
13.
The EC also launched a 12 week public consultation on 30th April which
closes on 24 July 2015.
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/fitness_check/index_en.htm
Invasive Alien Species
14.
EU Regulation 1143/2014 came into force on 2 January 2015. Its purpose is
to prevent the arrival and establishment of named invasive species, or where they
have already arrived and become established in one part of the EU, their spread to
other Member States.
15.
The Commission has until 2 January 2016 to officially propose a list of
“species of Union concern” for consideration and adoption by a committee of
Member States. The Commission is currently developing the proposed list of
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species and we understand they intend to put proposals to the EU Member States in
October.
16.
During 2014 the Commission ran a contract to assess which risk assessment
procedures across Europe were robust enough to be used to propose species, and
found that only two (the UK’s and the European Plant Protection Organisation’s
(EPPO)) were up to scratch at that time.
Action requested
17.
Marine Strategy Forum members are invited to note this paper and provide
views.
Marine Scotland
May 2015