Background and purpose of the South West marine site characterisation project Mark Taylor Review of Consents Officer (SW), English Nature.

Background and purpose of the South West marine site characterisation project

Mark TaylorReview of Consents Officer (SW),

English Nature

Summary of presentation

• The driver for the project– Regulation 50 – the Agency’s Review of Consents

• Principles of site characterisation

• Objectives of SW marine site characterisation

• European Marine Sites included and their features

Summary of Regulation 50

Competent authorities must make an assessment of existing permissions/consents/other authorisations

-in-combination

-taking into account cumulative influences on the site (e.g. historic pollution,unconsented sources)

to ascertain whether it can be concluded that they are not having an adverse effect on site integrity (in view of the conservation objectives for the site)

Summary of Regulation 50:

Adverse effects on site integrity

• effects on the structure and function of the site, which directly or indirectly, would adversely affect the achievement of the conservation objectives for any of the European interest features

• exceedence of Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) has been agreed as one endpoint for water quality

Summary of Regulation 50 (cont.)

If it is not possible to conclude ‘no adverse affect on integrity’ then:

• an appraisal of options is required• could include amendment or

revocation of permissions• overall requirement to secure site

integrity

Principles of site characterisation

Risks to site

•Reg 33

PHASE 1

Desk-based assessment of existing

site knowledge

•Refine understanding of impacts/risks

•Characterising pollution sources

PHASE 2

Further investigation:

•Modelling

•Laboratory studies

•Field sampling

•Re-analysis of existing data

Expert judgementExpert judgement

•ID issues of concernID issues of concern

•Gap analysisGap analysis

SW Marine Characterisation Project

EA/EN/CCW commissioned Plymouth Marine Science Partnership.

Steering group:• S.J. Hawkins, P.Worsfold, (PMSP)

• Mark Taylor, Roger Covey (EN)

• Nicky Cunningham, Peter Jonas, Roger Saxon Sacha Rogers (EA)

Overview of the objectives of the SW Marine Site Characterisation

project

• Overall objective was to collate, integrate and critically evaluate available information for 6 EMSs to investigate the impacts/risks associated with water quality

– Published and unpublished literature and Agency datasets

– Chemical (water and sediment quality) and biological data (benthic community information to biomarkers)

– Temporal and spatial trends– Hydrodynamics and existing relevant site models – Overall/integrated evaluation of evidence for impacts

and risks– Data gaps and recommendations to address these

Exe Estuary SPAExe Estuary SPA

Internationally important populations of regularly occurring Annex 1 bird species (Avocet, Slavonian Grebe)

Internationally important assemblage of waterfowl

Poole Harbour SPAPoole Harbour SPA

Internationally important populations of regularly occurring Annex 1 bird species (Including: Aquatic Warbler, Avocet)

Internationally important assemblage of waterfowl.

Chesil and Fleet SAC & SPAChesil and Fleet SAC & SPA

Coastal lagoons

Plymouth Sound and Estuaries SAC Plymouth Sound and Estuaries SAC & SPA& SPA

Annual vegetation of drift lines

Perennial vegetation of stony banks

Mediterranean and thermo-Atlantic halophilous scrubs

Atlantic salt meadows

Birds Directive: Little Tern and Wigeon

Sub-tidal sandbanks

Large shallow inlets and bays

Atlantic salt meadows

Reefs

Estuaries

Intertidal mudflats and sandflats

Shore dock

Allis shad

Birds Directive: Avocet and Little Egret

Severn Estuary SPA & pSACSevern Estuary SPA & pSAC

Recommended features for SAC status include :

Sub-tidal sandbanks, Reefs, Sea lamprey, etc.

Internationally important populations Annex 1 bird species (Bewicks Swan).

Internationally important populations of migratory species.

Internationally important assemblage of waterfowl

Fal and Helford SACFal and Helford SACLarge shallow inlets and bays

Sub-tidal sandbanks

Intertidal mudflats and sandflats

Atlantic salt meadows

Reefs

Estuaries

Shore dock

South West Marine Site Characterisation project

Findings of study are also relevant to:

• Assessment of:– new permission applications

(Regulation 48) – activities not requiring permits– site condition

• Implementation of Water Framework Directive