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THE UK has added 13 marine sites to its Natura 2000 list as part of a major update by sixteen EU Member States.
This updating round adds a significant area of the EU's marine habitats to the Natura 2000 network, primarily in the Atlantic biogeographic region (the UK, France and Belgium), but also in the Mediterranean (Greece and Cyprus).
The latest additions cover six of the EU's nine bio-geographical regions – the Alpine, Atlantic, Boreal, Continental, Mediterranean and Pannonian regions.
Following the announcement The Wildlife Trusts called for more stringent protection measures to be put in place saying that without them, there is a risk the network will be ineffective.
Natura 2000 is the European Union’s network of protected areas. It consists of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Human activities can be carried out inside the network provided they are sustainable and do not harm the natural environment.
Joan Edwards, Head of Living Seas for The Wildlife Trusts, said: “We welcome the designation of these sites on land and offshore to help protect these important sites for the future. Designation is only the first step – albeit an important one. It is essential that the Government looks at all activities taking place in the SACs. The Marine Management Organisation also needs to take action to prevent any further degradation. At present, damaging fishing activities continue to undermine the ecological value of some of these sites.
“If the right management is put in place, these sites could be a cornerstone of the ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas we have been calling for. Only with clear, well-enforced conservation measures in place will our marine life recover from the devastating declines it has suffered.”
The UK has added 13 marine sites in the Atlantic region, both offshore and inshore. These sites cover a total area of 13,913 km2. The two largest sites added are North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef (3,603 km2) and North West Rockall Bank (4,365 km2). Nine of the sites host important cold water reefs, while seven are designated for sandbank habitats.
This updating round adds a significant area of the EU's marine habitats to the Natura 2000 network, primarily in the Atlantic biogeographic region (the UK, France and Belgium), but also in the Mediterranean (Greece and Cyprus).
The latest additions cover six of the EU's nine bio-geographical regions – the Alpine, Atlantic, Boreal, Continental, Mediterranean and Pannonian regions.
Following the announcement The Wildlife Trusts called for more stringent protection measures to be put in place saying that without them, there is a risk the network will be ineffective.
Natura 2000 is the European Union’s network of protected areas. It consists of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Human activities can be carried out inside the network provided they are sustainable and do not harm the natural environment.
Joan Edwards, Head of Living Seas for The Wildlife Trusts, said: “We welcome the designation of these sites on land and offshore to help protect these important sites for the future. Designation is only the first step – albeit an important one. It is essential that the Government looks at all activities taking place in the SACs. The Marine Management Organisation also needs to take action to prevent any further degradation. At present, damaging fishing activities continue to undermine the ecological value of some of these sites.
“If the right management is put in place, these sites could be a cornerstone of the ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas we have been calling for. Only with clear, well-enforced conservation measures in place will our marine life recover from the devastating declines it has suffered.”
The UK has added 13 marine sites in the Atlantic region, both offshore and inshore. These sites cover a total area of 13,913 km2. The two largest sites added are North Norfolk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef (3,603 km2) and North West Rockall Bank (4,365 km2). Nine of the sites host important cold water reefs, while seven are designated for sandbank habitats.
