Background and purpose of the South West marine site characterisation project Mark Taylor Review of...
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Transcript of Background and purpose of the South West marine site characterisation project Mark Taylor Review of...
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