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Background and purpose of the South West marine site characterisation project

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

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Background and purpose of the South West marine site characterisation project

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

  2. 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

  3. 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)

  4. 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 • exceedenceof Environmental Quality Standards (EQSs) has been agreed as one endpoint for water quality

  5. 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

  6. Principles of site characterisation • 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 • Risks to site • Reg 33 • Expert judgement • ID issues of concern • Gap analysis

  7. 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)

  8. 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

  9. Exe Estuary SPA Internationally important populations of regularly occurring Annex 1 bird species (Avocet, Slavonian Grebe) Internationally important assemblage of waterfowl Poole Harbour SPA Internationally important populations of regularly occurring Annex 1 bird species (Including: Aquatic Warbler, Avocet) Internationally important assemblage of waterfowl.

  10. Coastal lagoons Annual vegetation of drift lines Mediterranean and thermo-Atlantic halophilous scrubs Perennial vegetation of stony banks Chesil and Fleet SAC & SPA Atlantic salt meadows Birds Directive: Little Tern and Wigeon Plymouth Sound and Estuaries SAC & SPA 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

  11. Fal and Helford SAC Severn Estuary SPA & pSAC Large shallow inlets and bays Sub-tidal sandbanks Intertidal mudflats and sandflats Atlantic salt meadows Reefs Estuaries Shore dock Internationally important populations Annex 1 bird species (Bewicks Swan). Internationally important populations of migratory species. Internationally important assemblage of waterfowl Recommended features for SAC status include : Sub-tidal sandbanks, Reefs, Sea lamprey, etc.

  12. 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

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