Wash and North Norfolk Coast European Marine Site
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Wash and North Norfolk Coast European Marine Site MANAGEMENT SCHEME Produced by: Diana Mortimer ISBN 1 85716 591 8 This document was prepared with the support of the European Commission’s LIFE Programme Designed and printed by Night Shift Graphics. Tel: 0779 085 1426 • www.nightshiftgraphics.co.uk Printed on recyclable bio-degradable paper manufactured from; 50% TCF pulps - generally forest thinnings, off cuts and surplus timber (no pulp is produced from tropical rainwood forests) & 50% recycled and de-inked fibres from pre and post consumer waste, no use of chlorine in the de-inking process. The use of recycled fibres spares the use of virgin materials and eliminates environmental waste which would otherwise have to be disposed of in such sites as landfill. Black Sluice Internal Drainage Board Lincolnshire County Council Borough Council of King’s Lynn & West Norfolk Lyndsey Marsh Drainage Board Boston Borough Council Ministry of Defence Eastern Sea Fisheries Joint Committee Norfolk County Council East Lindsey District Council North Norfolk District Council English Nature Port of Boston Environment Agency South Holland District Council Fenland District Council South Holland Internal Drainage Board King’s Lynn Conservancy Board Welland & Deepings Internal Drainage Board King’s Lynn Consortium of Internal Drainage Boards Wells Harbour Commissioners Witham Fourth District Internal Drainage Board Acknowledgements The production of the Wash and North Norfolk Coast Management Scheme has only been possible with the help of a great many organisations and individuals. In particular thanks go to the members of the advisory groups who devoted much of their own time to help construct the management scheme, and to the officers of the relevant authorities. Financial support from the European Commission’s LIFE Programme is gratefully acknowledged. Contents Executive Summary 1.0 Introduction ..................................................................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction to the management scheme................................................................................. 1-1 1.2 Key stages towards the development of the management scheme and beyond .......................... 1-2 1.3 Background to the UK Habitats Regulations & the European Union’s Habitats & Birds Directives . 1-3 1.4 Key Duties and Obligations .................................................................................................. 1-4 1.5 Role of National Nature Reserves within the Wash & North Norfolk Coast European marine site 1-5 1.6 Traditional activities .............................................................................................................. 1-5 1.7 Aims of the management scheme .......................................................................................... 1-5 1.8 The conservation objectives and advice provided by English Nature ........................................ 1-6 2.0 Site Description and Reasons for Designation ................................................... 2-1 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.2 Special Area of Conservation................................................................................................ 2-2 2.2.1 Large shallow inlets and bays ............................................................................................... 2-2 2.2.2 Sandbanks which are slightly covered by seawater all the time ................................................ 2-2 2.2.3 Mudflats and Sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide .................................................... 2-3 2.2.4 Glasswort (samphire) and other annuals colonising mud and sand .......................................... 2-3 2.2.5 Atlantic salt meadows (lower, middle and upper saltmarsh) ..................................................... 2-4 2.2.6 Mediterranean saltmarsh scrubs ............................................................................................ 2-4 2.2.7 Common Seals .................................................................................................................... 2-4 2.3 The Special Protection Areas (SPA) interest features ................................................................ 2-5 2.3.1 The Wash Special Protection Area......................................................................................... 2-5 2.3.2 The North Norfolk Coast Special Protection Area ................................................................... 2-6 2.3.3 Gibraltar Point Special Protection Area.................................................................................. 2-6 2.4 Potential new interest features ............................................................................................... 2-7 3.0 Conservation objectives for European marine site interest features ................... 3-1 3.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.2 The conservation objectives for the Wash and North Norfolk Coast European marine site.......... 3-1 3.3 The conservation objectives for the Wash Special Protection Area ............................................ 3-2 3.4 The conservation objectives for the North Norfolk Coast Special Protection Area ...................... 3-2 3.5 The conservation objectives for Gibraltar Point Special Protection Area .................................... 3-3 3.6 Monitoring .......................................................................................................................... 3-4 3.6.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 3-4 3.6.2 Condition monitoring ........................................................................................................... 3-4 3.6.3 Compliance monitoring ........................................................................................................ 3-6 4.0 Advice on operations ....................................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Format of advice ................................................................................................................. 4-1 5.0 Human activities in & around the Wash & North Norfolk Coast European marine site 5-1 5.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.2 Traditional activities and the longshore economy .................................................................... 5-3 5.3 Tourism and leisure .............................................................................................................. 5-3 5.4 Linkages to existing management, other plans and other statutory designations ........................ 5-3 5.5 Management scheme structure .............................................................................................. 5-3 5.6 Review of site management ................................................................................................... 5-4 5.7 Implementation of the management measures & actions identified in this management scheme .. 5-8 5.8 Reporting on the progress of the management scheme and action plan .................................... 5-9 5.8.1 The role and responsibilities of the European Marine site project manager ............................. 5-10 5.8.2 Reporting and review of condition and compliance monitoring .............................................. 5-12 5.9 Activities requiring consents and permission – plans and projects .......................................... 5-14 5.9.1 Plans and projects .............................................................................................................. 5-14 5.9.2 New plans and projects...................................................................................................... 5-14 5.9.3 Review of existing planning permissions and other consents .................................................. 5-15 5.9.4 Environment Agency Review of Consent process ................................................................... 5-16 5.10 Summary of information collected on activities and operations ............................................... T.5-1 6.0 Action plan for the Wash and North Norfolk Coast European Marine Site .... T.5-45 6.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................... T.5-45 6.2 Management actions and options ...................................................................................... T.5-45 6.3 Responsible authorities ..................................................................................................... T.5-45 6.4 Timescale ....................................................................................................................... T.5-45 6.5 Priority Setting ................................................................................................................. T.5-45 6.6 Action Plan ........................................................................................................................ T.6-1 7.0 Glossary.........................................................................................................