2. Conservation Objectives Jak Et Al[1]
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Conservation objectives for Natura 2000 sites (SACs and SPAs) in the Dutch sector of the North Sea R.G. Jak, O.G. Bos, R. Witbaard, H.J. Lindeboom Report number C065/09 IMARES Wageningen UR IMARES – Institute for Marine Resources & Ecosystem Studies Client: Department of Knowledge, Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality On behalf of the Marine Ecological Network and Natura 2000 theme PO Box 482 6710 BL Ede BAS code: BO-02-012-006 Publication date: 27 August 2009 IMARES is: • an independent, objective and authoritative institute that provides the knowledge necessary for the integrated sustainable protection, commercial benefit and spatial use of the sea and coastal zones; • an institute that provides the necessary knowledge for the sustainable protection , commercial benefit and spatial use of the sea and coastal zones; • a key, proactive player in national and international marine research networks (such as ICES and EFARO). © 2009 IMARES, Wageningen UR This report is a translation of the original report in Dutch, carried out under the supervision of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality. The text was translated by Susie Day for CPLS text & copy on the instructions of the Ministry and in cooperation with the IMARES authors. IMARES is registered in the Amsterdam The IMARES Board is not liable for consequential loss, nor for loss arising Commercial Register under file from any application of the results of work or other data obtained from number 34135929, IMARES; the client indemnifies IMARES against claims from third parties BTW no. NL 811383696B04. connected with any such application. This report has been produced at the request of the client stated above and is his property. Nothing in this report may be reproduced and/or published, photocopied or used in any other way without the prior 2 of 190 Report number C065/09 written permission of the client. A_4_3_1-V6.2 Report number C065/09 3 of 190 Foreword This study has been carried out within the scope of the policy-supporting research conducted within the framework of the Marine Ecological Network and Natura 2000 theme of the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality (LNV) programme entitled, National Ecological Network (Ecologische Hoofdstructuur). This report provides both the scientific basis relevant to the formulation of conservation objectives for the Natura 2000 sites in the North Sea and is an initial attempt at such formulation. The sites concerned are the Dogger Bank, the Cleaver Bank, North Sea Coastal Zone 2 and the Vlakte van de Raan, which will be designated under the Habitat Directive, and the Frisian Front and North Sea Coastal Zone 2, which will be designated under the Birds Directive.1 Habitat Directive sites are referred to Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Birds Directive sites are referred to as Special Protected Areas (SPAs). The history, aims and approach leading to the conservation objectives are described in the first two chapters of the report. Chapter 3 examines each site in turn, presenting background information about the site’s features and the habitat types and species found there that are protected under the Habitat Directive and, where relevant, the species protected under the Birds Directive. In the next three chapters detailed supplementary information is presented concerning each habitat type or species. This has been necessitated by the lack of profile documents available for a number of habitat types and bird species occurring in the Exclusive Economic Zone or, alternatively, by the difficulty of formulating objectives for the offshore sites using the profile documents alone. In chapter 4 existing information for these habitat types is analysed and presented in the form of building blocks for the profile documents yet to be compiled or amended. Chapter 5 presents an analysis of information for species protected under the Habitat Directive that are relevant to the offshore areas of the EEZ. This is warranted by the fact that all profiles to date have been compiled for application only to the land and coastal sites. Where necessary, proposals are made for the amendment of the existing profile documents. In chapter 6 an initial attempt is made at profile documents for seabirds found in the Frisian Front. In accordance with the structure of the designation order, in chapter 7 the necessary information is supplied for each site and provisional conservation objectives are formulated. Both scientific arguments (knowledge) and normative choices have a role to play in the formulation of conservation objectives. The latter are expressed in part in the existing policy documents, but further choices need to be made in terms of their details. Such choices are not for researchers to make but are rather matters of policy. An Appendices Report containing profile documents for the habitat types and species referred to forms an integral part of this report. 1 For an explanation of the use of the names North Sea Coastal Zone 1 and 2 in this report, see page 47. 4 of 190 Report number C065/09 Contents Foreword .............................................................................................................................. 4 1 Introduction........................................................................................... 8 1.1 Background..................................................................................................... 8 1.2 Aim 9 2 Approach............................................................................................ 11 2.1 Methodology ................................................................................................ 11 2.2 Aspects of marine sites................................................................................. 14 2.3 Elaboration .................................................................................................... 16 2.4 Available knowledge................................................................................... 17 2.5 Presentation of the question ....................................................................... 17 2.6 Process ........................................................................................................... 18 2.7 Dealing with incomplete knowledge when compiling conservation objectives .............................................................................................................. 19 2.8 References .................................................................................................... 20 3 Site background information ............................................................ 23 3.1 Cleaver Bank and habitat type H1170 (Open-sea reefs)........................ 23 3.2 Dogger Bank and habitat type H1110_C (Sandbanks covered all the time ‘Dogger Bank’) ................................................................................... 29 3.3 Vlakte van de Raan and habitat type H1110_B (Sandbanks covered all the time ‘North Sea Coastal Zone’)................................................................. 41 3.4 North Sea Coastal Zone 2 and habitat type H1110_B and coastal birds47 3.5 Frisian Front and seabirds............................................................................. 60 4 Building blocks for profile documents for habitat types................ 68 4.1 Open-sea reefs H1170.................................................................................. 70 4.2 Sandbanks covered all the time ( Dogger Bank ) H1110_C...................... 82 5 Background information Habitat Directive species....................... 90 5.1 Sea lamprey ( Petromyzon marinus ) H1095................................................ 92 5.2 River lamprey ( Lampetra fluviatilis ) H1099 ................................................. 96 5.3 Twaite shad ( Alosa fallax ) H1103 .............................................................. 100 5.4 Overview of fish monitoring in the North Sea.......................................... 104 Report number C065/09 5 of 190 5.5 Harbour porpoise ( Phocoena phocoena ) H1351 .................................. 108 5.6 Grey seal ( Halichoerus grypus ) H1364...................................................... 117 5.7 Harbour seal ( Phoca vitulina ) H1365 ........................................................ 123 6 Preparatory texts for profile documents for seabirds................... 131 6.1 Great skua ( Stercorarius skua/Catharacta skua ) A175 ......................... 132 6.2 Great black-backed gull ( Larus marinus ) A187 ...................................... 132 6.3 Common guillemot ( Uria aalge ) A199..................................................... 132 6.4 Lesser black-backed gull ( Larus fuscus intermedius ) A183.................... 132 7 Proposed conservation objectives................................................. 132 7.1 Cleaver Bank............................................................................................... 132 7.2 Dogger Bank ............................................................................................... 132 7.3 Vlakte van de Raan ................................................................................... 132 7.4 North Sea Coastal Zone 2.......................................................................... 132 7.5 Frisian Front .................................................................................................. 132 8 Quality assurance............................................................................. 132 Accountability ................................................................................................................