Strangford Lough Management Scheme SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION (SAC) SPECIAL PROTECTION AREA (SPA) Produced by Environment and Heritage Service in conjunction with the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ards Borough Council, and Down District Council, with the support of the Strangford Lough Office. Environment and Heritage Service extends thanks to all those who have contributed to the scheme, in particular the Strangford Lough Management Committee and the National Trust. All photography is reproduced with the kind permission of Ards Borough Council, Environment and Heritage Service, the National Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Northern Ireland Tourist Board, Caroline Nolan and Mike Hartwell. Contents 1 Introduction to the Strangford Lough SAC/SPA Management Scheme 3 1.1 Overview 1.2 Background and Aims of the Habitats and Birds Directives 1.3 Aims of the Management Scheme 1.4 Responsibility for Management 2 Reasons for Designation and Description of the Conservation Features 7 2.1 Site Description 2.2 Evaluation of the Conservation Features 3 Conservation Objectives and Favourable Condition Tables 9 3.1 Conservation Objectives for the SAC Features 3.2 Conservation Objectives for the SPA Features 3.3 Distribution, Extent and Condition of Features and the Related Monitoring Programme 4 Factors, Operations and Processes that may affect the Conservation Features 35 4.1 Factors - Summary Tables 4.2 Review of Activities and Management Issues 5. Assessment of Site Management 48 5.1 Tenure 5.2 Designations and Existing Measures 5.3 Development and Introduction of New Management Measures 6. Management Objectives and Action Plan 2000 - 2003 56 Appendix 1: Extracts from The Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995 58 Appendix 2: Key Contributory SAC Sub-features 59 Appendix 3: Legal Background to MNR Designation and Management 63 1 Introduction to the Strangford Lough SAC/SPA Management Scheme 1.1 OVERVIEW 1.2 BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF THE HABITATS AND BIRDS DIRECTIVES 1.3 AIMS OF THE MANAGEMENT SCHEME 1.4 RESPONSIBILITY FOR MANAGEMENT 1.1 OVERVIEW Socio-economic Change The Need for Sustainable Development People have inhabited the shores of Strangford Lough and used its Most of the activities mentioned rely, to a great extent, on the resources for 9000 years. Today local people continue to play a high environmental quality and visual appeal of the Lough and very important role in shaping and managing the area. The past the surrounding area. It is therefore in everyone’s long term 20 years, however, have witnessed some dramatic changes in interest to maintain the environment. With sensitive management 3 terms of the area’s socio-economic development. This is partly there is no reason why local people and visitors should not because Strangford Lough, one of the most important continue to enjoy the Lough’s resources in a way that is environmental sites in Europe, is not a remote wilderness but sustainable both environmentally and economically. lies within an hour’s drive of Belfast city centre. A co-ordinated approach to management will also help achieve compatibility between the differing human interests. The proximity of Strangford Lough to the Belfast urban area provides ready access to an attractive environment and to A number of important strategies and plans have been produced recreational opportunities for a large population. The northern end in the past decade, or are being developed, which seek to ensure of the Lough is becoming increasingly urbanised. Agricultural land that the changes facing Strangford Lough do not destroy the coming onto the market is likely to attract interest from developers quality of the environment and the heritage on which the socio- or people for whom farming is not a primary activity. How and economic development of the area depends. where development will be located, its scale, the possible effect of sewage on water quality, and the implications for road The emerging Regional Development Strategy, together with infrastructure have to be carefully assessed in order to minimise a series of regional Planning Policy Statements, will provide a their impact upon the Lough. strategic policy framework for development plans. The Strategy is likely to indicate that the Ards and Down Area Plan 2015, now Farming and fishing have both been important in shaping the in the course of preparation, should provide in the order local economy but changing circumstances are encouraging of 15,500 new housing units by the end of the plan period. It diversification away from traditional activities in both cases. suggests that much of that growth is likely to be accommodated There is particular interest in developing aquaculture around the in the main towns of Newtownards and Downpatrick with the Northern Ireland coast and a demand for substantial growth is possibility of substantial growth in Comber and Ballynahinch. expected in Strangford Lough. The Strategy promotes a strong and diversified economy for rural At the same time tourism, recreation and environmental areas through its Strategic Policy Guidelines, and it is strongly management are witnessing a significant growth on and around supportive of sustainable, environmentally sensitive tourism as an Strangford Lough. The Lough’s many attractions and its economic resource. It also recognises the importance of conserving accessibility have increased the numbers of people using the high quality environments such as Strangford Lough. The countryside. Rural economies may increasingly depend on revenue forthcoming Area Plan will be required to accommodate and from visitors. to regulate changes in urban and rural environments closely associated with Strangford Lough without adversely affecting the conservation status of the Lough. STRANGFORD LOUGH SAC/SPA MANAGEMENT SCHEME The Strangford Lough Sustainable Development Strategy was commissioned by Ards Borough Council, Down District The LIFE Programme is the financial instrument used Council, Environment and Heritage Service, the Northern Ireland to support European Community environmental Tourist Board, Planning Service, and the Sports Council for policy. LIFE funding matched by funding from the Northern Ireland, with advice from the Strangford Lough UK’s nature conservation bodies supported the ‘UK Management Committee, in response to public demand for Marine SACs Project’. This Project involved twelve a framework for sustainable development. The Strategy was Natura 2000 sites selected as pilot areas for the launched in 1998 following public consultation over a two development of SAC / SPA Management Schemes. year period. It highlights the need to monitor and regulate some Strangford Lough was one of these sites. The Marine activities to maintain the balance between the desire SACs Project was a partnership between for economic growth and the need to conserve the Lough’s Environment and Heritage Service, the Countryside natural resources. Council for Wales, English Nature, Scottish Natural Heritage, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the Scottish Association for Marine Science. 1.2 BACKGROUND AND AIMS OF The Marine SACs Project commenced in May 1996 and ended in May 2001. During this time each site THE HABITATS AND BIRDS DIRECTIVES should have developed and established an operational management scheme. Within the European Union efforts are being made to identify and conserve the Community’s most valued environmental resources. The Habitats and Birds Directives are important measures introduced by the European Commission in support of this objective. 1.3 AIMS OF THE The main aim of the Habitats Directive is to ensure that biodiversity is maintained through conservation of important, rare MANAGEMENT SCHEME or threatened species and the habitats of certain species. The Directive also aims to make a contribution to the sustainable Strangford Lough is a complex area with a mixture of recreational development of protected sites. Sites designated under this and commercial activities. Its future well-being rests in having a Directive are called Special Areas of Conservation (SACs). co-ordinated system of management that is supported by all 4 Strangford Lough has been submitted to the European those with an interest in, or responsibility for, different aspects of Commission as a candidate SAC. the Lough. Local councils, government departments, conservation bodies, Lough users and the owners of adjoining property all The main aim of the Birds Directive is to protect bird species have a role to play. within the European Union through the conservation of birds and important habitats for birds. Sites designated under this Directive In Northern Ireland the requirements of the Habitats and Birds are called Special Protection Areas (SPAs). Strangford Lough Directives have been transposed into domestic legislation by the has been designated as an SPA. Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations (NI) 1995, usually referred to as the Habitats Regulations. These Regulations Sites designated under these two Directives together form a introduce specific measures for the management of marine areas; network of protected sites across the European Union known as notably the provision to develop management schemes for Natura 2000. They may also be referred to as European sites. European marine sites. Designation as an SAC or SPA is intended to safeguard the key conservation features but does not mean that human activities This management scheme is intended to safeguard