Photo credit: Iain Robson

Marine Protected Areas Webinar Nick Brodin Berwickshire and Northumberland Marine Nature Partnership

18 June 2019 Outline of the Presentation

• Introduction • What are marine protected areas and why do they matter? • Inshore MPAs in Berwickshire and Northumberland • How are MPAs managed? • Roles and Responsibilities • Further sources of information Partnership of 27 organisations with responsibilities for management of inshore marine protected areas

Work between Fast Castle Head and the River Tyne

Exist to help partners coordinate management of the entire network of marine protected areas and to share information and knowledge www.xbordercurrents.co.uk What are Marine Protected Areas and Why Do They Matter? What is a Marine Protected Area?

An area designated and effectively managed to protect marine ecosystems, processes, habitats, and species, which can contribute to the restoration and replenishment of resources for social, economic, and cultural enrichment. (WWF)

What is a Marine Protected Area?

A designated site which is covered permanently or intermittently by sea water, including intertidal areas

• Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) • Special Protection Areas (SPAs) • Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs)

Types of MPA

Special Protection Areas Special Areas of (SPAs) Conservation (SACs)

1979 EC Birds Directive 1992 EC Habitats Directive Protect rare and vulnerable Protect habitats and species birds, and regularly occurring of European importance migratory species

Collectively known as European Sites All sites across Europe form the Natura 2000 network Types of MPA

Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs)

Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009 Protect a range of habitats, species, and geological/geomorphological features of national importance

Photo credit: Paula Lightfoot

Only designated in England and Wales Types of MPA

Scottish Marine Protected Areas

Marine (Scotland) Act 2010 Nature Conservation MPAs Historic MPAs Demonstration and Research MPAs

Photo credit: Paula Lightfoot

None designated on the Berwickshire coast

Why have MPAs? Over 8000 species in UK coastal waters, including many that are rare and threatened

Our seas are important to social, economic and environmental well- being

Marine environment is under pressure from human activities

Important to provide appropriate conservation measures to protect the marine environment Why have MPAs?

The UK has international commitments to establish a network Marine Protected Areas:

• Convention on Biological Diversity • OSPAR Convention The Eleven Inshore Marine Protected Areas of Berwickshire and Northumberland 1. St Abbs to Fast Castle Head SPA 2. Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast SAC 3. Tweed Estuary SAC 4. Northumbria Coast SPA 5. Lindisfarne SPA 6. Farne Islands SPA 7. Coquet Island SPA 8. Aln Estuary MCZ 9. Coquet to St Mary’s Island MCZ 10.Northumberland Marine SPA 11.Berwick to St Mary’s MCZ [as of 31st May 2019]

Area also includes the St Abbs and Eyemouth VMR, three National Nature Reserves, two Ramsar sites and 15 SSSIs Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC

• Rocky reefs • Sea caves • Shallow inlets and bays • Mudflats and sandflats • Grey seal Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC

• Rocky reefs • Sea caves • Shallow inlets and bays Photo credit: Paula Lightfoot • Mudflats and sandflats • Grey seal Coquet to St Mary’s MCZ

16 interest features representing various types of:

• Intertidal rock, sediments and mud • Intertidal under-boulder communities • Peat and clay exposures • Infralittoral rock • Circalittoral rock • Subtidal sediments and muds

Photo credits: Paula Lightfoot Aln Estuary MCZ

Smallest MCZ in the county • Coastal saltmarshes and saline reedbeds • Intertidal mud • Estuarine rocky habitats • Sheltered muddy gravels

Tweed Estuary SAC

• - Estuary

• - Mud flats and Sandflats

• - River lamprey

• - Sea lamprey

St Abbs Head to Fast Castle Head SPA: Breeding seabird assemblage Lindisfarne SPA: Wintering birds, breeding birds Farne Islands SPA: Breeding birds, breeding seabird assemblage Bird Sites Coquet Island SPA: Breeding birds, breeding seabird assemblage Northumberland Marine SPA: Breeding birds, breeding seabird assemblage Northumbria Coast SPA: Wintering birds, breeding birds Berwick to St Mary’s MCZ

Designated on 31 May 2019

Breeding and wintering eider duck

Photo credit: Iain Robson