2011 Consultation on the Selection of Three UK Offshore Special Areas of Conservation

2011 Consultation on the selection of three UK offshore Special Areas of Conservation

Consultation Document

6th July 2011

Key to images used on front cover

Croker Carbonate Slabs Cover photo illustrates soft corals (Alcyonium digitatum) and dense Tubularia indivisa hydroids on a methane derived authigenic carbonate structure in the Croker Carbonate Slabs site Copyright © JNCC

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Contents

Key to images used on front cover ...... 2 Contents ...... 3 Summary ...... 4 Possible SACs for consultation in 2011 ...... 4 Confidentiality ...... 5 Background...... 7 Natura 2000 ...... 7 Natura 2000 related legislation within the UK ...... 7 Offshore Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) ...... 7 Selection of offshore SACs for Annex I habitats ...... 10 Completing the suite of SACs for Annex I habitats ...... 10 The offshore SAC selection process ...... 13 The implications of site designation ...... 13 Summary information on each site included for consultation in 2011 ...... 14 Croker Carbonate Slabs ...... 15 Pisces Reef Complex ...... 16 Wight-Barfleur Reef ...... 18 Useful website links ...... 20 References ...... 21 Annex A: Summary of Economic Impact Assessment for the three possible SACs ...... 23 Croker Carbonate Slabs ...... 23 Pisces Reef Complex ...... 23 Wight Barfleur Reef ...... 24 Annex B: Consultation questions ...... 24 The scientific justification for the sites and their boundaries ...... 25 Socio-economic Impact Assessment ...... 26 Annex C: Acronyms ...... 28 Annex D: Consultation code of practice ...... 29 Annex E: List of Consultees ...... 30

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Summary

This document contains supporting information for the consultation on the selection of three possible Special Areas of Conservation (pSAC) within UK offshore waters. These sites are Croker Carbonate Slabs, Pisces Reef Complex and Wight-Barfleur Reef. The sites are selected under the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations (2007) (as amended) which entered into force on 21st August 2007, and which implement the EC Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC) and Wild Birds Directive (2009/147/EC) in UK offshore waters.

The aim of this consultation is to seek the view of all interested parties on:

• the scientific case for selection of the possible SACs; and • the assessment of the likely economic impact of designation of the sites.

Possible SACs for consultation in 2011 JNCC have identified three sites as possible offshore SACs for two different habitats as listed under Annex I of the Habitats Directive:

• Croker Carbonate Slabs; • Pisces Reef Complex; • Wight-Barfleur Reef

Summary details for the sites, including site summaries, reasons for recommendation to Government and the boundary for each site are included in this report. A more detailed document for the scientific selection of each site, entitled the SAC Selection Assessment Document, is available from JNCC’s website (www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult).

The Consultation Impact Assessment (IA) for each site is summarised in ‘Annex A: Summary of Economic Impact Assessment for the three possible SACs’. The full Consultation Impact Assessment (IA) for each site is available from JNCC’s website (www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult).

These documents will be amended in the light of consultation responses received.

A draft document for each site detailing Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations is available from JNCC’s website (http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4535) for information. Please note this is presented in draft to aid consideration of potential effects of designating each site - formal Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations, and any future management measures which may be required for each site based on this information, are not legally required until after each site has been submitted to the European Commission. Therefore, these documents do not form part of the formal consultation, although JNCC welcome comments on the documents (please submit any comments separately to any response on the formal consultation).

This consultation is being undertaken under the code of practice outlined in ‘Annex D: Consultation code of practice’.

The formal consultation period is open for 12 weeks between 6th July and 29th September 2011.

The content of this document is aimed at a non-technical audience, and as such it must contain some generalisations; detailed supporting scientific information is available on the JNCC website (www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult), referenced throughout this document.

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‘Annex C: Acronyms’ - contains a glossary of acronyms used within this document.

The list of consultees can be found in ‘Annex E: List of Consultees’.

How to contribute and deadline for responses

We welcome your comments on the scientific basis for the identification of the possible SACs and their associated Impact Assessments (IA). To get the most out of this consultation we recommend that you:

1. Read this document: it summarises information on the sites being consulted upon, and contains background information about the selection of offshore SACs. Supporting information is contained within the ‘Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)’ which can be found at http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4163.

2. Read ‘Annex A: Summary of Economic Impact Assessment for the three possible SACs’ which summarises information on the IA for all three proposed sites.

3. Read the full site SAC Selection Assessment Document and full Consultation Impact Assessment for the sites that you are interested in. These are referenced in this document and available on our website at (www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult).

4. Use the questions in ‘Annex B: Consultation questions’ to submit your feedback. This is provided as a separate word document on the JNCC website (www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult) for you to download and complete. Note that if you are a member of an industry association or trade body it may collate and submit a response on behalf of all its members. If you do not use this template then please ensure that you clearly separate feedback on the sites and their boundaries from feedback on the associated IAs. Please make sure you include who you are and, where relevant, who you represent.

Refer as necessary to:

5. The Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007 (as amended), which set the framework for the identification and designation of SACs in UK offshore waters (in regulations 7 – 14).

The closing date for responses to this consultation is 29th September 2011

If you do not have access to the internet please contact us and we can supply electronic or printed copies of the material: see contact details below.

Confidentiality

According to the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, all information contained in any consultation responses - including personal information - may be subject to publication or disclosure. At the end of the consultation period copies of the responses we receive may be made publicly available, or the information they contain may be published on our website in a summary of responses. If you wish to request that information given in response to the consultation be kept confidential, this will only be possible if it is consistent with freedom of information obligations.

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A report collating all representations made during the formal consultation period together with any recommendations to be taken as a result of this consultation will be provided to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State will consider this report before submitting a site to the European Commission as eligible for designation as an SAC.

All comments should be submitted in writing to:

Email: [email protected]

Postal address: Marine Natura Sites Manager Marine Protected Sites Team Joint Nature Conservation Committee Monkstone House City Road Peterborough PE1 1JY

Telephone: Fax: 01733 562626 01733 555948

If you have any questions on the consultation process or need clarification of any of the associated information please check they are not already covered in the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) (found at http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4163) before contacting JNCC at the address above.

If you have a complaint about the consultation process, please contact the above person in the first instance. If you are unable to resolve the issue then please contact JNCC’s Business Manager:

Email: [email protected]

Address: as above

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Background

This section provides background information about the selection of offshore SACs; why these sites need to be protected; details of relevant legislation and how sites are identified.

Natura 2000 The Natura 2000 programme of protecting marine sites is driven by two European Council Directives, the ‘Habitats Directive’ and the ‘Birds Directive’. The Habitats Directive requires the identification of suitable areas for the protection of those habitats and species listed by the Directive, leading to their designation as SACs. The Birds Directive requires each Member State to identify the most suitable territories for the protection of those species listed by the Directive and also for regularly occurring migratory species, leading to their classification as Special Protection Areas (SPAs).

Together, SACs and SPAs form a network of protected sites across Europe, called the Natura 2000 network. The aim of this network is to maintain or restore natural habitats and species of wild flora and fauna at favourable conservation status across the European Union.

Natura 2000 related legislation within the UK The obligations placed on the UK by the Habitats and Birds Directives were initially transposed in the mid-1990’s into UK law through regulations applying to inshore waters (within 12 nautical miles (nm) of the coast). Identification of SACs and SPAs within this area is the responsibility of the relevant country conservation agencies: the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Natural England (NE); co-ordinated and reported to the UK Government through the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC).

In 2007, the Offshore Marine Conservation Regulations 2007 entered into force, extending the area over which SAC and SPA sites needed to be identified, from 12nm to the 200nm extent of British fishery limits and the seabed within the UK Continental Shelf designated area. JNCC is responsible for identifying suitable areas as SACs and SPAs in offshore waters, recommending these areas to Government; and providing guidance and advice to marine stakeholders on conservation matters relating to these new provisions. These regulations have since been amended in 2009 and 2010. Since April 2010 JNCC now advises Scottish Government directly of areas fulfilling the criteria for SAC designation in Scottish offshore waters.

Offshore Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) JNCC has been working since 1999 towards identifying potential sites in UK offshore waters. This work was reported in 2002 and subject to public consultation (JNCC Report 325). Since 2002, JNCC has worked to collate geomorphological and biological information on potential sites, refine the process to select areas for habitats, update seabed habitat maps, collect new survey data, and recommend draft areas to Government as suitable for selection as SACs in UK offshore waters.

Croker Carbonate Slabs is proposed for selection for the Annex I feature “submarine structures made by leaking gases”. Pisces Reef Complex and Wight-Barfleur Reef are both proposed for selection of the Annex I feature “Reefs”.

The European Commission has produced guidance on the definition of ‘Annex I habitats’, in the form of an EU Interpretation Manual and additional guidance for implementation of the two Directives in marine areas. Sub-types of each Annex I habitat, supporting different biological communities, occur in UK 2011 Consultation on the selection of three UK offshore Special Areas of Conservation Page 7 of 45 www.jncc.defra.gov.uk

waters. In addition to these physical sub-types, different biological communities are present at varying water depths, and in different regional seas (Defra, 2004). The aim during selection of SACs is to select a range of sites for a particular habitat to represent the range of habitat sub-types present. Some sub- types are already represented in the series of SACs for inshore waters, and so need not be replicated for offshore waters.

Species requiring protection under the Habitats Directive (listed in Annex II) which occur in UK offshore waters include harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin, grey seal and common seal. Analysis of existing data for harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin has shown that we cannot identify any suitable sites in UK offshore waters for these two species. Analysis of new data on the distribution of seals at sea is being carried out, and there is a possibility that offshore sites could be identified for seals in future, if justified by the evidence available. Where sites have been identified for the protection of an Annex I habitat, consideration as to whether these sites may also be “essential to the life and reproduction” of relevant Annex II species (harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphin, common seal and grey seal) is also made. If the species is present on the site, but the site is not “essential to the life and reproduction” of that species, it is recorded as a “non-significant presence”.

At Croker Carbonate Slabs, harbour porpoise and grey seal have been assessed as a “non-significant presence”. At Pisces Reef Complex harbour porpoise, grey seal and common seal have been assessed as a “non-significant presence”. At Wight-Barfleur Reef harbour porpoise and bottlenose dolphin have been assessed as a “non-significant presence”.

Submarine structures made by leaking gases

These are submarine structures, consisting of rocks, pavements and pillars up to 4 m high. They are formed of carbonate cement resulting from microbial oxidation of gas, mainly methane (most likely to have originated from the decomposition of fossil plant materials). These carbonate formations are interspersed with gas vents that intermittently release gas. Two main types of ‘submarine structures made by leaking gases’ have been identified. The first are known as ‘bubbling reefs’ and tend to occur in shallow waters, and the second are typically found within some ‘pockmarks’

As well as providing a potentially favourable, sheltered habitat for a A submarine structure colonised with variety of marine organisms including fish, submarine structures soft corals (Alcyonium digitatum), associated with active gas seeps may be of ecological significance hydroids including Nemertesia because i) of the use of methane and its by-product, hydrogen sulphide, antennina and Tubularia indivisa, and by ‘chemosynthesisers’; ii) the carbonate structures provide increased Henricia sp. Starfish at Croker habitat diversity and a hard substratum suitable for colonisation by Carbonate Slabs (Station 1; © certain benthic organisms. JNCC.gov.uk)

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Reefs

Reefs are rocky marine habitats or biological concretions that arise from the seabed. They can be divided into those where animal and plant communities develop on rock or stable boulders and cobbles, and those where the structure is created by the animals themselves (biogenic reefs).

Rocky reefs are extremely variable: their structure and associated communities are determined by underlying geology, depth, salinity levels, exposure to wave and tides, as well as distance from the coast. Rocky reefs provide a hard surface for attachment by sessile organisms such as sponges, anemones, corals, hydroids, bryozoans, worms, sea-squirts and molluscs as well as diverse mobile species of crustaceans and fish. Flat, smooth, silted bedrock, with dense bed of brittle stars Biogenic reefs are also varied, and are formed by the following reef- (predominantly Ophiothrix fragilis) building species in UK waters: common mussel, horse mussel, taken at Wight-Barfleur Reef. Also polychaete worms, and cold-water corals such as Lophelia pertusa. visible is the anemone Urticina sp. and the soft coral Alcyonium digitatum. (CR.MCR.EcCr.FaAlCr.Bri).

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Selection of offshore SACs for Annex I habitats The areas proposed in this consultation were put forward to UK Government by JNCC as fulfilling the selection criteria for SACs for Annex I habitats contained within the Habitats Directive Annex III, and EC Guidance on implementation of the Natura 2000 network in the marine environment. JNCC and the country conservation agencies have also developed more detailed guidance papers on the practical application of the Annex III selection criteria. European case law provides us with additional interpretation on how to select sites, for example that the selection of sites and their boundaries must be on a scientific basis only (Case C-371/98) and not take socio-economic factors into account.

The Annex III selection criteria for habitats are: • The degree of representativity of the natural habitat type on the site. • The area of the site covered by the natural habitat type in relation to the total area covered by that natural habitat type within the national territory. • Degree of conservation of the structure and functions of the natural habitat type concerned and restoration possibilities. • Global assessment.

SAC site boundaries are chosen to include the minimum area necessary in order to ensure the essential level of protection for the Annex I habitat of interest, to be as simple as possible using a minimum number of straight lines vertices and to include a margin to allow for mobile gear on the seabed being at some distance from the location of a vessel at the sea surface. This balances the need to protect the habitat ‘features of interest’ within the site, whilst avoiding, where possible, inclusion of areas of habitat that do not require protection under the Habitats Directive. It should be noted that the proposed boundary of the SAC need not necessarily be the same as the boundary of any management measure that may be required in future. Detailed information defining boundaries is available.

Completing the suite of SACs for Annex I habitats There are currently 94 SACs with marine components in UK inshore and offshore waters (see Figure 1). Eleven of those 94 are in offshore waters and were submitted to the European Commission by the UK government in 2008 and 2010.

As well as the offshore SACs which are the subject of this consultation, and sites already submitted to Europe, additional SACs will need to be identified in UK offshore waters. Since 2002, JNCC have worked to refine the information we have on where Annex I habitats are actually located in UK offshore waters, and to survey some of these areas to enable us to assess the biological communities present and determine if any are suitable for selection as SACs. Figure 2 shows those offshore areas that have been recommended to UK Government as possible or draft SACs and areas still under consideration for Annex I habitats, to properly represent the range of these habitats present in UK waters. All but one of the remaining offshore areas being considered are in offshore waters off Scotland, and consist of one draft SAC under consideration (Hatton Bank) and a further seven Areas of Search.

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Figure 1: Existing UK SACs with marine components

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Figure 2: Offshore areas which have been recommended to UK Government (pSAC, dSAC) and areas still under consideration for recommendation to Government as SACs (Areas of Search)

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The offshore SAC selection process The selection and protection of offshore SACs under the Offshore Marine Conservation Regulations 2007 (as amended) follows a set process. More information on this process can be found at http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4168.

The implications of site designation As can be seen from the above summary of the site selection process, protection of any site is not legally required under the Offshore Marine Conservation Regulations 2007 (as amended) until the site is submitted to the European Commission. However UK Government will consider what action is needed to be taken to protect a possible site prior to submission to the European Commission, and consenting authorities are encouraged to take note of site proposals in consideration of any licensing or consenting decisions that may affect it.

JNCC recognise that it is difficult to comment on the implications of site designation and the economic Impact Assessment, in the absence of any indication of what management measures may be likely to be developed. JNCC have, therefore, developed draft Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations documents for each site - the documents are available from http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4535 for information. The assessments have been made to the best of our ability and following a standardised process to assess:

a) the sensitivity of a habitat to damaging pressures;

b) the exposure of the habitat at the site to activities which may cause damage; and

c) vulnerability of the habitat to these pressures.

Please note that this document is intended to guide Competent Authorities in managing their activities so as not to damage the integrity of each site, it is provided as a draft, and does not form part of the formal consultation. We are aware that our information on the location, frequency and extent of activities occurring at each site is very generalised and may be incomplete. We welcome any feedback on the structure and usefulness of the documents themselves, and on activities occurring at each site. If you wish to provide feedback on the draft Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations please do so separately to the main consultation to: [email protected]

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Summary information on each site included for consultation in 2011

Summary details for each site, including a site map and site summary, are included in this section. The full ‘SAC Selection Assessment’ document for each site is available for download from JNCC’s website (see below), and contains more detail on the consideration of each site against the Annex III selection criteria, and the scientific data used to identify each site and its boundary (including additional maps and photos). If you do not have access to the internet or have difficulty downloading the documents please contact us and we can supply documents on CD.

Details of the Impact Assessment for each site are summarised in ‘Annex A: Summary of Economic Impact Assessment for the three possible SACs’, and the full Consultation Impact Assessment is available from JNCC’s website.

The summary is presented in the following structure:

Name: Site name. Location: Site centre location (Datum: WGS 1984). Extent: Site surface area. Chart: Showing site boundaries, bathymetry and location relative to UK. Interest Habitats and species contained within the site that are listed in Annexes I and II of the features: Habitats Directive. Photo(s): Representative photo(s) taken at this site. Site Overview of the site details. overview: Supporting SAC Selection Assessment: information: The formal justification for submission of this site as a SAC. (web links) Impact Assessment: The Consultation Impact Assessment (formerly Regulatory Impact Assessment) of the socio-economic implications of designating this site as a SAC.

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Croker Carbonate Slabs Name: Croker Carbonate Slabs Location: 53º28’21”, -5º14’17” Extent: 6591ha/66km2 (Datum: WGS 1984)

Chart:

Interest 1180 Submarine structures made by leaking gases features: 1351 Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) (non-qualifying) 1364 Grey seal (Halichoerus grypus) (non-qualifying)

Photo(s):

A block of high relief MDAC colonised with soft corals A thin slab of low relief MDAC ‘pavement’ with coarse (Alcyonium digitatum), hydroids including Nemertesia sediment and Dahlia anemone (Urticina sp.), creating a antennina and Tubularia indivisa, and Henricia sp. refuge for long clawed squat lobsters (Munida rugosa). Starfish. (Station 1; © JNCC.gov.uk) (Station 6; © JNCC.gov.uk)

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Site The Croker Carbonate Slabs is an area in the mid-Irish Sea, approximately 30km west of overview: Anglesey, where extensive areas of the Annex I feature “submarine structures made by leaking gases” have been identified. The site lies in 70m water depth in the north descending down to approximately 100m at the south west corner. The seabed surface is composed of extensive areas of exposed methane-derived authigenic carbonate (MDAC). These MDAC structures range from ‘low relief’ (elevation of up to 20cm above the surrounding seabed) to ‘high relief’ (elevation over 20cm above the surrounding sediment, and often up to 2m). A cliff feature up to 8m in elevation and 500m long has also been recorded, created by the action of the surrounding coarse seabed sediments being scoured away at the base of the high relief MDAC by currents (Whomersley et al, 2010; Judd, 2005). The seabed habitats created by these MDAC structures are distinctive, supporting a diverse range of marine species that are absent from the surrounding seabed characterised by coarse sediment (Judd, 2005). Areas of ‘high relief’ MDAC support a diverse range of soft corals, erect filter feeders, sponges, tube worms and anemones whilst the ‘low relief’ MDAC is colonised with scour-resistant hydroids and bryozoans (Whomersley et al, 2010). The surrounding sediment is highly mobile and consists of poorly sorted sand (from fine to coarse grained) with a large proportion of broken shell gravel and whole shells interspersed with rippled sand. A blue- grey clay was also commonly seen towards the southern end of the site.

The Croker Carbonate Slabs is located in the Irish Sea regional sea (Defra, 2004). In this regional sea, there is one other location in Welsh territorial waters where the Annex I habitat ‘Submarine structures made by leaking gases’ has been recorded; ‘Holden’s Reef’ within the Pen Llyn a’r Sarnau European marine site. There are also two SACs within the Northern North Sea regional sea (Defra, 2004) where the Annex I habitat ‘Submarine structures made by leaking gases’ is a qualifying feature1, encompassing an area of approximately 45ha of Annex I habitat. Therefore, the Croker Carbonate Slabs site makes a significant contribution to maintaining this Annex I habitat at favourable conservation status within its natural range.

Supporting SAC Selection Assessment: information: http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult Impact Assessment: http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult

Pisces Reef Complex Name: Pisces Reef Complex Location: Pisces Reef 1: 5º09'57″ W, 54º11'10″ N Pisces Reef 2: 5º15'18″ W, 54º09'37″ N Pisces Reef 3: 5º19'29″ W, 54º05'21″ N Extent: 697.14 ha/ 6.97 km2 (Datum: WGS 1984)

1 Braemar Pockmarks SCI and Scanner Pockmarks SCI 2011 Consultation on the selection of three UK offshore Special Areas of Conservation Page 16 of 45 www.jncc.defra.gov.uk

Chart:

Interest 1170 Reefs features: 1351 Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) (non-qualifying) 1364 Grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) (non-qualifying) 1351 Harbour (common) seals (Phoca vitulina) (non-qualifying)

Photo(s):

An area of bedrock with delicate hydroids, the sponge An image showing hydroids, the anemone Urticina and a Polymastia boletiformis and the starfish Asterias rubens shoal of gadoid fish (blue whiting). (© DTi, 2004) and Porania pulvillus. (© DTi, 2004)

Site The Pisces Reef Complex is located in the western Irish Sea, in the north-west mud overview: basin. It is approximately midway between the Isle of Man and the coast of Northern Ireland. The area consists of an extensive mud plain through which three areas of Annex I bedrock and boulder reef protrude (Pisces Reef area 1 - PR1, Pisces Reef area 2 - PR2 2011 Consultation on the selection of three UK offshore Special Areas of Conservation Page 17 of 45 www.jncc.defra.gov.uk

and Pisces Reef area 3 - PR3). They are situated apart from each other at distances of between 5.5 km and 14 km. While the SAC consists of the three reef features, the boundary has been delineated to exclude the areas of muddy sediment in between (see site map - Section 6). The approximate extents of the reefs are; PR1 - 620 m × 500 m, PR2 - 2070 m × 150 m and PR3 - 750 m × 780 m. The average seabed depth within the site boundary is approximately 100m with a maximum of 130m and a minimum of 70m at the peaks of the rocky reef outcrops. The deepest depths are within the scour pits which encircle the outcropping rocky reefs.

The three extruding reefs are composed of tertiary igneous rock and boulders. They rise 15-35m above the surrounding seabed. The reef tops are composed of silty bedrock, with a patchy veneer of muddy sediment, due to sediment deposition from a localised scouring process. The reefs themselves support a diverse community of brachiopods, ascidians, hydroids, sponges and fish. In particular, the mosaic of bedrock and stony reef provide a myriad of ledges and habitat niches. Of note is the occurrence of the Diphasia alata hydroid community. It is not currently included within the Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland (Connor et al 2004) but is considered rare (Picton, 2010 Pers. Comm.). The difference in species composition and abundance between the reefs and the surrounding mud plain highlights the importance of the reefs in providing a refuge for numerous species. The area of muddy sediment around the rocky reefs supports a major Nephrops norvegicus fishery and a high density of Nephrops burrows has been observed.

Pisces Reef Complex: Supplementary brief Since the SAC Selection Assessment document was prepared, a new dataset has been made available which indicates the presence of other areas of rock within the vicinity (but outside the possible SAC boundary) of Pisces Reef Complex pSAC. JNCC are continuing to investigate the detailed information underlying this dataset, but current indications are that whilst rock may be present under the seabed at these locations, we do not have sufficient evidence to include these potential rock areas within the pSAC as Annex I reef. Please see Supplementary Brief document for further detail.

Supporting SAC Selection Assessment: information: http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult SAC Selection Assessment Pisces Reef Complex Supplementary brief: http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult Impact Assessment: http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult

Wight-Barfleur Reef Name: Wight-Barfleur Reef Location: -01º28'25″ W, 50º16'40″ N Extent: 137,344ha/1,373km2 (Datum: WGS 1984)

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Chart:

Interest 1170 Reefs features: 1351 Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) (non-qualifying) 1349 Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates) (non-qualifying)

Photo(s):

Smooth Kimmeridge Clay bedrock, covered with a Steep rock face with broken boulders, supporting dense dense mat of the ascidian Dendrodoa grossularia, covering of the hydroid Tubularia sp., the anemone the hydroid Tubularia sp. and other encrusting Actinothoe sp., and encrusting sponges. (Biotope is sponges and ascidians. (Biotope is Flustra foliacea Tubularia indivisa and cushion sponges on tide-swept and colonial ascidians on tide-swept moderately turbid circalittoral bedrock, CR.HCR.FaT.CTub.CuSp). wave-exposed circalittoral rock, CR.HCR.XFa.FluCoAs) 2.

Site The Wight-Barfleur Reef is an area of bedrock and stony reef located in the central

2 Both photos were taken during the Defra funded project, “Broadscale mapping of hard substrates in the central English Channel” © Crown Copyright (Coggan et al 2009). 2011 Consultation on the selection of three UK offshore Special Areas of Conservation Page 19 of 45 www.jncc.defra.gov.uk

overview: English Channel, between St Catherine’s point on the Isle of Wight and Barfleur Point on the Cotentin Peninsula in northern France. The SAC is approximately 65km long (east to west) and up to 26km wide. The depth within the SAC ranges from 25m to 100m, with the deepest areas to the south, and within the palaeovalley which runs along the south- east part of the SAC.

The large area of bedrock reef within the SAC is characterised by a series of well-defined exposed bedrock ridges, up to 4m high. The rock is generally sandstone, mudstone and siltstone, although different regions within the SAC can be distinguished on the basis of the different textures formed by different types of rock. The southern area of the site is composed of flat, smooth, mudstone and sandstone, with overlying coarse sediment (gravels, cobbles and boulders) which in places forms stony reef. The south-eastern area of the site contains part of a large palaeochannel known as the Northern Palaeovalley, which forms a major channel running roughly north-east/south-west across the English Channel. In this area the palaeovalley remains largely unfilled by sediment due to the strong currents in the area, and is characterised by a gravel, cobble and boulder substrate which in places forms stony reef.

The bedrock and stony reef areas support a diverse range of reef fauna. There are many types of sponges present, from encrusting sponges to larger branching types. Tube worms, anemones and tunicates (sea squirts) are also common on the large boulders and bedrock.

Supporting SAC Selection Assessment: information: http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult Impact Assessment: http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult

Useful website links

The Offshore Marine Conservation http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2007/uksi_20071842_en_1 and The (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) 2007 (as amended) Regulations 2010 No. 491

JNCC published information supporting http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-4550 the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007 (as amended)

Cabinet Office Impact Assessment http://www.berr.gov.uk/Policies/better-regulation/policy/scrutinising-new- background information regulations/preparing-impact-assessments

Electronic copy of consultation http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult document

Microsoft Word template to structure http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult your formal consultation response

Contact for further information on [email protected] offshore SACs

Croker Carbonate Slabs, Pieces Reef http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult 2011 Consultation on the selection of three UK offshore Special Areas of Conservation Page 20 of 45 www.jncc.defra.gov.uk

Complex and Wight-Barfleur pSAC boundaries for use in GIS systems (ESRI ArcGIS shapefiles)

EU nature and biodiversity home page http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/home.htm

Natura 2000 programme www.natura.org

Habitats directive information http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/habitatsdirective/inde x_en.htm

EC – 2007 Guidelines for the http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/natura2000/marine/index_en.ht establishment of the Natura 2000 m network in the marine environment.

Habitats directive Annex I: list of http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/habitatsdirective/inde ’Natural habitat types of community x_en.htm interest whose Follow link to ‘Council Directive 92/43/EEC Consolidated version conservation requires the designation of 1.1.2007’ special areas of conservation’

Habitats Directive Annex III: http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/legislation/habitatsdirective/inde Criteria for selecting sites eligible for x_en.htm identification as sites of community Follow link to ‘Council Directive 92/43/EEC Consolidated version importance and designation as Special 1.1.2007’ Areas of Conservation

JNCC Report 325 2002 Natura 2000 in www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/page-2412 Offshore Waters: Advice to support the Section 2.2 and 2.3 implementation of the EC Habitats and Birds Directives in UK offshore waters

JNCC. 2008. UK Guidance on defining http://www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/pdf/SACHabBoundaryGuidance_2008Upd boundaries for marine SACs for Annex I ate.pdf habitat sites fully detached from the coast [online]. Peterborough: JNCC.

References

CONNOR, D.W., ALLEN, J.H., GOLDING, N., HOWELL, K.L., LIEBERKNECHT, L.M., NORTHEN, K.O., REKER, J.B. 2004. The Marine Habitat Classification for Britain and Ireland Version 04.05 JNCC, Peterborough ISBN 1 861 07561 8. Available from: www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/MarineHabitatClassification.

DEFRA. 2004. Review of Marine Nature Conservation. Working Group Report to Government [online]. London: Defra. Available from: http://archive.defra.gov.uk/environment/biodiversity/marine/documents/rmnc-report-0704.pdf [Accessed March 2007.]

JUDD, A.G. 2005. The distribution and extent of methane-derived authigenic carbonates. DTI Strategic Environmental Assessment, Area 6 (SEA6). Department of Trade and Industry, UK

PICTON, B. 2010. Personal Communication. National Museums Northern Ireland, Co. Down.

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WHOMERSLEY, P., WILSON, C., CLEMENTS, A., BROWN, C., LONG, D., LESLIE, A. & LIMPENNY, D. 2010. Understanding the marine environment – seabed habitat investigations of submarine structures in the mid Irish Sea and Solan Bank Area of Search (AoS). JNCC Report No. 430.

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Annex A: Summary of Economic Impact Assessment for the three possible SACs

This section contains summary information about the economic Impact Assessment (IA) for the designation of each SAC included in this consultation (Croker Carbonate Slabs, Pisces Reef Complex and Wight-Barfleur Reef). The full consultation IA for each site can be found at: www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult. If you do not have access to the internet, please contact us and we can supply copies of the material on CD.

Under Cabinet Office guidelines, all policy changes (including the designation of individual offshore SACs) require an IA (formerly Regulatory Impact Assessment) to be developed in order to present and assess the likely costs and benefits and associated risks of a proposal on the UK public, private or third sector.

The IA for each site has been developed to the consultation stage based on current best available information and will be revised following the consultation based on comments and additional relevant information. Each IA will then be used by Government to review the impact of each site designation in order to plan accordingly.

Under European case law (Case C-371/98), the selection of Natura sites (SACs and SPAs) and their boundaries must be made using only scientific information. Socio-economic information cannot be used to determine possible site boundaries.

The IA presents a range of estimated costs based on estimated likely minimum and maximum management measures that might be needed at that site, in order to fulfil the conservation objectives for that site. Actual management measures needed are not yet known, and will be determined following submission of a site to the European Commission. The likely management needed draws on JNCC’s advice in the draft Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations documents.

Croker Carbonate Slabs Costs to the fishing industry (both UK and international) are anticipated to result from some restrictions on certain types of fishing, which may be needed where particular fishing activity may damage the reef habitat or its typical species.

The benefits of designating the site are long term, to protect a significant area of natural habitat of European importance, from unintended damage from marine industry activities. There may also be benefits to fisheries in the longer term, through reduction in fish mortality in the area that is designated. It is not possible to effectively cost the benefits of the site, so these are presented in the IA in qualitative terms.

Pisces Reef Complex Costs to the fishing industry (both UK and international) are anticipated to result from some restrictions on certain types of fishing, which may be needed where particular fishing activity may damage the reef habitat or its typical species.

The benefits of designating the site are long term, to protect an area of natural habitat of European importance, from unintended damage from marine industry activities. There may also be benefits to fisheries in the longer term, through reduction in fish mortality in the area that is designated. It is not possible to effectively cost the benefits of the site, so these are presented in the IA in qualitative terms. 2011 Consultation on the selection of three UK offshore Special Areas of Conservation Page 23 of 45 www.jncc.defra.gov.uk

Wight Barfleur Reef Costs to the fishing industry (both UK and international) are anticipated to result from some restrictions on certain types of fishing, which may be needed where particular fishing activity may damage the reef habitat or its typical species.

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Annex B: Consultation questions This section lists specific issues on the sites and their associated Impact Assessments on which we value your feedback. A template for this section (in Microsoft Word format) is available from JNCC’s website for you to download and use to format your formal consultation response (www.jncc.defra.gov.uk/marineconsult).

The closing date for responses to this consultation is 29th September 2011.

If you do not have access to the internet, please contact us and we can supply electronic or printed copies of the material: see contact details below.

The scientific justification for the sites and their boundaries SAC1) Do you support the scientific basis for the sites being put forward in this round of consultation?

SAC1.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs Yes/No

SAC1.2) Pisces Reef Complex Yes/No

SAC1.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef Yes/No

SAC2) Please indicate if you have any scientific information, not already referenced in the SAC Selection Assessment document for each site (or in the Pisces Reef Complex supplementary brief), to support your response to SAC1. SAC2.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

SAC2.2) Pisces Reef Complex

SAC2.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

SAC3) Do you have any information additional to that included in the SAC Selection Assessment documents about the condition of Annex I habitats within each site boundary that you would like to share with JNCC? SAC2.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

SAC3.2) Pisces Reef Complex

SAC3.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

SAC4) Do you have any further comments on the scientific selection of each site as a SAC? SAC4.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

SAC4.2) Pisces Reef Complex

SAC4.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

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Socio-economic Impact Assessment IA1) Do you have any further information on assessing the value of goods and services for European habitats for each Impact Assessment for Option 1: Designate the site? IA1.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

IA1.2) Pisces Reef Complex

IA1.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

IA2) Are there any other significant activities at each site that the IA has not identified? IA2.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

IA2.2) Pisces Reef Complex

IA2.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

IA3) Can you provide any information to inform estimates of what vessels would do in response to closing each site or part of it to certain types of fishing methods? IA3.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

IA3.2) Pisces Reef Complex

IA3.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

IA4) Can you provide any information to improve the assessment of the costs (and wider impacts) of selecting each site? IA4.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

IA4.2) Pisces Reef Complex

IA4.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

IA5) Can you provide any information to improve the assessment of benefits of selecting each site? IA5.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

IA5.2) Pisces Reef Complex

IA5.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

IA6) In assessing the benefits, we do not take account of the role of the feature (i.e. habitat type) in supporting the wider ecosystem. Can you provide information on the importance of any of the features in supporting the wider ecosystem? IA6.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

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IA6.2) Pisces Reef Complex

IA6.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

IA7) How much time do you think a business might typically take to familiarise themselves with the implications of offshore SAC designation if implemented? (If you represent a particular sector, please make your answer specific to that sector) IA7.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

IA7.2) Pisces Reef Complex

IA7.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

IA8) Are there significant unintended consequences associated with the Options (Baseline: do nothing or Option 1: designate the site) that have not been identified in the IAs? IA8.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

IA8.2) Pisces Reef Complex

IA8.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

IA9) Do you agree with the assessments of impacts on small businesses and can you provide any further information? IA9.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

IA9.2) Pisces Reef Complex

IA9.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

IA10) Are there any other aspects of the IAs on which you would like to comment or where you are able to provide further information? IA10.1) Croker Carbonate Slabs

IA10.2) Pisces Reef Complex

IA10.3) Wight-Barfleur Reef

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Annex C: Acronyms

CCW Countryside Council for Wales dSAC Draft SAC

DTi Department of Trade and Industry3

FAQ Frequently Asked Questions

MDAC Methane-Derived Authigenic Carbonate

NIEA Northern Ireland Environment Agency

IA Impact Assessment4 JNCC Joint Nature Conservation Committee NE Natural England nm Nautical mile pSAC Possible SAC

SAC Special Area of Conservation

SNH Scottish Natural Heritage

SPA Special Protection Area

3 Now the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills 4 Formerly RIA, Regulatory Impact Assessment 2011 Consultation on the selection of three UK offshore Special Areas of Conservation Page 28 of 45 www.jncc.defra.gov.uk

Annex D: Consultation code of practice

The following code of practice has been adopted for this consultation. We will endeavour to:

1. Consult widely throughout the process, allowing a minimum of 12 weeks for written consultation at least once during the development of the policy.

2. Be clear about what the proposals are, who may be affected, what questions are being asked and the timescale for responses.

3. Ensure that the consultation is clear, concise and widely accessible.

4. Give feedback regarding the responses received and how the consultation process influenced the policy.

5. Monitor JNCC’s effectiveness at consultation, including through the use of a designated consultation co-ordinator.

6. Ensure the consultation follows better regulation best practice, including carrying out an Impact Assessment if appropriate.

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Annex E: List of Consultees This consultation document has been sent to the following organisations for their views, although we welcome comments from any interested parties, not just those listed here. If you feel any organisations are missing from this list then please let us know so that we can contact them. If you are a member of an industry or trade association you may find that they will co-ordinate a response to the consultation on your behalf.

3a Air & Acoustics A Proctor Group Ltd Aberdeen Institute for Coastal Science and Management, University of Aberdeen ABG Geosynthetics ABPmer Acoustic Consultancy Services Acoustics Associates Advisory Committee on the Protection of the Sea Agence des Aires Marines Proteges Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute Aker Kvaerner Consultancy Services Alan Judd Partnership Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research Allaway Acoustics Ltd Alterra-Texel AM Seafoods AMEC AMEC NNC Ltd Angling Trust Anglo Scottish Fishermen's Association Anglo-French Offshore Surveys Ltd Anglo-North Irish Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd Anglo-Scottish Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd Apache Corporation Aquatic Survey and Monitoring Aquatonics Ltd Ashtead Technology Rentals Associated British Ports Association Nationale des Organisations de Producteurs

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Association of British Offshore Industries Association of Chief Police Officers Association of Marine Scientific Industries Association of Salmon Fishery Boards Atkins Global Atlantic Salmon Trust ATP Oil and Gas Corporation Balanced Seas Bass Anglers' Sportfishing Society Bell Ingram BES Consulting Ltd BG Group Birdlife International BMT Cordah Ltd Bournmouth University, School of Conservation Sciences BP BRE Environment Bretagne Vivante Bridge Energy ASA Briggs Marine and Environmental Services British Association for Shooting and Conservation British Chamber of Commerce British Divers Marine Life Rescue British Ecological Society British Energy British Geological Survey British Marine Aggregate Producers Association British Marine Federation British Oceanographic Data Centre British Oil Spill Control Association British Ports Association British Rig Owners Association British Shippers Council British Sub-Aqua Club British Telecom Subsea Operations British Trust for Ornithology

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British Tugowners Association British Water Ski Federation Buglife Buro Happold Cabinet Office Cable & Wireless CalEnergy Cane Associates Carbon Capture and Storage Association CEMEX UK Marine Ltd Central Dredging Association Centre for Coastal and Marine Research, University of Ulster Centre for Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, University of East Anglia Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science Centre for Marine Biodiversity and Biotechnology, Heriot-Watt University Centre for the Economics and Management of Aquatic Resources Centrica (RBW) Ltd CGG-Veritas CH4 Ltd Challenger Minerals Limited Chamber of Shipping Chelonia Limited Chickerell BioAccoustics Chris Blandford Associates Clyde Fishermen's Association CMACS Ltd CNR International Coastal Assessment, Liaison & Monitoring Coastal Fisheries Conservation and Management Coastal Management for Sustainability Coastline Surveys Limited CoastNET Comité National des Pêches Maritimes et des Elevages Marins Comité Régional des Pêches maritimes de Basse Normandie Comité Régional des Pêches maritimes et des elevages marins Nord-Pas de Calais-Picardie Commissioners of Irish Lights

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Confederation of British Industry Conocophillips Ltd Convention of Scottish Local Authorities Countryside Council for Wales CREEM Crossavon Ltd Crown Estate Deep Dock Defra - Environmentally Friendly Fishing Defra - International Marine Policy Defra - Marine Biodiversity Defra - Sea Fisheries Conservation Deltares Department for Constitutional Affairs Department for Culture Media and Sport Department for Energy and Climate Change (Oil & Gas) Department for Energy and Climate Change (Renewables) Department of Environmental Science, Lancaster University Department of the Environment, Community & Local Government, Ireland Department for International Development Department for Transport – Ports Department for Transport – Shipping Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture, Isle of Man Department of Environment, Northern Ireland DIVER magazine Dutch Federation of Fisheries Associations Ecologic UK Economics for the Environment Consultancy Ltd ECUS Ltd Emu Ltd Energy Institute Energy Networks Association English HeritageENI UK Limited EnviroCentre Ltd Environ

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Environment Protection Group Environment Research Funders' Forum Environmental Industries Commission Environmental Research Institute, University of Highlands and Islands Millennium Institute Environmental Resources Management Enviros Consulting Envirowatch UK Envision EOG Resources Inc. EON EURO Scientific Services European Anglers Alliance European Association of Fish Producers Organisations European Commission European Community Shipowners Association European Federation of Sea Anglers European Wind Energy Association Europilots ExxonMobil International Fairfield Energy Fauna and Flora International Federation of Irish Fishermen Federation of Small Businesses Finding Sanctuary Firth of Clyde Forum Fishermen's Association Ltd Fleetwood Fishermen's Association Floyd and Associates Ltd Foreign and Commonwealth Office Friends of the Earth Fugro OSAE GmbH Fugro Survey Ltd Gardline Environmental Limited Gatty Marine Laboratory, University of St Andrews GDF GemsGroup

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Geocon Site Investigation Services Geodata Institute Geomotive Inc Geotek Ltd Global Crossing Greenpeace Halcrow Halletec Associates Hampshire County Council Harrison Group Environmental Ltd Hartley Anderson Ltd Headland Archaeology Health and Safety Executive Hepworth Acoustics Ltd Herpetological Conservation Trust HFL Risk Services Ltd HM Customs and Excise HM Treasury Home Office HRL Hydro GIS Ltd Hydroscience Technologies Hydrosurveys Ifremer Imperial College London Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies - Centre for Fisheries Research Institute of Aquaculture, University of Stirling Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Aberystwyth Institute of Ecology and Environmental Management Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment Institute of Estuarine and Coastal Studies Institute of European Affairs Institute of Zoology International Association of Drilling Contractors International Association of Geophysical Contractors International Association of Oil and Gas Producers

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International Cable Protection Committee International Council for the Exploration of the Sea International Fund for Animal Welfare International Marine Contractors Association International Maritime Organisation International Power Marine Developments Ltd International Sea Kayak Association Irish Fish Producers Association Irish Sea Conservation Zone Project ISG IUCN iXSurvey Joynes Pike & Associates Ltd Ketos Ecology Leibniz Institute of Marine Sciences at the University of Kiel Maersk Contractors Mallaig and North West Fishermen's Association Mammal Society Manx Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd Marathon Oil UK Ltd Marenco Environmental Consultants Marine and Coastal Environment Group, Cardiff University Marine Biological Association Marine Biology and Ecology Research Centre, University of Plymouth Marine Connection Marine Conservation Society Marine Ecological Surveys Marine Ecology & Sailing Marine Forum for Environmental Issues Marine Institute, Ireland Marine Leisure Association Marine Management Organisation Marine Protected Area Fisheries Coalition Marine Research Institute Marine Scotland Science Marine Stewardship Council

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MARINET Maritime and Coastguard Agency Maritime Plymouth Metoc plc Ministry for Ecology and Sustainable Development, France Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, France Ministry of Defence MEP Arlene McCarthy MEP Ashley Fox MEP Bairbre de Brun MEP Brian Simpson MEP Catherine Bearder MEP Chris Davies MEP Daniel Hannan MEP Derek Vaughan MEP Diane Dodds MEP Giles Chichester MEP Graham Watson MEP Jacqueline Foster MEP James Elles MEP James Nicholson MEP Jill Evans MEP John Bufton MEP Julie Girling MEP Kay Swinburne MEP Keith Taylor MEP Marta Andreasen MEP Nick Griffin MEP Nigel Farage MEP Nirj Deva MEP Peter Skinner MEP Paul Nuttall MEP Richard Ashworth MEP Robert Atkins MEP Sajjad Karim MEP Sharon Bowles

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MEP Trevor Colman MEP William (The Earl of) Dartmouth MP Alan Whitehead MP Alison McGovern MP Amber Rudd MP Andrew Miller MP Andrew Turner MP Andrew Tyrie MP Angela Eagle MP Bill Esterson MP Caroline Dinenage MP Chris Huhne MP Christopher Chope MP Conor Burns MP David Morris MP David Willetts MP Derek Twigg MP Desmond Swayne MP Esther McVey MP Frank Field MP Gordon Marsden MP Greg Knight MP Gregory Baker MP Maria Eagle MP Jamie Reed MP Joe Benton MP John Denham MP John Pugh MP John Woodcock MP Julian Lewis MP Lorraine Fullbrook MP Louise Ellman MP Mark Hoban MP Mike Hancock MP Mike Weatherley MP Nick Gibb

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MP Norman Baker MP Paul Maynard MP Peter Bottomley MP Richard Drax MP Robert Syms MP Simon Kirby MP Stephen Lloyd MP Stephen Mosley MP Stephen O’Brien MP Tim Loughton MP Tobias Ellwood MP Tony Cunningham Morrison Construction Murphy Eastern Oil Company MWH National Assembly for Wales National Federation of Charter Skippers National Federation of Fishermen's Organisations National Federation of Sea Anglers National Federation of Sea Schools National Grid National Oceanography Centre National Physical Laboratory National RSA MCZ coordination Group Natural Capital Initiative Natural England Natural Environment Research Council Natural History Museum Natural Power Nature Bureau International Nautical Archaeology Society Nautilus Consultants Net Gain Newcastle University Newfield Exploration Nippon Oil Exploration Ltd

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Noise & Vibration Engineering Ltd North Western Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority North Western Waters Regional Advisory Council Northern Ireland Environment Agency Northern Ireland Environmental Link Northern Ireland Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd Northern Ireland Fishermen’s Federation Norton Rose Solicitors Oceanlab, University of Aberdeen Offshore Contractors’ Association Offshore Design Engineering Ltd Oil & Gas UK OILEXCO Incorporated OMV (UK) Ltd Optica Marine PA Resources UK Ltd Pêcheurs de Manche et Atlantique Peel Ports Pelamis Wave Power Ltd Perenco plc Personal Watercraft Partnership Peter Barham Environment Ltd Petro-Canada UK Holding Ltd Petrofac Ltd Plymouth Marine Laboratory Precision Marine Survey Limited Premier Oil Pricewaterhouse Coopers Professional Boatman’s Association Proudman Oceanographic Laboratory Qinetiq Queens University, Belfast RAW Group Rederscentrale cv Reliance Global Communications Renewable Energy Association

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RenewableUK Resource & Environmental Consultants Ltd Royal Belgian Institute of Natural Sciences Royal Haskoning Royal Holloway University of London Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Royal National Lifeboat Institution Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Royal Yachting Association Royal Yachting Association - The Green Blue RPS Energy RPS Group plc RPS Planning and Development Ltd RSK Group plc Rudall Blanchard Associates Ltd RWE Npower Renewables Scallop Association Scanning Ocean Sectors Scotland & Northern Ireland Maritime & Coastguard Agency Scott Trawlers Scottish Association for Marine Science Scottish Fishermen's Federation Scottish Fishermen's Organisation Ltd Scottish Government Scottish Power Renewables Scottish White Fish Producers' Association Ltd Sea Anglers Conservation Network Sea Fish Industry Authority Sea Fisheries Inspectorate (Northern Ireland) Sea Mammal Research Unit Seabed User & Development Group Seas at Risk Seasearch SeaStar Survey SeaWatch Foundation

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SeaZone Seistech Ltd Senergy Floyds Shark Trust Shellfish Association of Great Britain Shipowners of France Small Business Service Society for Underwater Technology South Devon & Channel Shellfishermen South Western Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd Southern Inshore Fisheries & Conservation Authority Spanish Fishing Confederation (Confederacion Espanola de Pesca) Sport England States of Guernsey Government States of Jersey Government Statoil UK Ltd. Survey Association Sustainable Fisheries Solutions Ltd Swansea University The Energy Institute The Sir Alistair Hardy Foundation for Oceanographic Science The Treasury Solicitor Department TNO Tourism and Environment Forum Trinity Lighthouse Service Tullow Oil UK Business Council for Sustainable Energy UK Cable Protection Committee UK Climate Impacts Programme UK Hydrographic Office UK Major Ports Group UK Sea Angling UK Spill Association Unicomarine United Kingdom Association of Fish Producers' Organisations Ltd United Marine Dredging Limited

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University College Cork University College London University Marine Biological Station, Millport University of Aberdeen University of Cambridge University of Hull, Maritime Historical Studies Centre University of Hull, Scarborough Centre for Coastal Studies University of Liverpool University of Plymouth Marine Institute University of Portsmouth, Institute of Marine Sciences University of St Andrews, School of Geography and Geosciences University of Stirling, School of Biological and Environmental Studies University of Wales, Bangor University of Wales, Swansea University of York URS Corporation Limited UTEC Survey Ltd Valhalla Van Oord UK Ltd Vegetarian Economy and Green Agriculture Venture Productions Plc Verif-i Viatel Vision Project Services (UK) Ltd Wales & West Coast Fish Producers' Organisation Ltd Wales Environment Link Wales Environment Research Hub Warwick Energy Ltd Water UK Welsh Government Welsh Federation of Fishing Associations Welsh Federation of Sea Anglers Welsh Yachting Association West Coast Energy Ltd Weymouth & Portland Fisherman's & Licensed Boatman's Association Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

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Whitehaven Fishermen's Association Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust Wildlife & Countryside Link Wildlife Trusts Wintershall B.V. WiSE Scheme Worldwide Fund for Nature UK Worley Parsons Xcite Energy Resources Ltd Xodus Group Zoological Society of London

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2011 Consultation on the selection of three UK offshore Special Areas of Conservation: Croker Carbonate Slabs / Pisces Reef Complex / Wight-Barfleur Reef 6th July 2011

The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) is the statutory adviser to Government on UK and international nature conservation, on behalf of the Council for Nature Conservation and the Countryside, the Countryside Council for Wales, Natural England and Scottish Natural Heritage. Its work contributes to maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving geological features and sustaining natural systems.

Monkstone House City Road Peterborough PE1 1JY www.jncc.gov.uk [email protected] +44(0) 1733 562626

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