Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau /Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau European Marine Site comprising: Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau /Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau Special Area of Conservation ADVICE PROVIDED BY THE COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES IN FULFILMENT OF REGULATION 33 OF THE CONSERVATION (NATURAL HABITATS, &c.) REGULATIONS 1994 February 2009 This document supersedes Issue 1 2005 A Welsh version of all or part of this document can be made available on request. PEN LLŶN A’R SARNAU SAC REGULATION 33 ADVICE FEBRUARY 2009 PEN LLŶN A’R SARNAU SPECIAL AREA OF CONSERVATION EUROPEAN MARINE SITE ADVICE PROVIDED BY THE COUNTRYSIDE COUNCIL FOR WALES IN FULFILMENT OF REGULATION 33 OF THE CONSERVATION (NATURAL HABITATS, &c.) REGULATIONS 1994 CONTENTS Summary: please read this first SUMMARY: PLEASE READ THIS FIRST ...........................................................................................5 1 INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................1 2 EXPLANATION OF THE PURPOSE AND FORMAT OF INFORMATION PROVIDED UNDER REGULATION 33 .....................................................................................................................2 2.1 CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES BACKGROUND..............................................................2 2.1.1 Legal Background..............................................................................................................2 2.1.2 Practical requirements.........................................................................................................3 2.2 OPERATIONS WHICH MAY CAUSE DETERIORATION OR DISTURBANCE..............4 2.2.1 Legal context......................................................................................................................4 2.2.2 Practical requirements.........................................................................................................5 3. SITE DESCRIPTION ...........................................................................................................................7 3.1 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................7 3.1.1 Sources and limitations of site information ........................................................................7 3.2 SUMMARY SITE DESCRIPTION...........................................................................................8 3.3 Glannau Aberdaron ac Ynys Enlli SPA...................................................................................12 3.4 Mynydd Cilan, Trwyn y Wylfa ac Ynysoedd Sant Tudwal SPA ............................................12 3.5 Aber Dyfi SPA.........................................................................................................................13 3.6 OPERATIONS WITHIN THE SAC........................................................................................13 3.7 MODIFICATIONS AS A RESULT OF HUMAN ACTIVITY..............................................14 4 FEATURE DESCRIPTIONS .........................................................................................................17 4.1 Reefs.........................................................................................................................................17 4.2 Large shallow inlets and bays ..................................................................................................24 4.3 Sandbanks which are slightly covered by seawater all the time..............................................30 4.4 Estuaries...................................................................................................................................32 4.5 Coastal lagoons ........................................................................................................................37 4.6 Mudflats and sandflats .............................................................................................................39 4.7 Atlantic salt-meadow ...............................................................................................................43 4.8 Salicornia and other annuals colonising mud and sand feature...............................................46 4.9 Submerged or partially submerged sea caves ..........................................................................48 4.10 Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus ..............................................................................................51 4.11 Bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus ..................................................................................55 4.12 Otter Lutra lutra.....................................................................................................................59 5 CONSERVATION OBJECTIVES.................................................................................................62 5.1 Understanding the Conservation Objectives............................................................................68 6 ADVICE AS TO OPERATIONS WHICH MAY CAUSE DETERIORATION OR DISTURBANCE TO THE FEATURES ................................................................................................71 USEFUL REFERENCES .......................................................................................................................93 APPENDIX 1 Glossary of Terms .....................................................................................................95 APPENDIX 2 List of SSIS and SPAs partly or wholly within the SAC................................................98 APPENDIX 3 Important elements of Favourable Conservation Status ................................................99 PEN LLŶN A’R SARNAU SAC REGULATION 33 ADVICE FEBRUARY 2009 --------------------------------------------------------------------- MAPS Map 1 Boundary of the SAC Maps 2 i and 2ii Location of other designated areas wholly or partly within the SAC Map 3 Indicative feature map for the SAC. PEN LLŶN A’R SARNAU SAC REGULATION 33 ADVICE FEBRUARY 2009 SUMMARY: PLEASE READ THIS FIRST This document contains CCW’s advice issued under Regulation 33 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994, for the Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau Special Area of Conservation (SAC), namely conservation objectives and advice on operations. It also includes an explanation of the purpose and format of CCW’s “Regulation 33 advice.” This latest version of the Regulation 33 package has been revised to improve consistency across the marine SACs in Wales. The intent of the conservation objectives and of the advice on operations which may cause deterioration or disturbance to the feature is the same as in previous versions. The Conservation Objectives are now shorter and more generic but there has been no change in what is considered to represent Favourable Conservation Status. Section 1 is a brief introduction to the legal context for Regulation 33 advice. Section 2 explains in more detail the legal basis and practical requirements for setting conservation objectives for Natura 2000 sites, as understood by CCW. It also explains the legal and practical basis of the operations advice. Section 3 contains a brief overall description of Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau/ Lleyn Peninsula and the Sarnau SAC, Glannau Aberdaron ac Ynys Enlli /Aberdaron Coast & Bardsey Island SPA, Mynydd Cilan, Trwyn y Wylfa ac Ynysoedd/Saint Tudwal SPA and Aber Dyfi / Dyfi Estuary SPA, current operations taking place with the SAC and information on modifications as a result of human activity. Section 4 describes habitats and species for which the Pen Llŷn a’r Sarnau SAC has been selected as an SAC as well as why they are considered important. The information is presented using the same headings as those used to describe the conservation objectives so that useful underpinning information in support of these objectives can easily be referenced. Section 5 contains CCW's advice as to the conservation objectives (Regulation 33(2)(a)) for the features for which the site has been selected as an SAC. This includes a vision statement which is a descriptive overview of what needs to be achieved for conservation on the site. It brings together and summarises the Conservation Objectives into a single, integrated statement about the site. Section 6 contains CCW’s advice as to the operations which may cause deterioration or disturbance of the habitats and species for which the site has been selected (Regulation 33(2)(b)). This is provided to assist the relevant authorities and others in understanding the implications of the designation of the site and the requirements of the Habitats Regulations and government policy towards it. The Appendices provide a glossary of terms, a list of other types of protected areas within the SAC and more detail on the elements of Favourable Conservation Status. Other background information such as lists of additional species and habitats of particular note (e.g. species and habitats subject to Biodiversity Action Plans or threatened and declining species and habitats identified by the OSPAR Commission) and the variety of biotopes associated with Annex 1 features may be added in due course. The Maps show the boundaries of the SAC, the location of other protected areas which occur within the SAC, and give an indication of the location of features for which the site was designated. Further maps, for example of adjacent designated areas or giving an indication of the location of habitat components (e.g. types of reef or types of mudflat and sandflat),