MPA Conservation Advice Coastal Partnership Network - 4th Nov 14. Jamie Davies Project Manager

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1 MPA Conservation Advice Coastal Partnership Network - 4th Nov 14 Jamie Davies Project Manager Jamie.Davies@naturalengland.org.uk

2 Overview 1. Why do we produce Conservation Advice? 2. What does Conservation Advice include? 3. Overview of the new approach we are taking 4. Timetable we are working to 5. Our aspirations for the future

3 Why do we have an MPA Conservation Advice Project? 1. Statutory responsibility to produce Regulation 35 Advice for SPAs & SACs: a. Conservation objectives b. provide Advice on Operations that may cause deterioration to the habitats or disturb the species 2. Ramsar Convention UK government policy to treat same as SPAs 3. Marine & Coastal Access Act (Section 127) we must provide advice when asked

4 Why do we have an MPA Conservation Advice Project? Habitats & Wildbirds Directive Implementation Review (Defra, 2012), EC guidance & stakeholder feedback 3 tests: 1.up-to-date 2.easily accessible 3.allows applicants to assess the impact of their proposed development against the conservation objectives for a site (i.e. quantified targets)

5 Conservation Advice - Why it matters 1. Conservation Objectives define what condition we want protected features to achieve (i.e. defines favourable condition ) 2. It communicates our understanding of current condition of the protected features 3. It identifies what activities features are sensitive too 4. It identifies the evidence that we have, our confidence in it, and where there are gaps

6 Why it matters Therefore it: 1. Informs pro-active management (e.g. fisheries/ recreational management measures) 2. Provides a framework for assessing development (e.g. determining LSE, AAs for Habitat Regulation Assessments) 3. Identifies where there are evidence gaps and informs our monitoring programme

7 What are we providing from March 2015? Each MPA will have a dedicated Conservation Advice page on GOV.UK that includes/links to: 1. Detailed guide (web page) Site overview High-level Conservation Objectives 2. Supplementary Advice (PDF) feature descriptions Seasonality tables when are protected species present? Supplementary Advice Tables expand on the high-level Conservation Objectives to describe what favourable condition is for each feature

8 What are we providing from March 2015? 4. Interactive maps of features/supporting habitats MAGIC websystem 5. Advice on Operations (PDF) Provides a direct link between the activities that a protected feature is sensitive to Justifications and references 6. Publication of draft Advice for ~47 sites 31 March 2015 Do we have the latest evidence? 7. Publication of final Advice 30 June 2015?

9 Out of scope Favourable condition tables: how condition will be monitored and assessed; Vulnerability assessments to inform the general management approach (sensitivity x exposure to activities): Responsibility of management authorities [with advice and support from Natural England].

10 What s new? High-level Conservation Objectives Kingmere MCZ, W Sussex The first conservation objective of the Zone is that, in relation to the protected habitats: so far as already in favourable condition, remain in such condition; and so far as not already in favourable condition, be brought into and remain in such condition. Favourable condition with respect to each protected habitat within the Zone means that: its extent is stable or increasing; its structure and function, its quality, and the composition of its characteristic biological communities are such as to ensure that it remains in a condition which is healthy and not deteriorating.

11 Detailed objectives - providing Supplementary Advice Tables that describe what favourable condition looks like Targets Features Attribute Supporting and/or explanatory notes Maintain the total extent (2644 hectares) of infralittoral rock and thin mixed sediment as defined on the conservation advice mapping document. Moderate energy infralittoral rock and thin mixed sediments Extent: extent of feature The current extent is used where there is no historical data. The total extent captures all the features where it is patchy. The extent of infralittoral rock and subtidal chalk is unlikely to change significantly over time unless as a result of anthropogenic activities, although the mixed sediment veneer on the infralittoral rock could vary. The subtidal chalk is in the form of distinctive outcrops Sources of site based evidence James et al., 2011; Clark, 2012; Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), 2004; Balanced Seas, 2011; Ware and Kenny, 2011 Maintain the total extent (2 hectares) of subtidal chalk as defined on the conservation advice mapping document. Subtidal chalk

12 Advice on operations draft output

13 Maps

14 Timetable of Advice production FY 14/15 47 sites FY15/16 44 sites FY16/17 60 sites FY17/18 - XX sites (Advice for new MCZs & SPAs yet to be designated) Prioritised Advice production: National Strategic Infrastructure Projects (NSIPs), Defra s Top 40 Infrastructure Projects / City Deals features in unfavourable condition; risk of damage to protected features IFCA Article 6 work new MPAs with no existing conservation advice;

15 Summary Does the approach meet Government three key advice tests? 1. up-to-date Yes and aim for a process of constant review and update as evidence improves; 2. be easily accessible Yes available through web; 3. allow applicants to assess the impact of their proposed development against them Yes improved mapping, sensitivity and objectives will improve likely significant effect screening and appropriate assessment.

16 Challenges to the timetable 1. Resources: 50% of our team may be cut by April MCZ & SPA designation remains Defra s marine priority 3. Smarter guidance project and GOV.UK writing principles aim to ensure advice is easily understood for all users, clear and concise. a. Result: shorted, clearer Advice that identifies what it s for b. Implications: i. Not allowed to publish a glossary of terms ii. Not allowed to publish How to use MPA Conservation Advice document for users

17 Aspirations for the future Fully interactive web-platform that can be interrogated by feature, site or activity.

18 Questions