Additional Annex II Marine Species SACs

 

Other marine species on Annex II also occur in UK waters, but SACs are unlikely to be identifiable for these species in waters away from the coast for areas which are "essential to their life and reproduction". Otter and river lamprey (or lampern) occur only in inshore and inland waters. Lamprey, sturgeon and shad are all rare in UK offshore waters and without regular places of occurrence. Loggerhead turtle is primarily a tropical and subtropical species which may wander into temperate waters and is recorded infrequently in UK waters.

 

The marine mammals listed above are typically wide ranging and highly mobile in waters away from the coast. The effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in conserving wide-ranging, highly mobile species continues to be a source of debate. However, where critical habitat (e.g. feeding and breeding areas used over the long-term) can be identified, then MPA-based management may provide some added protection.

 

For the two seal species, coastal SACs have already been designated in the UK to protect breeding colonies and moulting and haul out sites. A review of recent data on seals at sea in UK waters is currently being undertaken to determine whether or not it will be possible to identify any SACs for either of the two seal species in waters away from the coast.

 

Three SACs have been designated for bottlenose dolphin within UK territorial waters. These are Cardigan Bay, the Moray Firth and Lleyn Peninsular and the Sarnau. Analysis of existing data for bottlenose dolphin indicates that it is not possible to identify suitable SACs in UK offshore waters.

 

The UK has not identified any SACs for harbour porpoise as a qualifying feature, but has identified 26 SACs where it is included as a non-qualifying species. Bravington et al (2002) analysed harbour porpoise sightings data in the European Seabirds at Sea (ESAS) database with the aim of identifying potential 'hotspots' that might inform site-based management of the species. They concluded that persistent areas of high harbour porpoise density were lacking in UK waters. Evans and Wang (2002) conducted a similar investigation using the same ESAS data and SeaWatch data and identified several areas around the UK that they claimed were suitable for protected area status. Due to the difference in opinion between the two studies, two peer reviews of the methods applied by Bravington et al (2002) and Evans and Wang (2002) were undertaken. These suggested that the latter approach was not as robust as the former and that the results had been over-interpreted. Further information is available on the wider conservation measures in place throughout the UK to protect harbour porpoise.