Latest changes to the SPA site list

This table outlines changes made to the SPA site list and the dates the changes were notified to Europe. 

 
The status of 'qualifying' species on individual SPAs - important information>>>
 

Tranche 56 - submitted 14 November 2017

 

EU Code Site Name Change Reason of change
UK9010111 Poole Harbour Site extension and feature updates  Site extension as of 31st October 2017 and amendments to associated fields. Pressures/threats and activities information updated. Update to qualifying features in Section 3.2. for Poole Harbour. New features added are little egret Egretta garzetta, Eurasian spoonbill Platalea leucorodia and Sandwich tern Sterna sandvicensis.
UK9020309 Outer Thames Estuary  Site extension and feature updates  Site extension to SPA as of 31st October 2017 and amendments to associated fields. Pressures/threats information updated. Update to qualifying features in Section 3.2. New features added are little tern Sternula albifrons and common tern Sterna hirundo.
UK9020323 Falmouth Bay to St Austell Bay New SPA Classified on 31st October 2017 to protect black-throated diver Gavia arctica, great northern diver Gavia immer and Slavonian grebe Podiceps auritus. 
UK9012091 Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay Extension on previous extension Site extension as of 31st October 2017 and amendments to associated fields. ‘Population’ grading for Sterna hirundo changed from B to C.
UK9020294 Liverpool Bay Extended into English inshore waters and into UK offshore waters Site extension to SPA as of 31st October 2017 and amendments to associated fields. Pressures/threats information updated. Update to qualifying features in Section 3.2. New features added are: little gull Hydrocoloeus minutus, little tern Sternula albifrons and common tern Sterna hirundo. Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and red breasted merganser Mergus serrator are new main waterbird assemblage components.
UK9020328 Irish Sea Front  New site full details needed New SPA classified on 31st October 2017 to protect Manx shearwater Puffinus puffinus. New Standard Data Form.
UK9010091  Chesil Beach and The Fleet  Feature update Update to qualifying features in Section 3.2. removal of dark-bellied brent goose Branta bernicla and amendments to associated fields. Branta bernicla should not have been a qualifying feature on the SDF. Its earlier inclusion was a previous transcription error from the original legal site citation.

 

 

Tranche 55 - submitted 30 June 2017

EU Code Site Name Change Reason of Change
UK9013061 Anglesey Terns / Morwenoliaid Ynys Môn Amended site

Site previously named Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and the Skerries. An extended site as of 30th January 2017.

Various updates to the Standard Data Form.
UK9020327 Northern Cardigan Bay / Gogledd Bae Ceredigion New site Classified on 30th January 2017 to protect red-throated diver Gavia stellata. New Standard Data Form.
UK9014051 Skomer, Skokholm and the Seas off Pembrokeshire / Sgomer, Sgogwm a Moroedd Penfro Amended site Site previously named Skokholm and Skomer. An extended site as of January 2017, now also partly in UK offshore waters. Various updates to the Standard Data Form.
UK9006021 Farne Island Amended site

Site now also classified to protect common guillemot Uria aalge and a seabird assemblage as of 29th January 2017.

Various updates to the Standard Data Form.
UK9006031 Coquet Island Amended site Site now also classified to protect a seabird assemblage as of 29th January 2017. Various updates to the Standard Data Form.
UK9009131 Hamford Water Amended site An extended site as of 7th February 2017. Various updates to the Standard Data Form.
UK9020326 Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary New combined site This new combined site replaces two individual sites – Morecambe Bay SPA (UK9005081) and Duddon Estuary SPA (UK9005031) and is also extended as of 7th February 2017. New Standard Data Form combines and updates information from the original Standard Data Forms for both sites.
UK9020325 Northumberland Marine New site Classified on 29th January 2017 to protect Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica, little tern Sterna albifrons, common tern Sterna hirundo, Arctic tern Sterna paradisaea, sandwich tern Sterna sandvicensis, common guillemot Uria aalge and a sea bird assemblage. New Standard Data Form.

 

 

 

Tranche 53 - submitted 24 October 2016

EU Code Site Name Fields Change  Reason for change
UKGIB0002 Southern Waters of Gibraltar POPULATION,
CONSERVATION,
ISOLATION and GLOBAL from 3.2		 Caretta caretta Population field changed from category D to A. The other three fields from site assessment have been also filled in Further research has provided more information with regards to the density of the population of the species in site in relation to the populations present within national territory.

 

Amendments to SPA information submitted to the EU (January 2016 onwards).

 

EU Code Site Name Country Changes

Date submittted

to the EU
UK9012091 Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay England Extension of the boundary and associated qualifying interest features. 24-May-16 (Tranche 51)

 

 

Tranche 50 - submitted 22 December 2015 with minor corrections submitted on 28 January 2016

 

On December 22 2015  the UK made a complete resubmission of data for all Natura 2000 sites (SAC and SPA). This submission is referred to as "Tranche 50".                    

The Tranche 50 update included a significant number of changes to the Standard Data Forms for all SPAs in the UK.                 

As a result, revised Standard Data Forms have been generated for all SPA.                            

The rationale for these changes is explained in the UK Approach document.                 

For changes relating to Gibraltar please see annex 2 of the above document.

            

The table below summarises the more significant changes made as part of the Tranche 50 update that are relevent to the SPA series.                  

As part of the UK Tranche 50 submission to the EU, we were also required to submit a "change log" covering the following types of amendment.

  • Changes to the whole site area boundaries.
  • Additional and deleted SPA/SAC interest features.
  • Name and code changes for SPA interest features (birds) as requested by the EEA.

 

       

Section in Standard Data Form Field name Summary of updating issue and approach taken
1.7 National legal reference of each SAC and SPA designation

Legal references have been reviewed and provided for all sites. The approach taken was to refer to the implementing regulations relevant for each country and for offshore marine. The regulation numbers specifically noted relate to the act of designation of sites under the Habitats Directive and the classification of sites under the Birds Directive, as well as the references to adding new sites to the national register of European sites and notifying relevant stakeholders.

 
2.2 Area (ha)

Site areas have been updated to correspond with revised GIS boundary data supplied by the Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies as published on their websites in July 2015. This change affects the majority of Natura 2000 sites but in most cases the change is very minor. More significant changes occur typically where there are dynamic habitats such as river systems, estuaries and eroding coastlines. All changes are itemised in the UK change log spreadsheet provided as part of this update with an explanation provided for each change.

 
 2.3 Marine area (%)

Information completed for all sites. The ‘percentage of marine area’ section has been set at 0% for sites protecting terrestrial components only, and was calculated from mean high water limits to obtain the marine areas of sites that protect marine components (features making use of, or dependent on, the marine environment). An additional check for any exceptional circumstances where marine area percentage calculations needed to account of marine features occurring above mean high water limits was also undertaken.

 
 2.5 NUTS Code

New Level 2 NUTS codes added

 
 3.2 Species

Additions: The UK has added bird qualifying species inadvertently missed off previous EU database submissions. Note that these features are all on official site documentation (the citations) and should therefore be added to section 3.2 of the SDF

Deletions: Seven deletions of species interest features (all on SPA) have been made on advice from Statutory Nature Conservation Bodies. In all cases these were incorrect entries within previously submitted data, and were not listed as qualifying interest features on official site documentation used in UK stakeholder consultation. See the UK change log spreadsheet for further details.

 
 3.2 Species code

Some bird codes have been updated to align with the Natura 2000 reference portal. See the UK change log spreadsheet for further details.

 
 3.2 Species scientific name

Some scientific names have been updated to align with accepted species names in the Natura 2000 reference portal. See UK change log spreadsheet for further details.

 
 3.2 Species population size on the site (min and max)

A few population figures have been replicated (from population min into population max), added or removed (but no changes have been made requiring stakeholder consultation).

 
 3.2 Species population size on the site – Data quality

Species ‘data quality’ assessments from the time of designation have been completed for all relevant sites.

 
 3.3 Other species – assemblages

Added to explicitly record assemblages of birds.

 
 4.3 Threats Pressures and Activities (TPAs)

Negative Threats and Pressures and positive Activities have been reported at Level 2 at site level. Ranking and proximity of impact information is also provided.

 
 5.1 Designation types at national and regional level Errors and omissions corrected for a small number of sites.
 6.2 Management plan exists/ Link to management plan

 Information on whether or not a plan exists and links provided to Comprehensive Management Plans where appropriate.

 
 6.3 Conservation measures This section has been used simply to refer users to Section 4.5 for information and weblinks on Conservation Objectives and other supplementary information related to site-level management etc. This section was not favoured because there is no option to provide weblinks.
 7 Map of the site

Updated boundaries of sites provided as shapefiles.

 

 

 

Amendments to SPA information submitted to the EU (March 2005 to December 2015).

 

EU Code Site Name Country Changes

Date submittted

to the EU
UK9013121 Glannau Aberdaron ac Ynys Enlli/ Aberdaron Coast and Bardsey Island Wales Extension of the boundary to include marine feeding areas for seabirds. NB this boundary amendment was classified by Welsh Government in November 2014 16-Apr-15
UK9014041 Grassholm Wales Extension of the boundary to include marine feeding areas for seabirds. NB this boundary amendment was classified by Welsh Government in November 2014 16-Apr-15
UK9014051 Skokholm and Skomer Wales Extension of the boundary to include marine feeding areas for seabirds. NB this boundary amendment was classified by Welsh Government in November 2014 16-Apr-15
UK9020287 Mersey Narrows and North Wirral Foreshore England New Site 05-Jul-13
UKGIB9001  Rock of Gibraltar Gibraltar SPA classification officially submitted to the EU 30-Aug-12
UKGIB9002 Southern Waters of Gibraltar  Gibraltar SPA classification officially submitted to the EU 30-Aug-12
UK9013011 The Dee Estuary England/Wales

Site extended

Please note: This information was submitted on 5 September 2011 and formally ratified by Defra 14 September 2011

 5-Sep-11
UK9020296 Upper Nene Valley Gravel Pits England New Site 26-Aug-11
UK9020281 Arun Valley England change of site type 11-Feb-11
UK9020308 Cairngorms Massif Scotland

New Site - for Golden Eagle**

** Please note that the Cairngorms Massif overlaps with seven previously classified SPAs, most notably with the site classified as "the Cairngorms". The totality of the Cairngorms Massif SPA area has been identified on a robust, scientific basis purely for golden eagle; such an area is not "a most suitable territory" for the other 6 species of the original Cairngorms SPA and it is therefore inappropriate to extend the original site to address the substantially greater area required for golden eagle. An integrated, overarching SPA for golden eagle is considered the most appropriate means of applying the extended requirements of the Birds Directive yet maintaining the requisite area focus for the remaining 6 species. (Information supplied by Scottish Natural Heritage).

 11-Feb-11
UK9001431 Canna and Sanday Scotland Minor amendments 11-Feb-11
UK9002091 Fair Isle Scotland Minor amendments 11-Feb-11
UK9020306 Foinaven Scotland New Site - for Golden Eagle 11-Feb-11
UK9020303 Glen Affric to Strathconon Scotland New Site - for Golden Eagle 11-Feb-11
UK9020307 Glen Etive and Glen Fyne Scotland New Site - for Golden Eagle 11-Feb-11
UK9001241 Handa Scotland Minor amendments 11-Feb-11
UK9002011 Hermaness, Saxa Vord and Valla Field Scotland Minor amendments 11-Feb-11
UK9020304 Jura, Scarba and the Garvellachs Scotland New Site - for Golden Eagle 11-Feb-11
UK9020305 Moidart and Ardgour Scotland New Site - for Golden Eagle 11-Feb-11
UK9003171 North Colonsay and Western Cliffs Scotland Minor amendments 11-Feb-11
UK9020309 Outer Thames Estuary England Correction to Longitude 11-Feb-11
UK9002181 Sule Skerry and Sule Stack Scotland Minor amendments 11-Feb-11
UK9001041 The Shiant Isles Scotland Minor amendments 11-Feb-11
UK9002471 Troup, Pennan and Lion`s Heads Scotland Minor amendments 11-Feb-11
         
UK9020309 Outer Thames Estuary England New Site 20-Aug-10
UK9020294 Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl England/Wales New Site 20-Aug-10
UK9003091 Ailsa Craig Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9020290 Belfast Lough Open Water Northern Ireland New Site Boundary 15-Dec-09
UK9002491 Buchan Ness to Collieston Coast Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002431 Calf of Eday Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9001431 Canna and Sanday Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9001231 Cape Wrath Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9020291 Copeland Islands Northern Ireland New Site Boundary 15-Dec-09
UK9002151 Copinsay Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9001182 East Caithness Cliffs Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002091 Fair Isle Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002031 Fetlar Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9001021 Flannan Isles Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9004171 Forth Islands Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002061 Foula Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002271 Fowlsheugh Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9001241 Handa Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002011 Hermaness, Saxa Vord and Valla Field Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002141 Hoy Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002121 Marwick Head Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9001121 Mingulay and Berneray Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9001181 North Caithness Cliffs Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9003171 North Colonsay and Western Cliffs Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9001011 North Rona and Sula Sgeir Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002081 Noss Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002371 Rousay Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9001341 Rum Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9004271 St Abb`s Head to Fast Castle Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9001031 St Kilda Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002181 Sule Skerry and Sule Stack Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002511 Sumburgh Head Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9003058 The Oa Scotland Correction of error in GIS data 15 Dec-09
UK9001041 The Shiant Isles Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002471 Troup, Pennan and Lion`s Heads Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9002101 West Westray Scotland Boundary extension 15-Dec-09
UK9020298 West Inverness-shire Lochs Scotland New Site 15-Dec-09
UK9010121 East Devon Heaths England amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9020051 Pettigoe Plateau Northern Ireland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9020011 Rathlin Island Northern Ireland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9002781 Ballochbuie Scotland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9002491 Buchan Ness to Collieston Coast Scotland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9002301 Drumochter Hills Scotland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9002091 Fair Isle Scotland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9002771 Glen Tanar Scotland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9002141 Hoy Scotland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9002581 Kinveachy Forest Scotland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9001551 Loch Ruthven Scotland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9001572 North Harris Mountains Scotland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9002231 River Spey – Insh Marshes Scotland amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9004441 Slamannan Plateau Scotland new site 31-Aug-09
UK9014091 Bae Caerfyrddin/ Carmarthen Bay Wales amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9020283 Craig yr Aderyn (Bird`s Rock) Wales amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9020284 Dyfi Estuary / Aber  Dyfi Wales amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9013101 Glannau Ynys Gybi/ Holy Island Coast Wales amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9013131 Migneint–Arenig–Dduallt Wales amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9020282 Mynydd Cilan, Trwyn y Wylfa ac Ynysoedd Sant Tudwal Wales amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9013061 Ynys Feurig, Cemlyn Bay and The Skerries Wales amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9020285 Ynys Seiriol / Puffin Island Wales amendment 31-Aug-09
UK9002311 Orkney Mainland Moors Scotland Boundary Extension 01-Sep-08
UK9020295 Renfrewshire Heights Scotland New SPA 01-Sep-08
UK9020299 Oronsay and South Colonsay Scotland New SPA 01-Sep-08
UK9020300 Strath Carnaig and Strath Fleet Moors Scotland New SPA 01-Sep-08
UK9011101 Porton Down England Boundary Extension 01-Dec-07
UK9006111 Humber Estuary England Boundary extension 31-Aug-07
UK9003058 The Oa Scotland New SPA 2-Apr-07
UK9020301 Antrim Hills Northern Ireland New SPA 31-Mar-06
UK9020302 Slieve Beagh - Mullahfad - Lisnaskea Northern Ireland New SPA 28-Mar-06
UK9020297 Anagach Woods Scotland New SPA 16-Mar-06
UK9009121 Stour and Orwell Estuaries England Boundary extension 19-May-05
UK9020292 Darnaway and Lethen Forest Scotland New SPA 21-Apr-05
UK9012141 Thames Basin Heaths England New SPA 09-Mar-05
UK9002241 Cairngorms Scotland Boundary extension 07-Mar-05
UK9020293 Novar Scotland New SPA 07-Mar-05

Many designated sites are on private land: the listing of a site in these pages does not imply any right of public access.