Types of marine SPAs
Four types of marine SPAs are currently being considered by
JNCC:
1. Marine extensions to existing seabird breeding
colony SPAs
In the UK almost all seabirds have some of their breeding
sites protected within a network of breeding colony SPAs. This
type of SPA is simply extending their existing boundaries into the
marine environment, if this is deemed appropriate. The size
of the extensions varies depending on the species breeding at the
colony.
The UK’s coastal environment provides
important feeding and moulting areas, as well as migration staging
posts, for non-breeding waterbirds such as divers, grebes, and
seaduck. ‘Inshore’ SPAs will provide protection for the most
important inshore waterbird aggregations.
3. Offshore aggregations of seabirds
All seabirds in the UK rely
on various parts of offshore waters throughout the year,
particularly for feeding. ‘Offshore’ SPAs will provide
protection for the most important seabird concentrations in the
open sea.
4. Other
types of SPA
Some important areas for marine birds may not be included within
the above three categories and will be considered individually.
Areas of search
We have produced a series
of maps which show our current
(at March 2010) areas of search for these different types of marine
SPA. These maps along with their titles, legends and captions
should be read and interpreted carefully. There’s nothing on
them that presupposes any action by government or devolved
administrations to classify as SPAs any areas of search or parts of
them, important areas or parts of them, concentrations of birds
described as important, or any possible extensions to seabird
colony SPAs that have not already been extended.