Offshore areas under consideration as SACs

There is an ongoing process of SAC identification in the UK offshore region. JNCC has identified areas where additional SACs may be sited, following further survey work or analysis of data gathered through survey already conducted. These areas are termed Areas of Search.

Once enough data has been analysed the areas are assessed against the SAC selection criteria and a decision is made as to whether they are required for inclusion within the SAC network. Following this assessment JNCC either decides to progress an area or it is decided that the area will not be progressed.

If JNCC decides to progess an area then a boundary is delineated and the scientific justification for site selection prepared alongside draft versions outlining the likely conservation objectives of the site. Once these documents have been prepared, commented on by the inter-agency Marine Protected Areas Technical Group and approved by JNCC Committee, the site is formally advised to Government. At this point it becomes a draft SAC.