Offshore Areas of Search

 
The Areas of Search for future offshore SACs are based upon the best available evidence of the location of Annex I sandbanks slightly covered by seawater all the time, reefs and submarine structures made by leaking gases. An ESRI shapefile of the point locations of our offshore Areas of Search is available.
 
For the majority of UK offshore waters the data available on the habitats present is sparse. Therefore JNCC has a programme to survey offshore areas that are deemed as a high priority for inclusion in the SAC network. Further information on former Areas of Search that are not currently being further considered in the SAC selection process is provided in the paper considered by JNCC Committee in December 2008.
 
If you would like information on the potential Annex I habitat shapefiles please contact our offshore survey team. These shapefiles are subject to licencing agreements and therefore to obtain them you will need to purchase licences for British Geological Survey UK Seabed Sediments (DIG SBS 250K) and SeaZone Bathymetry data either in the form of a SeaZone Hydrospatial or SeaZone Bathymetry Topic layer.
 
Area of Search Annex I Habitat Regional Sea
North-West Anglesey Reef Reef Irish Sea
North-West Irish Sea Mounds Reef Irish Sea
George Bligh Bank Reef Rockall Trough and Bank