The acquisition of new data may result in updates to our
knowledge on feature presence and extent within this site. The most
up to date information is reflected on the map on this page and in
JNCC’s MPA mapper and the evidence
underpinning this can be viewed in the Evidence
tab.
The diagram below is a summary of the key
milestones involved in the selection and designation of West of
Walney MCZ. More detail can be found within the
Relevant Documentation.
The documents referred to below and any other historical
documents relating to West of Walney MCZ were produced
during the selection and designation process and therefore may be
out of date. This Site Information Centre is the most up to
date source of information for this MPA, and will reflect any
additional information gathered since these documents were
produced. Further information about the Marine Conservation Zone
site selection process and historic MCZ advice is available on the
JNCC MCZ pages.
Summary
Last updated: October 2017
Site overview
West of Walney MCZ is
situated approximately 8km west of Walney Island on the Cumbrian
coast of northwest England. The site has an area of approximately
388km2 and includes part of an area known as the eastern
Irish Sea mud belt that is geographically isolated from the deep
water mud habitat in the western Irish Sea.
The seabed in the MCZ contains two broad-scale habitats (BSH);
subtidal mud and subtidal sand. A particular type of mud habitat
known as Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities occurs here,
characterised by the presence of sea-pens (feather-like soft
corals) and burrowing animals such as mud shrimp and the Norway
lobster Nephrops norvegicus. The burrowing activity of
these animals provides an important ecological function in the
bioturbation (mixing) of the sediments, this allows oxygen to
penetrate deeper and increases the structural complexity of the
habitat. Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities are a habitat
Feature of Conservation Importance (FOCI) and an OSPAR Threatened
and/or Declining habitat in the north east Atlantic and
specifically in the Irish Sea.
This mud habitat is of high commercial fishing interest as it is
the supporting habitat of the Norway lobster Nephrops
norvegicus. The Nephrops population in the eastern Irish Sea
is smaller (in number) than the western Irish Sea, and the two
populations are not thought to be connected by larval dispersal.
Historical survey data, conducted off Sellafield, Cumbria,
found the slender sea-pen Virgularia mirabilis associated
with particular sediment types. Fewer V. mirabilis have
been recorded in more recent surveys, conducted further south, in
the vicinity of the West of Walney site; though similar sediment
habitats occur here. Further detail on the evidence for this MCZ
can be found on the Evidence tab.
Site location: Coordinates for
this MCZ can be found in the Designation Order listed in the
Relevant Documentation.
Site area: 388km2 –
a similar size to the Isle of Wight (384km2) off the
south coast of England.
Site depth range: West of
Walney MCZ ranges in depth from 15-33m.
Charting Progress 2 biogeographic region -
Irish Sea.
Site boundary description
The southern
boundary of West of Walney MCZ follows the border of two wind farm
licence areas and also includes a smaller windfarm area within the
boundary. The boundary of West of Walney MCZ was developed by the
Irish Seas
Conservation Zones Regional MCZ Project and has not changed
since it was recommended by the Regional MCZ Project in 2011. The
final boundary for this site aims to balance the impact on the
commercial fishing industry, whilst contributing to the MCZ Project
Ecological
Network Guidance targets.
Evidence
Last updated: October 2017
The full overview of the data used to support site
identification, along with information on confidence in
feature presence and extent is available in Natural England's
Tranche Two
pre- and post-consultation
advice to Defra. JNCC will be adding relevant survey data for
this MPA to our MPA interactive map in due course. Data for this
MCZ has been gathered from existing data sources such as research
surveys and survey undertaken as part of licence conditions for the
development of windfarms. Data from these surveys provide direct
evidence confirming the presence of the protected features within
the site.
Survey and data gathering
- Hilmar Hinz (2003-2004) - To investigate chronic effects
of trawl disturbance, a number of survey stations were sampled off
the West Cumbrian coast (Hinz et al. 2009, funded by EU
project ‘Response’ QLRT-2001-00787). Three survey stations from the
November 2004 survey were located within West of Walney MCZ and
provide supporting information on the presence and extent of the
broad-scale habitat Subtidal mud.
- Jan Hiddock, (School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor
University) (2007-2009) - R.V. Prince Madog was used to
collect Day grab samples twenty six stations across the northern
Irish Sea in June 2007. The purpose of this survey was to
investigate relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem
functioning. In 2009 the R.V. Prince Madog collected Day grab
samples off the Cumbrian coast, the purpose of the survey was to
investigate indirect negative effects of bottom trawl fisheries on
fish condition. Two survey stations from the 2007 survey and three
stations from the 2009 survey provide supporting information on the
presence and extent of the broad-scale habitat Subtidal mud within
West of Walney MCZ.
- Walney and Ormonde Offshore Windfarm Benthic survey (2009)
- These data were collected on behalf of Vattenfall and DONG
Energy, for pre-development baseline survey work carried out on the
benthic environment for the Ormonde and Walney Offshore Wind Farm
developments. The surveys collected still images, Day grabs, and 2m
beam trawls. Twenty one survey stations sampled using Day grab
samples and camera stills support the presence of the broadscale
habitat subtidal mud.
- Walney Extension (2011) - Pre construction monitoring
surveys commissioned by Dong Energy were undertaken as part of
licence conditions for the development of the consented Walney
windfarm. Twenty sample stations support the presence of Subtidal
mud, and 15 stations support the presence of the habitat feature of
conservation importance Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities
within the West of Walney site.
- Irish Sea Offshore Windfarm benthic Survey Reports, Dong
Energy (2011) - Data were collected on behalf of Dong
energy, as a part of the windfarm licence process to monitor their
effects on benthic habitats. Twenty sample stations support the
presence of Subtidal mud within the West of Walney site.
- Walney Wind Farms (2012) - Data were collected on behalf
of Dong energy, as a part of the windfarm licence process to
monitor their effects on benthic habitats. Twenty five stations
support the presence of subtidal mud. Nineteen stations support the
presence of Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna.
- Walney Wind Farms (2013) - Data were collected on
behalf of Dong energy, as a part of the windfarm licence conditions
to monitor the projects effect on benthic habitats. Twenty five
stations support the presence of subtidal mud, one station supports
the presence of subtidal sand, and seventeen stations support the
presence of Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna.
- West Duddon Sands Pre-Consultation Benthic Survey
Data (2012) - The Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies
(CMACS), collected benthic survey data on behalf of Dong Energy as
part of licence conditions for the West of Duddon Sands windfarm
development. Particle Size Analysis (PSA) from Day grabs at seven
stations support the presence of subtidal mud within the West of
Walney site.
- Eastern Irish Sea Nephrops survey (2010/2013) - CEFAS and
the Agri-Food and Biosciences Institute (AFBI) collected survey
data at stations within West of Walney site, as part of a Nephrops
stock assessment survey of the Eastern Irish Sea, ICES assessment
area (Functional Unit 14). Data verifying the presence of the mud
habitat ‘Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities’ were
recorded.
Data analysis reports
- Walney and Ormonde Offshore Windfarm Benthic survey (2009)
- This report presents analysis of data collected for
pre-development baseline survey work carried out on the benthic
environment for the Ormonde and Walney Offshore Wind Farm
developments. The surveys collected still images, Day grabs, and 2m
beam trawls. These data support the presence of the broadscale
habitat subtidal mud within West of Walney MCZ.
- EUSeaMap
(2016) - Provides supporting information on the presence and extent
of subtidal sand and subtidal mud from a predictive
seabed habitat map of European waters.
Additional relevant literature
References for further supporting scientific literature
consulted during the identification of this site can be found in
Natural England's 2015
pre- and
post-consultation scientific advice to Defra. Please be aware
that although these sources contain information in relation to this
MPA, they do not necessarily represent the views of JNCC.
Knowledge gaps
If you are aware of any
additional data or relevant scientific papers for this site not
listed in the relevant documentation, please contact JNCC.
Conservation Advice
Last updated: October 2017
JNCC and Natural England have prepared joint draft conservation
advice for West of Walney MCZ. This draft advice is accessible
through Natural England’s Designated Sites System for West of
Walney MCZ.
JNCC and Natural England are inviting feedback on this draft
conservation advice. Please email your comments to Natural England
[irishsea-conservationadvice@naturalengland.org.uk]. We
are inviting comment on this package between the
dates Wednesday 27th September – Wednesday
6th December (inclusive).
JNCC and NE may provide advice and guidance, under Section 127
of the Marine & Coastal Access Act (2009), regarding
matters capable of damaging or otherwise affecting the protected
features of an MCZ.
JNCC has published the following advice on activities which are
capable of damaging or otherwise affecting protected features in
MCZs:
The draft advice reflects the most up-to-date
evidence held by both Natural England and JNCC. The draft
conservation advice jointly prepared between JNCC and Natural
England should also be taken into consideration in assessment of
the effects which a planned activity can have on the site’s
integrity and when making decisions regarding management and
consenting of marine activities in or near the site.
Following a period to comment the draft advice will be
reviewed and once signed off will become the formal conservation
advice for this site, replacing any previous conservation advice.
For more information on JNCC’s approach to conservation advice
please see the offshore MPA
conservation advice webpage. Information can also be found on
Natural England’s website.
Activities and Management
Last updated: October 2017
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Management
status: Progressing
towards being well managed
The vulnerability assessment conducted for
this site suggests it is unlikely to be moving towards its
conservation objectives, but directed site condition monitoring
data are needed to improve our confidence in this assessment.
Licensed activities are being managed, and fisheries management
measures are in development for this site.
|
This site forms part of the UKs contribution
to the OSPAR
commission’s network of MPAs and the Emerald network
established under the Bern Convention. As the UK
is a member of the OSPAR commission, JNCC are
committed to ensuring that the OSPAR MPA network is ‘well-managed’ by
2020.
JNCC consider ‘well-managed’ to mean the
timely progress of an MPA around the ‘MPA management cycle’. This
involves:
1) The
documentation of appropriate management information - conservation
objectives, advice on activities capable of affecting the protected
features of a site, and spatial information on the presence and
extent of the protected features of a site.
2) The
implementation of management measures - management actions
considered necessary to achieve the conservation objectives of a
site.
3) Site
condition monitoring programmes – collecting the information
necessary to determine progress towards a sites conservation
objectives.
4) Assessment
of progress towards conservation objectives – using available
information to infer whether or not a site is moving towards or has
achieved its conservation objectives.
The sub-sections that follow provide an account of the progress
of West of Walney MCZ around each of these four stages in the MPA
management cycle:
The documentation of appropriate management
information
- The conservation objectives and advice on activities capable of
affecting the conservation status of the protected feature of this
site are available under the conservation advice tab.
- JNCC are in the process of improving our MPA conservation
advice packages. Further information is available on our conservation
advice pages.
- Spatial information on the presence and extent of the protected
feature of this MPA is available viathe JNCCs MPA mapper.
- JNCC are in the process of developing downloadable MPA data
packages where appropriate permissions to share datasets are in
place.
The implementation of management
measures
This section details progress towards the implementation of
management measures for activities considered capable of affecting
the conservation status of the protected features of the site.
The protected features of the site are considered to be
sensitive to pressures associated with fishing and ‘licensable’
activities.
Fisheries
- There is evidence of
mobile demersal effort by both UK and non-UK registered vessels,
and pelagic trawl activity by non-UK registered vessels within the
West of Walney MCZ. Demersal otter trawling, mainly targeting
Nephrops, and activity from beam trawls occurs within the
site.
- Inshore fisheries in
the area between 0-6nautical miles are managed through the Inshore
Fisheries and Conservation Authorities, and between 6-12nm by the
Marine Management Organisation (MMO). Additional information
on wider management measures which overlap the site are available
on the
Natural England Designated Sites System for this site.
- Fisheries are managed
through the Common
Fisheries Policy (CFP) in all areas beyond
12nm. In accordance with
Article 18 of the revised CFP, requests for management will be
developed jointly between the UK Government and any Member States
with a direct management interest in the area affected. Defra and
the MMO are leading discussions with stakeholders regarding the
development of management for sites on a regional
basis.
Licensable activities
- Most oil and gas activity in this area is located to the south
of the MPA, however a small number of wells occur within the site
and five pipelines cross the site. Licensed oil and gas blocks
overlap the MPA and so may be subject to development applications
in the future.
- Four operational windfarms (Ormonde, West of Duddon sands,
Walney 1 & 2) and one windfarm under construction (Walney
extension) overlap with the West of Walney MCZ.
- Licensable activities such as
renewable energy developments or oil and gas exploration and
production taking place or that may take place within this MPA are
managed in accordance with the clauses set out under section
127of The Marine & Coastal Access Act (2009). Under this
clause, JNCC (where applicable in offshore waters) and NE have a
statutory responsibility to advise the regulator on developments
that are capable of affecting (other than insignificantly) the
protected features of the MPA and that may hinder the achievement
of the sites conservation objectives. JNCC consider the existing
marine licensing process is sufficient to ensure the management of
licensable activities taking place, or that could take place in the
future, on the protected features of this MPA.
- For further information,
please see the MMO’s
guidance on marine conservation zones and marine
licensing.
- Further information on JNCCs
role in the provision of advice for licensed activities in the UK
offshore area is available on JNCCs offshore industries
advice webpage.
Telecommunications cables
- One telecommunications cable
currently crosses through the MPA, and a network of energy cables
associated with wind renewable energy developments are located
within the site.
- Cables are largely an
unregulated activity in offshore waters depending upon the type of
cable being laid (or maintained), where it is being laid between
and whether the cable is part of a larger development (which may be
regulated). Any cable not directly associated with an energy
installation does not require a marine license beyond 12 nautical
miles.
- JNCC encourage early discussion from operators regarding
any plans related to new or existing cables, and encourages the
undertaking of non-statutory environmental impact assessments for
new or existing cable projects to assess their effect on the
protected features of the MPA.
Site condition monitoring
Site condition monitoring surveys are yet to
take place within this MPA. Further information will be made
available under the Monitoring tab.
Progression towards
conservation objectives
No long-term condition monitoring data is
available to determine whether the MPA is moving towards or has
reached its conservation objectives. The site has a ‘restore’
conservation objective based on the findings of a vulnerability
assessment which suggests the site is unlikely to be moving towards
its conservation objectives. Further information will be provided
under the Assessment tab.
Monitoring
Last updated: October 2017
JNCC is currently leading on the development of a strategy for
biodiversity monitoring across all UK waters, to include MPA
monitoring. For MPAs, data and evidence collected from monitoring
activities will aim to:
- Enable assessment of condition of the features within
sites;
- Enable assessment of the degree to which management
measures are effective in achieving the conservation objectives for
the protected features;
- Support the identification of priorities for future
protection and/or management; and,
- Enable Government to fulfil its national and
international assessment and reporting commitments in relation to
MPAs and help identify where further action may be
required.
Information on monitoring of this MPA will be provided when it
becomes available.
Assessment
Last updated: October 2017
Assessments of the condition of designated features in offshore
MPAs are required to report against our legal obligations. Ideally
these assessments should be based on observed data, and then
measured against targets for predefined indicators. However, for
MPAs in offshore waters we do not always have the appropriate
information to be able to do so. This is particularly true for
seabed habitats, which are the main type of feature designated for
protection in offshore MPAs.
To address these challenges, JNCC has been an active partner in
the development of new approaches and tools for the assessment of
habitats and species for a variety of national and international
status reports. They include the second cycle of the Conservation Status Assessment reports under the
EU Habitats Directive, Charting Progress 2 and
the OSPAR Quality Status
Report. JNCC continues to develop and pilot tools for the
assessment of marine habitats and species in offshore waters to
improve the quality and transparency of our offshore MPA
assessments, and contribute to the monitoring of marine
biodiversity in UK waters. These tools cover methods for producing
interim assessments of site features and their responses to
pressures, as well as developing more robust indicators for
determining condition of the features.
Under the UK Marine & Coastal
Access Act (2009), JNCC is required to report to Ministers
on the degree to which the conservation objectives of the protected
features of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) have been
achieved. Every 6 years from 2012, the Marine Act requires a
report setting out how MCZs have performed against their
conservation objectives, as well as the effectiveness of the
network as a whole. The assessments of features within MPAs
will also feed into six yearly reports on the state of the marine
environment under the Marine Strategy Framework Directive, which aims
to achieve Good Environmental Status by 2020.