Natural England: the following marine SPAs which are now fully classified:

Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl SPA

Following the consultation on the proposed marine extension to the Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl Special Protection Area (SPA) (please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/liverpool-bay-bae-lerpwl-special-protection-area-extension-comment-on-proposals), Natural England submitted the Consultation Report to Government during the summer 2017. We wanted to write to let you know as a stakeholder with interest in the site, that the Secretary of State formally classified the proposed marine extension as a Special Protection Area (SPA) on 31st October 2017 in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2010 (now The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2017 (SI 2017 No. 1012)). Governments are progressing registration of the site and Natural England and relevant agencies (Natural Resources Wales and The Joint Nature Conservation Committee) will issue full formal stakeholder notification to all parties once this registration is complete. We expect the registration process to occur within the near future.

The extended SPA affords protection to non-breeding little gull, and foraging common tern and little tern breeding in their colonies in adjacent SPAs. All features of the original SPA, red throated diver and common scoter, will be retained and afforded protection across the whole of the extended site. Alongside the three non-breeding features (little gull, red throated diver and common scoter) two further species have also been added as named components of the waterbird assemblage; red-breasted merganser and cormorant.

If you have any questions please contact Amanda Yeomans at: Liverpool.BaySPA@naturalengland.org.uk

Outer Thames Estuary SPA

Following the consultation on the proposed marine extension to the Outer Thames Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA) (please see: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/outer-thames-estuary-special-protection-area-extension-comment-on-proposals), Natural England submitted the Consultation Report to Government during the summer 2017. We wanted to write to let you know as a stakeholder with interest in the site, that the Secretary of State formally classified the proposed marine extension as a Special Protection Area (SPA) on 31st October 2017 in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2010 (now The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2017 (SI 2017 No. 1012). Governments are progressing registration of the site and Natural England and relevant agencies will issue full formal stakeholder notification to all parties once this registration is complete. We expect the registration process to occur within the near future.

The extended SPA affords protection to foraging common tern and little tern, breeding in their colonies in adjacent SPA’s. Red throated diver is a feature of the original SPA and is retained within the new designation.

If you have any questions please contact Amanda Yeomans at: Outer.Thames@naturalengland.gov.uk

Falmouth Bay to St. Austell Bay SPA

Following the consultation on the proposed marine extension to the Falmouth Bay to St. Austell Bay Special Protection Area (SPA) (see: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/falmouth-bay-to-st-austell-bay-potential-special-protection-area-pspa), Natural England submitted the Consultation Report to Government during the summer 2017. We wanted to write to let you know as a stakeholder with interest in the site that the Secretary of State formally classified the proposed site as a Special Protection Area (SPA) on 31st October 2017 in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2010.  Natural England and relevant agencies are progressing registration of the site and will issue full formal stakeholder notification to all parties once this registration is complete. We expect registration to occur within the near future.

The site has been classified as it supports internationally important populations of overwintering divers and grebes, including black-throated diver, great northern diver, and Slavonian grebe populations.   The SPA includes an area from Nare Point in the west to Southground Point in the east, and includes parts of Carrick Roads and the Helford Estuary.

If you have any questions please contact us at: swmarine@naturalengland.org.uk

Poole Harbour SPA

Following the consultation on the proposed extension to the Poole Harbour Special Protection Area (SPA) (see: https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/poole-harbour-special-protection-area-extension-comment-on-proposals), Natural England submitted the Consultation Report to Government during January 2017. We wanted to write to let you know as a stakeholder with interest in the site that the Secretary of State formally classified the proposed extension as a Special Protection Area (SPA) on 31st October 2017 in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2010. Natural England and relevant agencies are progressing registration of the site and will issue full formal stakeholder notification to all parties once this registration is complete. We expect registration to occur within the near future.

The Poole Harbour SPA was extended sub-tidally and terrestrially to protect important areas used by internationally important populations of over-wintering waterbirds and breeding seabirds when they are foraging, roosting, nesting or performing maintenance behaviours within the harbour. Three new bird features have also been included in the SPA: breeding Sandwich tern, and over-wintering little egret and Eurasian spoonbill.

If you have any questions please contact Maxine Chavner at: poole.marinespa@naturalengland.org.uk

Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay SPA

Following the consultation on the proposed marine extension to the Dungeness, Romney Marsh and Rye Bay Special Protection Area (SPA) (see: https://consult.defra.gov.uk/natural-england-marine/dungeness-consultation/ ), Natural England submitted the Consultation Report to Government during the summer 2017. We wanted to write to let you know as a stakeholder with interest in the site that the Secretary of State formally classified the proposed site as a Special Protection Area (SPA) on 31st October 2017 in accordance with the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations, 2010. Natural England and relevant agencies are progressing registration of the site and will issue full formal stakeholder notification to all parties once this registration is complete. We expect registration to occur within the near future.

If you have any questions please contact us at: dungenessconsultation@naturalengland.org.uk