On 21st January 2016, Natural England is commencing a public consultation regarding nine potential Special Protection Areas (pSPAs) around England. These sites are:
Northumberland Marine pSPA and 3 adjoining terrestrial sites; Coquet Island SPA, Farne Islands SPA and Northumbria Coast SPA. (Mailbox here)
Northumberland Marine is a new potential marine SPA to protect foraging for roseate tern, little tern, common tern, Arctic tern, Sandwich tern and a breeding seabird assemblage. The site will also protect the waters used for maintenance activities by auks (namely Atlantic puffin and common guillemot) around the Farne Islands and Coquet Island. Also being consulted upon are three adjoining terrestrial sites: Coquet Island on the addition of a seabird assemblage of over 20,000 individuals, Farne Islands on the addition of common guillemot and a seabird assemblage and over 20,000 individuals and Northumbria Coast on the addition of Arctic tern. Note that there are no proposed boundary changes for the three terrestrial sites.
Solent & Dorset Coast pSPA (Mailbox Here)
Solent & Dorset Coast is a new marine potential SPA to protect foraging Sandwich tern, common tern and little tern which breed in neighbouring coastal SPAs.
Poole Harbour pSPA (Mailbox Here)
The consultation on Poole Harbour is to extend the existing Poole Harbour SPA and to add Sandwich tern, little egret and spoonbill as features.
Hamford Water pSPA (Mailbox Here)
The consultation on Hamford Water is to extend the existing Hamford Water SPA to provide protection for foraging little tern at sea.
Morecambe Bay & Duddon Estuary pSPA (Mailbox Here)
The two existing SPAs of Morecambe Bay and Duddon Estuary will be combined along with a marine extension to provide protection for foraging tern. Whooper swan and little egret are also proposed to be added as new features to this site.
Outer Thames Estuary pSPA (Mailbox Here)
The consultation on Outer Thames Estuary is to extend the existing Outer Thames Estuary SPA and to add little tern and common tern as features to protect important foraging areas. The Outer Thames Estuary pSPA lies partly in territorial waters and partly in UK offshore waters. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee assisted in the identification of this site and have agreed to Natural England managing this consultation on behalf of both organisations.
We are contacting you to seek your views on these proposals. Please use the links provided above regarding the pSPAs which outline where to find further information and how you can respond to the consultation.
The consultation deadline for the pSPA consultation is 21st April 2016.
If you have any queries, do not hesitate to contact us using the details below.
Yours sincerely,
Emily Kirkham
Lead Adviser
MPA Designations Team
National Marine Biodiversity Team
Natural England
Floor 2, Apex Court
Nottingham NG2 4LA
0300 060 3879