What is a Marine Protected Area?
A Marine Protected Area (MPA) is defined by the International Union for Conservation (IUCN) as:
‘Any area of the intertidal or subtidal terrain, together with its overlying water and associated flora, fauna, historical and cultural features, which has been reserved by law or other effective means to protect part or all of the enclosed environment.’
Marine Environment Division, working with other UK administrations, is aiming to protect our Marine Species and Habitats by contributing to an ecologically coherent network of MPAs.
In Northern Ireland we currently have the following Marine Protected Areas:
- Special Areas of Conservation (SAC)
- Special Protected Areas (SPA)
- Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSI)
- Ramsar sites
- Marine Conservation Zones (MCZ)
- OSPAR MPAs
Natura 2000 network - SACs and SPAs
The Department designated Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in response to the requirements of the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, to form part of the Europe-wide Natura 2000 network of protected nature conservation areas. This network is the cornerstone of Europe's nature conservation policy, protecting important habitats and also laying out a strict system of species protection in order to protect biodiversity.
Marine Environment Division take responsibility for the marine features and the designation process is carried out in co-operation with NIEA Natural Heritage, who deal with the biological and geological terrestrial features and the freshwater features of the designated areas.
The designations protect the feature habitats and species, as any plan or project likely to have a significant effect on the Natura 2000 network must be rigourously assessed and the competent national authorities can only legally agree to the plan or project going ahead after having ascertained that it will not adversely affect the features of the designated site/s concerned or the integrity of the network.
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
SACs are designated under the Habitats Directive as part of the EU Natura 2000 network. In Northern Ireland designation of SACs with Marine Components is carried out jointly by Marine Division and NIEA Natural Heritage.
Explanation of site status:
- Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) are sites that have been adopted by the European Commission and formally designated by the government of each country in whose territory the site lies.
- Sites of Community Importance (SCIs) are sites that have been adopted by the European Commission but not yet formally designated by the government of each country.
- Candidate SACs (cSACs) are sites that have been submitted to the European Commission, but not yet formally adopted.
Marine SACs are not normally notified as Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs), except in intertidal areas and estuaries. Marine SACs are protected and conserved by working with the with the various maritime authorities to ensure that activities under their control are managed appropriately.
SAC sites with marine components in Northern Ireland:
- Murlough
- North Antrim Coast
- Rathlin Island
- Red Bay
- Skerries and Causeway
- Strangford Lough
- The Maidens
Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
NIEA Natural Heritage is responsible to designate and manage the sites in coastal areas of Northern Ireland that are designated as SPAs to protect the important bird species. Marine Environment Division work closely with NIEA supporting them through the provision of expert knowledge and monitoring for the SPA management.
Some SPAs have no marine component - however some birds may travel between both marine and terrestrial habitats and this may need to be taken into account in the way they are legally protected.
The sites below are the SPAs in Northern Ireland that have a marine component:
- Belfast Lough
- Carlingford Lough
- Killough Bay
- Larne Lough
- Lough Foyle
- Outer Ards
- Rathlin Island
- Strangford Lough
Ramsar sites
The Ramsar convention covers all aspects of wetland conservation and wise use, recognising wetlands as ecosystems that are extremely important for biodiversity conservation in general and for the well-being of human communities.
There are currently 7 coastal Ramsar sites designated in Northern Ireland:
- Belfast Lough
- Carlingford Lough
- Killough Bay
- Larne Lough
- Lough Foyle
- Outer Ards
- Strangford Lough
- Dundrum Bay (proposed Ramsar site)
OSPAR MPAs
OSPAR is the mechanism by which 15 governments of western Europe work together to protect the marine environment of the North-East Atlantic. OSPAR incorporates a wide range of marine issues from work on pollution and dumping at sea to the conservation of marine biodiversity.
Under the OSPAR MPA commitment the government works to establish a well managed, ecologically coherent network of MPAs. As an initial contribution to the OSPAR network most of Northern Ireland's Marine SACs have been submitted as OSPAR Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and many of our Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) are also likely to become OSPAR MPAs to fulfil our commitment to an ecologically coherent network of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs).
Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs)
The Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013 includes provisions for establishing Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) , as well as a system of marine planning, fisheries management and marine licensing. MCZs may be designated for various purposes including the conservation of marine species and habitats, taking fully into account any economic, cultural or social consequences of doing so. The Act also allows the Department to make byelaws to protect MCZs from damage caused by unregulated activities such as anchoring, kite surfing, jet skiing etc. and it is an offence to intentionally or recklessly destroy or damage a protected feature of an MCZ or to contravene a byelaw.
The Act sets out a framework for Northern Ireland’s seas based on: a system of marine planning that will balance conservation, energy and resource needs, improved management for marine nature conservation and the streamlining of marine licensing for some electricity projects. The Act also places emphasis on the modernisation of licensing and enforcement and contributes to the delivery of a UK network of Marine Protected Areas.
Strangford Lough was Northern Ireland's only Marine Nature Reserve but it was redesignated as Northern Ireland's first MCZ on the introduction of the Marine Act (Northern Ireland) 2013.
What will MCZs protect?
MCZs will protect nationally important marine species, habitats and geological (including geomorphological) features. The following conservation lists were amalgamated and reviewed to create three lists of Priority Marine Features (PMF):
- OSPAR List of Threatened and/or Declining Species and Habitats
- UK Biodiversity Action Plan List
- Northern Ireland List of Priority Habitats and Species
- Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (Northern Ireland) 2011
- Northern Ireland Species of Conservation Concern, and Nationally Important Marine Features
These have been refined for Northern Ireland from existing national and international conservation lists. From the PMF lists we have identified the features which are being proposed for the designation of MCZs called Proposed MCZ Features (pMCZ Features).
For detailed information on the selection of PMF and pMCZs features lists see the following report in our publication scheme:
Public authorities
All public authorities have a duty to inform the Department if they wish to carry out or permit an activity to be carried out in an MCZ or if they consider that an offence has occurred within the MCZ. Public authorities must also have regard to any advice issued by the Department. Assessment of plans, activities and projects on the MCZ will be carried out through the existing consents and permissions processes.
Byelaws
Under the Marine Act, the Department, as regulator, has responsibility for making Byelaws for the purpose of controlling unregulated activities so as to protect MCZs in the Northern Ireland inshore region. Byelaws may control activities that are incidental to a regulated activity (e.g. the speed or anchoring of a vessel, diving, kite-surfing etc.) provided that they do not make it impossible or impractical to carry out the licensed activity.
The Marine Act provides the Department with the power to make emergency Byelaws without having to comply with the usual consultation and publication requirements and without confirmation from the Secretary of State. Any long term Byelaws must go through a public consultation process and gain approval from the Secretary of State.
Any breach of a Byelaw is an offence and a person guilty of an offence is liable to a fine of up to £5,000.
Byelaws may be introduced for the following purposes:
- prohibiting or restricting entry into, or any movement or other activity within, the MCZ by persons or animals
- prohibiting or restricting entry into, or any movement or other activity within, the MCZ by vessels or (where appropriate) vehicles
- restricting the speed at which any vessel may move in the MCZ or in any specified area outside the MCZ where that movement might hinder the conservation objectives stated for the MCZ
- prohibiting or restricting the anchoring of any vessel within the MCZ
This also includes prohibiting or restricting entry into, or any movement or other activity on, any part of the seashore that adjoins the MCZ by persons, animals or vehicles.
Damage to an MCZ
The Marine Act makes it an offence to:
- intentionally or recklessly kill or injure any animal in an MCZ which is a protected feature of that MCZ
- intentionally pick or collect, or intentionally or recklessly cut, uproot or destroy, any plant in an MCZ which is a protected feature of that MCZ
- intentionally or recklessly take anything from an MCZ which is, or forms part of, a protected feature of that MCZ
- intentionally or recklessly destroy or damage any habitat or feature which is a protected feature of an MCZ
A person who is guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction, to a fine not exceeding £50,000.
Enforcement
The Marine Act enables the Department to appoint officers for the purposes of enforcing the byelaws and also other nature conservation legislation including the Wildlife and Natural Environment Act (NI) 2011(WANE Act) and the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
MCZ Designation
What is the process for selecting and designating a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ)?
- Collation of robust scientific information on habitats, species and geological features (including locations and distributions) to identify potential areas of search and potential boundaries.
- Working closely with stakeholders, industry representatives and other governmental departments to gather and assess information on how the sea is used. This will be through a series of stakeholder workshops and bilateral meetings.
- Production of Socio-Economic Impact Assessments for each proposed MCZ (pMCZ) to determine the estimated social, economic and environmental costs and benefits of designation.
- Development of management plans, where necessary, based on conservation objectives for the proposed features.
- Public consultation on all pMCZs.
For detailed information on the MCZ process, please refer to the ‘Guidance on the selection and Designation of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) in the Northern Ireland Inshore Region’ in the publication section of our website.
MCZ Process update
DOE identified areas of search selecting the best location for the Priority Marine Features (PMFs) outside of the current Marine Protected Areas (MPA) network. Based on the best available evidence and the identification of pMCZs features from PMFs lists, the Department has published site summary documents which detail why the sites have been proposed and also offer tentative boundaries.
For an overview of the MCZs process in Northern Ireland download the MCZ flyer produced by the Department:
DOE proposed MCZs
- Rathlin pMCZ
- Red Bay pMCZ
- Outer Belfast pMCZ
- Carlingford Lough pMCZ
DOE areas of search
- The Maidens
- Outer Ards
- Lough Foyle
- Dundrum Bay
MCZ evidence
The designation of MCZs is based on the best available scientific evidence meeting the data standards. The provision of verifiable evidence, ecological and socio-economic information, is the responsibility of all those involved in the MCZ selection and designation process, including national or local sources such as conservation organisations, recreational bodies, industry, academic studies or individuals.
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) as the Government’s advisers on the natural environment, have produced a paper for further information and recommendations on principles on the anticipated type and level of evidence required for the selection, recommendation, designation and management of Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs):
Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs)
Areas of Special Scientific Interest (ASSIs) are protected areas designated under The Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002 for their species, habitat and/or geological features. Many of these are in coastal areas. Some ASSIs are also subject to other designations - for example they can also be part of the network of Natura 2000 sites.
A scientific survey is carried out for each ASSI. A list is then compiled of the most important features of the site. Another list of the activites and changes that are thought might have an impact on these features is also drawn up. These are known as "notifiable operations". When an ASSI is declared, owners and occupiers receive a copy of these lists.
If a landowner wishes to carry out any activity that is a notifiable operation, they must apply to NIEA for Consent, so that, if possible, a way of managing the operation can be agreed on that will not cause any damage to any of the features for which the site is designated. Where the proposal might affect features on the coast, the application will be dealt with jointly by Marine Environment Division and NIEA Natural Heritage to ensure it is carried out in an appropriate manner.
The ASSIs with marine features that are currently designated around Northern Ireland's coast are listed below.
- Ballymacormick Point ASSI (part of Outer Ards SPA)
- Bann Estuary
- Carlingford Lough ASSI (within Carlingford Lough SPA)
- Castle Point ASSI
- Fair Head & Murlough Bay ASSI
- Galboly ASSI
- Giants Causeway & Dunseverick ASSI (Part of North Antrim Coast SAC)
- Killough Bay and Strand Lough ASSI (within Killough Bay SPA)
- Larne Lough ASSI (also Larne Lough SPA)
- Lough Foyle ASSI (also Lough Foyle SPA)
- Murlough ASSI (also Murlough SAC)
- Outer Ards ASSI (part of Outer Ards SPA - boundary not entirely coincident)
- Rathlin Island Coast ASSI (part of Rathlin SPA/SAC)
- Samuel's Port ASSI
- Strangford Lough ASSI Part 1 (part of Strangford Lough SAC/SPA)
- Strangford Lough ASSI Part 2 (part of Strangford Lough SAC/SPA)
- Strangford Lough ASSI Part 3 (part of Strangford Lough SAC/SPA)
- The Gobbins ASSI
- The Maidens ASSI (The Maidens are also designated as an SAC)
- Tyrella and Minerstown ASSI
Further information
For further information on Northern Ireland MPAs, contact Marine Environment Division or view :
You can also find further information on UK MPAs on the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) website: