1.6.5.    Current Condition Status

  1. The most recent feature condition assessments are outlined in Table 1.7   Open ▸ (Nature Scot, 2012b).

 

Table 1.7:
River Dee SAC Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.7: River Dee SAC Feature Condition Assessment

Figure 1.6:
River Dee SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

Figure 1.6: River Dee SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

1.7. River Teith SAC

1.7.1.    Site Overview

  1. The river Teith is a large river that flows eastwards through central Scotland, it rises and flows through upland areas before crossing the Highland Boundary Fault, a major geological feature in Scotland, at the Falls of Leny and meandering through central lowlands to the east coast ( Figure 1.7   Open ▸ ). It covers an area of 1289.33 ha. The river Teith is the most significant tributary of the river Forth which supports young sea lampreys which have been recorded throughout the lower reaches of the main river. The river system supports a strong brook lamprey population. Brook lampreys have been recorded from the headwaters downstream to the lower reaches. The river provides excellent habitat with usually pristine water quality, well-vegetated banks and a substantially unaltered river channel. The river Teith supports high densities of brook/river lamprey ammocoetes and also supports a healthy population of sea lamprey. The river lacks any significant artificial barriers to migration, has good water quality and the necessary habitat types (extensive gravel beds and marginal silt beds) to support the river lamprey’s full life-cycle. All three British lamprey species are supported within the river.
  2. Key literature sources include:
  • River Teith JNCC SAC Site Details (JNCC, 2105g);
  • River Teith SAC Qualifying Interest List (Nature Scot, 2011b); and
  • River Teith Conservation Objectives (Nature Scot, 2011b).

1.7.2.    Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • river lamprey;
  • brook lamprey;
  • sea lamprey;
  • Atlantic salmon.

1.7.3.    The Characteristics of the European Site

  1. The river Teith is formed from the confluence of two smaller rivers, the Garbh Uisge and Eas Gobhain at Callander, Stirlingshire. It flows into the River Forth near Drip north-west of Stirling. The catchment originates in the Trossachs at the braes of Balquhidder and has a number of inline lochs. The total catchment covers roughly 579 km² with the main tributaries of the catchment including the Ardoch, Annet, Keltie, Drunkie, Calair and Leny Burn. The river provides excellent habitat with usually pristine water quality, well-vegetated banks and a substantially unaltered river channel. These habitat conditions support a high density of brook, river and sea lamprey.

1.7.4.    Conservation Advice

  1. Information is not available on advice on operations for the SAC.
  2. The Conservation Objectives for the site are to avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained, and the site makes an appropriate contribution to achieving FCS for each of the qualifying features and to ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • population of the species, including range of genetic types for salmon, as a viable component of the site;
  • distribution of the species within site;
  • distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species;
  • structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species; and
  • no significant disturbance of the species.

1.7.5.    Current Condition Status

  1. Information not available as to the current condition status of the designated features.

Figure 1.7:
River Teith SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

Figure 1.7: River Teith SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

1.8. Isle of May SAC;

1.8.1.    Site Overview

  1. The Isle of May is located in the north of the outer Firth of Forth, approximately 8 km off the coast of mainland Scotland ( Figure 1.8   Open ▸ ). It covers an area of 356.64 ha. The western coast of the island consists of cliffs, and the land tilts from here down to the eastern shore which is mostly rocky with three small beaches. Both harbour seals Phoca vitulina and grey seals can be seen on the island all year round and it hosts the second largest east cast breeding colony of grey seals in Scotland. The island is also host to several species of seabirds including puffins, black-legged kittiwakes, razorbills, guillemots, shags, fulmars, oystercatchers, eider ducks, and various species of tern and gull due to the lack of predators on the island making it a safe breeding site compared to the mainland.
  2. Key literature sources include:
  • Isle of May SAC Qualifying Interest List (Nature Scot, 2014b);
  • Isle Of May JNCC SAC Site Details (JNCC, 2015h); and
  • Isle Of May SAC Conservation Objectives (Nature Scot, 2014b).

1.8.2.    Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • grey seal; and
  • reefs.

1.8.3.    The Characteristics of the European Site

  1. The Isle of May, lying at the entrance to the Firth of Forth is located approximately 8 km off the east coast of Scotland. The SAC supports a breeding colony of grey seals. The site is the largest east coast breeding colony of grey seals in Scotland and the fourth largest breeding colony in the UK. The colony contributes to approximately 4.5% of annual UK pup production. The Isle of May SAC overlaps with Forth Islands Special Protection Area.

1.8.4.    Conservation Advice

  1. Information is not available on Advice on operations for the SAC.
  2. Conservation Objectives for grey seal are to avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained and the site makes an appropriate contribution to achieving FCS for each of the qualifying features, and to ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • three quarters of population of the species as a viable component of the site;
  • distribution of the species within site;
  • distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species;
  • structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species; and
  • no significant disturbance of the species.
    1. Conservation Objectives for reefs are to avoid deterioration of the qualifying habitat (listed below) thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained and the site makes an appropriate contribution to achieving FCS for each of the qualifying features, and to ensure for the qualifying habitat that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • extent of the habitat on site;
  • distribution of the habitat within site;
  • structure and function of the habitat ;
  • processes supporting the habitat;
  • distribution of typical species of the habitat;
  • viability of typical species as components of the habitat; and
  • no significant disturbance of typical species of the habitat.

1.8.5.    Current Condition Status

  1. The most recent feature condition assessments are outlined in Table 1.8   Open ▸ (NatureScot, 2014b)Error! Reference source not found..

 

Table 1.8:
Isle of May SAC Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.8: Isle of May SAC Feature Condition Assessment

Figure 1.8:
Isle of May SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

Figure 1.8: Isle of May SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

1.9. Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SAC;

1.9.1.    Site Overview

  1. The Firth of Tay and the Eden estuary are two high-quality estuarine areas, which cover an area of 15441.63 ha. The two estuaries have been proposed within a single site because they are integral components of a large, geomorphologically complex area that incorporates a mosaic of estuarine and coastal habitats. The Tay is the least-modified of the large east coast estuaries in Scotland, while the Eden estuary represents a smaller ‘pocket’ estuary ( Figure 1.9   Open ▸ ). The inner parts of the estuaries are largely sheltered from wave action, while outer areas, particularly of the Tay, are exposed to strong tidal streams, giving rise to a complex pattern of erosion and deposition of the sandbank feature at the firths’ mouth. The sediments within the site support biotopes that reflect the gradients of exposure and salinity and are typical of estuaries on the east coast of the UK. The abundance, distribution and composition of the associated plant and animal communities are ecologically representative of northern North Sea estuaries. The Firth of Tay and Eden estuary supports a nationally important breeding colony of common seal, part of the east coast population of common seals that typically utilise sandbanks. Around 600 adults haul-out at the site to rest, pup and moult, representing around 2% of the UK population of this species.
  2. Key literature sources include:
  • Firth Of Tay and the Eden Estuary JNCC SAC Site Details (JNCC, 2015i);
  • Firth Of Tay and the Eden Estuary SAC Conservation Objectives (Nature Scot, 2013); and
  • Firth Of Tay and the Eden Estuary SAC Qualifying Interest List (Nature Scot, 2013).

1.9.2.    Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • estuaries;
  • mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide;
  • common seal Phoca vitulina; and
  • sandbanks which are slightly covered by seawater all the time.

1.9.3.    The Characteristics of the European Site

  1. The site overlaps with Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary Special Protection Area.

1.9.4.    Conservation Advice

  1. Information is not available on advice on operations for the SAC.
  2. The Conservation Objectives for estuaries, intertidal mudflats and sandflats and subtidal sandbanks are to avoid deterioration of the qualifying habitats (listed below) thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained and the site makes an appropriate contribution to achieving FCS for each of the qualifying features, and to ensure for the qualifying habitats that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • extent of the habitat on site;
  • distribution of the habitat within site;
  • structure and function of the habitat;
  • processes supporting the habitat;
  • distribution of typical species of the habitat;
  • viability of typical species as components of the habitat; and
  • no significant disturbance of typical species of the habitat.
    1. The Conservation Objectives for common seal are to avoid deterioration of the habitats of the qualifying species (listed below) or significant disturbance to the qualifying species, thus ensuring that the integrity of the site is maintained and the site makes an appropriate contribution to achieving FCS for each of the qualifying features; and To ensure for the qualifying species that the following are maintained in the long term:
  • population of the species as a viable component of the site;
  • distribution of the species within site;
  • distribution and extent of habitats supporting the species;
  • structure, function and supporting processes of habitats supporting the species; and
  • no significant disturbance of the species.

1.9.5.    Current Condition Status

  1. Information not available as to the current condition status of the designated features.

Figure 1.9:
Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

Figure 1.9: Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

1.10. Southern North Sea SAC

1.10.1.              Site Overview

  1. The Southern North Sea SAC lies along the east coast of England, predominantly in the offshore waters of the central and southern North Sea, from north of Dogger Bank to the Straits of Dover in the south ( Figure 1.10   Open ▸ ). It is designated for the protection of harbour porpoise Phocoena phocoena. This area supports an estimated 17.5% of the UK North Sea Management Unit (MU) population. Approximately two thirds of the site, the northern part, is recognised as important for porpoises during the summer season, whilst the southern part supports persistently higher densities during the winter.
  2. Key literature sources include:
  • Southern North Sea JNCC SAC Site Details (JNCC, 2019a); and
  • Southern North Sea MPA, JNCC Adviser To Government (JNCC, 2019b).

1.10.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • harbour porpoise.

1.10.3.              The Characteristics of the European Site

  1. The Southern North Sea SAC covers an area of 36,951 km2 stretching from the central North Sea southwards to the Straits of Dover. The site is designated for harbour porpoise and hosts high densities of the species year-round due to the presence of key winter and summer habitats. The site comprises a range of habitats including sandbanks and gravel beds. Overlapping sites include the Dogger Bank SAC, Haisborough, Hammond and Winterton SAC and North Norfilk Sandbanks and Saturn Reef SAC.

1.10.4.              Conservation Advice

  1. Advice on operations and management can be found within:
  • the Southern North Sea Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations (March 2019) (JNCC, 2019c); and
  • standard data form for sites within the ‘UK National Site Network of European sites (March 2019) (JNCC, 2019a).
    1. The Conservation Objectives for the site are to ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained and that it makes the best possible contribution to maintaining FCS for harbour porpoise in UK waters
    2. In the context of natural change, this will be achieved by ensuring that:
  • harbour porpoise is a viable component of the site;
  • there is no significant disturbance of the species; and
  • the condition of supporting habitats and processes, and the availability of prey is maintained.

1.10.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. The site assessment assigns a grade of A conservation to the harbour porpoise, which is deemed ‘excellent’.

Figure 1.10:
Southern North Sea SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

Figure 1.10: Southern North Sea SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

1.11. Moray Firth SAC

1.11.1.              Site Overview

  1. The Moray Firth is an inlet of the North Sea, north and east of Inverness and covers an area of 356.64 ha. It is the largest firth in Scotland, stretching from Duncansby Head (near John o' Groats) in the north, in the Highland council area, and Fraserburgh in the east, in the Aberdeenshire council area, to Inverness and the Beauly Firth in the west ( Figure 1.11   Open ▸ ). The Moray Firth is one of the most important places on the British coast for observing dolphins and whales. It is also an important oil field and fishing ground. The Beatrice oil field in the Outer Moray Firth is the closest of the North Sea oil fields; it is also the site of the Beatrice Wind Farm. Much of the fishing industry focuses on scallops and Norway lobsters.
  2. Key literature sources include:
  • Moray Firth SAC Qualifying Interest List (Nature Scot, 2016b);
  • Moray Firth Conservation And Management Advice (Nature Scot, 2016b); and
  • Moray Firth JNCC SAC Site Details (JNCC, 2015j).

1.11.2.              Qualifying Features

  1. The site is designated for the following features:
  • subtidal sandbanks which are slightly covered by seawater all the time; and
  • bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncates.

1.11.3.              The Characteristics of the European Site

  1. The Moray Firth SAC is a complex site which has resulted in the development of diverse marine habitats that support a variety of natural resources. The fish and shellfish (including juveniles), and seaweeds living within the MPA that can be harvested by humans or utilised by other marine species, are the most obvious resource. The MPA supports wildlife including bird and mammal species, in particular bottlenose dolphins, which are a protected feature of the site.

1.11.4.              Conservation Advice

  1. Advice on operations and management of the site is covered in:
  • Conservation and Management Advice Moray Firth SAC (March 2021)(Nature Scot, 2016b).
    1. Conservation Objectives for the site are to ensure that the qualifying features of Moray Firth SAC are in favourable condition and make an appropriate contribution to achieving FCS, and to ensure that the integrity of Moray Firth SAC is maintained or restored in the context of environmental changes by meeting objectives for each qualifying feature.
    2. For subtidal sandbanks:
  • extent and distribution of the habitat within the site;
  • structure and function of the habitat and the supporting environment on which it relies; and
  • distribution and viability of typical species of the habitat.
    1. For bottlenose dolphin:
  • the population of bottlenose dolphin is a viable component of the site;
  • the distribution of bottlenose dolphin throughout the site is maintained by avoiding significant disturbance; and
  • the supporting habitats and processes relevant to bottlenose dolphin and the availability of prey for bottlenose dolphin are maintained.

1.11.5.              Current Condition Status

  1. The most recent feature condition assessments are outlined in Table 1.9   Open ▸ (NatureScot, 2016b).

 

Table 1.9:
Moray Firth SAC Feature Condition Assessment

Table 1.9: Moray Firth SAC Feature Condition Assessment

Figure 1.11:
Moray Firth SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

Figure 1.11: Moray Firth SAC in Relation to Berwick Bank Wind Farm

1.12.   References

JNCC (2015a). STANDARD DATA FORM for sites within the ‘UK national site network of European sites’. Available at. Accessed on: 23.08.2022.

JNCC (2015b). Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Accessible at:. Accessed on: 23.08.2022.

JNCC (2015c). River Tweed Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Accessible at: https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0012691. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

JNCC (2015d) River South Esk Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Accessible at: https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0030262. Accessed on 24.08.2022.

JNCC (2015e). River Tay Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Accessible at: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0030312. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

JNCC (2015f). River Dee Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Accessible at: https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0030251. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

JNCC (2015g). River Teith Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Accessible at: https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0030263. Accessed on: 22.08.2022.

JNCC (2015h). Isle of May Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Accessible at: https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0030172. Accessed on 24.08.2022.

JNCC (2015i). Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Accessible at: https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0030311. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

JNCC (2015j). Moray Firth Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Accessible at: http://www.jncc.gov.uk/ProtectedSites/SACselection/sac.asp?EUCode=UK0019808. Accesses on: 24.08.2022.

JNCC (2019a). Southern North Sea Designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Accessible at: https://sac.jncc.gov.uk/site/UK0030395. Accessed on 24.08.2022.

JNCC (2019b). Southern North Sea MPA. Accessible at: https://jncc.gov.uk/our-work/southern-north-sea-mpa/#:~:text=The%20Southern%20North%20Sea%20SAC%20lies%20along%20the%20east%20coast,of%20harbour%20porpoise%20Phocoena%20phocoena. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

JNCC (2019c). Harbour Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) Special Area of Conservation: Southern North Sea, Conservation Objectives and Advice on Operations. Accessible at: https://data.jncc.gov.uk/data/206f2222-5c2b-4312-99ba-d59dfd1dec1d/SouthernNorthSea-conservation-advice.pdf. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

Natural England (2014a). European Site Conservation Objectives for Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast SAC (UK0017072). Accessible at: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5920077534724096. Accessed on: 23.08.2022.

Natural England (2014b). European Site Conservation Objectives for Tweed Estuary SAC (UK00300292). Accessible at: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5015032228216832. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

Natural England (2014c). European Site Conservation Objectives for River Tweed SAC (UK0012691). Accessible at: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/4964678031638528. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

Natural England (2015a). Site Improvement Plan: Northumberland Coastal (SIP157). Accessible at: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/publication/5340976100933632. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

Natural England (2015b). Planning for the Future Improvement Programme for England's Natura 2000 Sites (IPENS) Site Improvement Plan Northumberland Coastal. Accessible at: http://publications.naturalengland.org.uk/file/4788230077546496. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

Natural England (2020a). Natural England Conservation Advice for Marine Protected Areas Tweed Estuary SAC. Accessible at: https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/Marine/SupAdvice.aspx?SiteCode=UK0030292&SiteName=tweed&SiteNameDisplay=Tweed+Estuary+SAC&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=&NumMarineSeasonality=7. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

Natural England (2020b). Natural England Conservation Advice for Marine Protected Areas.

Natural England , NatureScot (2020). Natural England and NatureScot Conservation Advice for Marine Protected Areas Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC. Accessible at: https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/Marine/MarineSiteDetail.aspx?SiteCode=UK0017072&SiteName=berwi&SiteNameDisplay=Berwickshire%20and%20North%20Northumberland%20Coast%20SAC&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=&NumMarineSeasonality=1&HasCA=1#backgroundinfo. Accessed on: 22.08.2022.

Natural England, Nature Scot (2022). Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC. Accessible at: https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/Marine/FAPMatrix.aspx?SiteCode=UK0017072&SiteName=berwi&SiteNameDisplay=Berwickshire%20and%20North%20Northumberland%20Coast%20SAC&countyCode=&responsiblePerson=&SeaArea=&IFCAArea=&NumMarineSeasonality=1. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

NatureScot (2011a). River South Esk SAC. Accessible at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8364. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

NatureScot (2011b). River Teith SAC. Accessible at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8367. Accessed on 22.08.2022.

NatureScot (2012a). River Tay SAC. Accessible at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8366. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

NatureScot (2012b). River Dee SAC. Accessible at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8357. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

NatureScot (2013). Firth of Tay and Eden Estuary SAC. Accessible at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8257. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

NatureScot (2014a). Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast SAC. Available at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8207. Accessed on: 23.08.2022.

NatureScot (2014b). Isle of May SAC. Accessible at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8278. Accessed on 24.08.2022.

NatureScot (2016a). Accessible at: https://www.pkc.gov.uk/media/37577/River-Tay-SPG-Final-2016/pdf/River_Tay_SPG_Final_2016.pdf?m=636108416088970000. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

NatureScot (2016b). Moray Firth SAC. Accessible at: https://sitelink.nature.scot/site/8327. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

NatureScot (2018). River Tweed SAC. Accesible at: sitelink.nature.scot/site/8369. Accessed on: 24.08.2022.

 

[1] Whilst ‘reefs’ are reported as “Condition not assessed”, ‘mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide’ and ‘large shallow inlets and bays’ are not referred to in the feature assessments SiteLink (nature.scot) and are assumed to also not have been assessed.