The rocky cobbles and boulders provide habitat for hydroids and
bryozoans along with other species, such as sponges, cup corals and
squat lobsters. The sediments are home to a wide diversity of worm
species and provide supporting habitat for the protected
features sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities and fan mussel
(Atrina fragilis). Pea urchins, small sea urchins which
only reach 1 cm in diameter, are one of the most common species
living in the sediments. Juvenile brittlestars and cushion stars
have also been recorded.
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 East of
Haig Fras MCZ. More detail can be found within the relevant
documentation listed below and Annex 3 of the JNCC Advice on
possible offshore Marine Conservation Zones considered for
consultation in 2015.
The documents referred to below, and any other historical
documents relating to East of Haig Fras MCZ, were produced during
the selection and designation process and therefore may be out of
date.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: May 2019
The information for this site summary was adapted from documents
listed in the Evidence tab.
Site overview
East of Haig Fras MCZ is
located approximately 67 km north west of Land’s End, in the Celtic
Sea. The site has an area of around 400 km2 and is
situated on a plateau on the UK continental shelf. The seabed in
the MCZ is heterogeneous, with small patches of habitat blending
into each other. Ridges composed of a mosaic of subtidal coarse and
mixed sediments run north east to south west through the site.
These sediment ridges are topped with rocky features, such as
boulders and cobbles. Various sponges, anemones and hydroids have
been observed on the coarser sediments and rocky habitats. The
sediment ridges are separated by mobile sand or mud, with sandy
habitat being more prevalent in the north west of the site. Pea
urchins (Echinocyamus
pusillus) and brittlestars are some of the most common
species living in and on the sediment. East of Haig Fras MCZ is
also home to a wide diversity of polychaete worm species. Several
molluscs have also been recorded on multiple occasions including
the fan mussel (Atrina fragilis). Analyses of benthic
community data collected during offshore surveys have indicated
that there are seven biotopes present within the East of Haig Fras
MCZ.
The MCZ has seven designated features; the broad-scale
habitat features High energy circalittoral
rock, Moderate energy circalittoral rock,
Subtidal sand, Subtidal
mud and a mosaic of Subtidal coarse sediment and Subtidal mixed sediments, the habitat of
conservation importance Sea-pen and
burrowing megafauna communities and the species of conservation
importance Fan mussel (Atrina
fragilis). The East of Haig Fras MCZ was included in the
Finding Sanctuary Regional MCZ Project recommendations to help meet
targets regarding Moderate energy circalittoral rock, Subtidal
coarse sediment and Subtidal sand broad-scale habitats. Since the
site was first recommended, three dedicated surveys have visited
East of Haig Fras MCZ. Surveys have confirmed the presence of the
three originally recommended broad-scale habitats. Subtidal mixed
sediments and Subtidal mud were also identified during the surveys.
The spatial extent of the Subtidal coarse sediment and Subtidal
mixed sediments could not be delineated separately, and therefore
they have been designated together as a habitat mosaic.
Evidence of High energy circalittoral rock were provided by
an MB0120 survey in 2013, and in 2015 a JNCC monitoring survey also
found evidence of the species feature of conservation interest
(FOCI) Fan Mussel (Atrina fragilis) and the habitat FOCI
Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities. These have been
designated as additional features within the MCZ. 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: 400 km2, which makes it
larger than the Isle of Wight at only 380 km2.
Site depth range: Sea depth at East of Haig
Fras MCZ ranges from 50 m to over 100 m, however most of the site
is between 80 m and 100 m deep.
Charting Progress 2 Biogeographic Region:
Western Channel and Celtic Sea.
Site boundary description
The site is a
simple polygon with boundary lines running north to south and east
to west in line with the guidance provided by the MCZ project
Ecological Network Guidance
(ENG). The north of the site overlaps with the Trevose Box
seasonal fishing closure. The boundary of the East of Haig Fras MCZ
has not changed since it was recommended by the
Finding Sanctuary Regional MCZ Project in 2011.
Evidence
Last updated: May 2019
The full overview of the range of data used to support site
identification along with information on the confidence in feature
presence and extent is available in
JNCC's advice on offshore MCZs proposed for designation in
2013, JNCC's advice on
offshore MCZs proposed for designation in 2016 and JNCC's advice
on offshore MCZs proposed for designation in 2019. JNCC
will be adding relevant survey data for this MPA to our MPA
interactive map in due course. Some of the data for this MCZ has
been collected through JNCC funded or collaborative surveys. Data
from these surveys provide direct evidence confirming the presence
of the protected features within the site.
Survey and data gathering
-
East of Haig Fras MCZ monitoring survey (2015) - East of
Haig Fras MCZ was surveyed by Cefas and JNCC in 2015, during which
ground truth samples were collected to provide a baseline for site
monitoring.
-
East of Haig Fras MCZ verification survey (2013) - A
second survey by Cefas and JNCC was undertaken in 2013 because the
results of the 2012 survey highlighted a need for further
groundtruthing around the potential circalittoral rock
features.
-
East of Haig Fras MCZ verification survey (2012) - The
survey was a collaboration between Cefas and JNCC to collect
acoustic and groundtruth data to identify the presence and extent
of broadscale habitats and habitat features of conservation
importance within East of Haig Fras MCZ.
Data analysis reports
Analyses of data
gathered as part of the surveys listed above, as well as other
relevant data analysis products, are available via the following
reports:
- British
Geological Survey Hard Substrate Map - The interpretation
of the BGS hard substrate maps was based on a variety of data
sourced from within the British Geological Survey and externally.
The map provides evidence for the presence of Moderate energy
circalittoral rock within East of Haig Fras MCZ.
- British Geological Survey Seabed Sediments Data Points Map -
Particle Size Analysis of historical data was used to identify
habitat type and converted to the EUNIS broadscale habitats by
JNCC. The data suggest subtidal coarse sediment and subtidal sand
both occur within the site.
-
East of Haig Fras rMCZ Summary Site Report (2014) - The
data from the 2012 and 2013 verification surveys have been analysed
by Cefas. The analysis confirmed the presence of moderate energy
circalittoral rock, subtidal sand and subtidal coarse sediments and
subtidal mixed sediment mosaics. High energy circalittoral rock,
mud habitats in deep water and subtidal mud habitat, which are not
currently protected features of the site, were also
identified.
- Community analysis of East of Haig Fras MCZ
data (2014) - JNCC contracted Seastar Survey Ltd to complete a
community analysis of offshore MCZ grab and video data to establish
biotopes. The following biotopes were recorded in East of Haig Fras
MCZ:
CR.HCR.DpSp.(PhaAxi): A4.121 Phakellia
ventilabrum (chalice sponge) and axinellid
sponges on deep, wave-exposed circalittoral rock
SS.SCS.OCS: A5.15 Offshore circalittoral coarse
sediment
SS.SSa.CFiSa.EpusOborApri /
SS.SMx.OMx: A5.251 Echinocyamus
pusillus (pea urchin), Ophelia
borealis (a bristle worm) and Abra
prismatica (a bivalve mollusc) in
circalittoral fine sand / A5.45 Offshore
circalittoral mixed sediments
SS.SSa.OSa: A5.37 Deep circalittoral
sand
SS.SMu.OMu /
SS.SMx.OMx: A5.37 Offshore circalittoral mud /
A5.45 Offshore circalittoral mixed sediments
SS.SMx.OMx.(PoVen): A5.451 Polychaete-rich deep
Venus community in offshore mixed
sediments.
Additional relevant literature
References for further supporting scientific literature
consulted during the identification of this site can be found in
the
annexes of our advice. 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 information not referred to in any of the documents
listed on the Evidence tab or the annexes of the MCZ advice
documents, please contact JNCC.
Conservation Advice
Last updated: March 2018
Reviewed: November 2018
Updated formal conservation advice is now available for this
MPA. Further information on the approach used to develop this
advice is available on the Conservation Advice
webpage along with a Glossary of
Terms used in JNCC conservation advice and a short
video explaining how to use the conservation advice
packages.
You must refer to this advice if you:
- undertake an MCZ assessment for a plan or project that could
impact the site;
- provide information for such an assessment;
- respond to specific measures to further the conservation
objectives for the site; and
- consider the need to put new or additional management measures
in place.
You may also find it useful to refer to this advice if you:
- Carry out any other activity that could impact the site.
We will engage with stakeholders to identify any lessons which
JNCC can learn from customers who have used the advice, with a view
to continuing to ensure it is fit-for-purpose.
The following table provides an overview of the components of
the conservation advice, and provides hyperlinks to each of the
products for this MPA. These elements together form JNCC’s formal
conservation advice for this site and should be read in conjunction
with each other. This advice reflects the most up-to-date
evidence held by JNCC (correct as of March 2018). A zipped folder
enabling these documents to be downloaded together is available at
the bottom of this page.
Document |
Overview |
Background
Information |
Explains the purpose of the advice and when it must be referred
to. |
Conservation
Objectives
Supplementary Advice on the
Conservation Objectives (SACO) |
The Conservation Objectives set out the broad
ecological aims for the site. JNCC provide supplementary advice in
the SACO which is essential reading to support interpretation of
these conservation objectives.
You can use these documents to assess the
impacts of your planned activity on the important attributes of the
site.
|
Conservation
Advice Statements |
These statements provide a summary of the Supplementary Advice
on the Conservation Objectives (SACO)
- Site condition presents our up to date understanding of the
condition of features within the site;
- Conservation benefits which the site can provide, these help
you understand what is important about the site and why it needs
protecting; and
- Conservation measures which JNCC consider are needed to support
achievement of the conservation objectives. These provide clarity
around measures needed to support restoration or maintenance of the
feature(s) within the site.
|
Advice on
Operations |
Provides information on the activities capable of affecting site
integrity and therefore achievement of the site’s conservation
objectives.
This is a starting point for determining potential management
requirements. It does not take into account the intensity,
frequency or cumulative impacts from activities taking place. It is
simply to advise you of the possible adverse impacts that your
activity can have on a MPA’s features.
Use the advice on operations to determine those pressures your
activity causes that could harm the habitat and/or species features
of the site. |
Download
You will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this
document.
Activities and Management
Last updated: November 2018
Reviewed: November 2018
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 required in improve our confidence in this assessment.
Licensable activities are being managed and progress is ongoing
with regards to the recommendation of fisheries management
proposals to the European Commission.
|
This site forms part of the UK’s 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:
- 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.
- The implementation of management measures - management actions
considered necessary to achieve the conservation objectives of a
site.
- Site condition monitoring programmes – collecting the
information necessary to determine progress towards a site’s
conservation objectives.
- 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 East of Haig Fras 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. 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 via JNCC’s 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 and static demersal effort within
the MPA. UK and non-UK registered vessels have been active in the
area.
- The site falls outside the UK’s 12 nautical mile limit and is
to be exclusively managed under the EU Common Fisheries Policy
(CFP). In accordance with
Article 18 of the revised Common Fisheries Policy (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.
- Future management proposals would need to be developed by in
line with
JNCC and Natural England fisheries advice.
- The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is the lead authority
regarding the implementation of, and compliance with, any measures
to manage fishing activity. Further information on progress is
available via the
MMO website.
Licensable activities
- Whilst licensable activities such as oil and gas exploration
and production do not take place within East of Haig Fras MCZ at
present, any future proposals would be managed in accordance with
the clauses set out under section
127 of The Marine & Coastal Access Act (2009). Under this
clause, JNCC 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 site’s conservation objectives. JNCC
consider that 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 Marine Management
Organisations’
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
JNCC's offshore industries advice webpage.
Telecommunications cables
- A number of telecommunication cables cross the MPA.
- 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 encourages 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
A monitoring survey of the MPA took place in 2015. The survey
established the baseline conditions of the protected features of
the MPA. Further information is provided in the Monitoring tab and
the survey cruise report (Calloway, 2015).
Progression towards conservation
objectives
No long-term condition monitoring data are available to
determine whether the MPA is moving towards or has reached its
conservation objectives. The site has a ‘recover’ conservation
objective based on a vulnerability assessment which indicated
exposure to activities associated with pressures to which the
protected features of the site are considered sensitive. This
suggests the site is unlikely to be moving towards its conservation
objectives, but longer term site condition monitoring data would
improve our confidence in this assessment. Further information will
be provided under the Assessment tab as it becomes available.
Monitoring
Last updated: October 2017
Reviewed: November 2018
JNCC is currently leading on the development of a strategy for
biodiversity monitoring across all UK waters, to include MPA
monitoring. Data and evidence collected from MPA 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.
In May 2015, a monitoring survey was undertaken within East of
Haig Fras MCZ aboard the R/V Cefas Endeavour. The aim of the
survey was to collect the first dataset in a monitoring
time-series, enabling a better understanding of long-term patterns
in benthic fauna.
Assessment
Last updated: October 2017
Reviewed: November 2018
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
(CP2) and the OSPAR Quality Status
Report (QSR). 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 (MSFD),
which aims to achieve Good Environmental Status (GES) by
2020.