The document provides an overview of the Severn Estuary European Marine Site, which is located along the border of England and Wales. It describes the estuary's geography and large tidal range. It also discusses the various legislative designations that provide protection to the estuary, including special areas for conservation, special protection areas for birds, and sites of special scientific interest. Finally, it outlines the role of Natural England in advising on marine conservation in the UK and current projects related to development proposals in the Severn Estuary.

1. The Severn Estuary European
Marine Site
Dr. Joe Green
Lead Marine Adviser, South West Regional Seas Team
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2. Contents
• The Severn in context
• Legislative background
• Overview of Severn designations
• Focus on:
– SAC
– SPA & Ramsar site
– SSSIs
• The role of Natural England
• Current work areas
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3. The Severn in context - geography
• Largest example of a coastal plain estuary/flooded river
valley? in the United Kingdom
• One of the largest estuaries in Europe - area of 73,678
ha
• Immense tidal range – physical environment and the
diversity and productivity of the biological communities.
• Tidal range 12.3 m at Avonmouth – 2nd largest in world
• Macrotidal environment related to the funnel shape - tidal
wave concentrated as it moves up the Channel.
• Tidal currents amplified and move at between 1.5 - 3
metres p/s
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5. The Severn in context – anthropological influences
• The Estuary and its coastal hinterland support the cities
of Cardiff, Bristol, Newport and Gloucester.
• Major industries include port installations, chemical
processing companies and nuclear power stations
• Commercial shrimp fishing, salmon fishing, an important
eel fishery.
• Aggregate extraction also occurs within the estuary
• Land reclamation since the Roman period - influenced
character of marginal wetlands
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6. Copyright: TPBC Copyright: BBC
Copyright: www.ultraprt.co.uk Copyright: Sir Robert McAlpine
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7. The Severn in context
• Alongside these competing activities, the Estuary
supports a wide range of habitats and species of
International importance for nature conservation.
• Site is 2/3 subtidal and 1/3 intertidal
• European Marine Site (EMS)
• SSSI’s
• Cross border site
Unique management challenge
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9. Severn’s conservation designations
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11. Legislative background
European:
– Special Areas of Conservation (SACs)
• EC Habitats Directive
• Article 3 - European network of important high-quality
conservation sites
• Conserve 189 habitat types and 788 species identified in
the Directive
– Special Protection Areas (SPAs)
• EC Birds Directive
• For rare and vulnerable birds (Annex 1) and regularly
occurring migratory species
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12. Legislative background
International:
– Ramsar site
• Protects wetlands under Ramsar Convention
• Ramsar sites in England are protected as European
sites
• Often underpins SPAs
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13. Overview of designations
National:
– Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
• The country's very best wildlife and geological sites
• Protected under the Wildlife & Countryside Act 1984
(as amended)
• Largely terrestrial designation, rarely extending below
the Low Water Mark.
Collectively, these designations make up part of a network of Marine
Protected Areas (MPAs)
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14. Special Area of Conservation (SAC)
Designated 2009
• Mudflats and sandflats not
covered by seawater at low tide
• Estuaries*
• Atlantic salt meadows
• Sandbanks which are slightly
covered by sea water all the
time
• Reefs
• Sea lamprey
• River lamprey
• Twaite shad
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15. Special Protection Area (SPA)
• Classified in 1995
• Internationally important
numbers of passage and
overwintering birds (4.1)
• A wetland of International
importance (4.2)
• Intertidal mudflats and
sandflats, saltmarsh,
shingle and rocky shore
also protected
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17. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs)
• Bridgwater Bay SSSI
– Saltmarsh; Reedbed; Intertidal
mudflats; Vascular plants; Grazing
marsh; Aggregations of non-
breeding birds
• Severn Estuary SSSI
– Saltmarsh; Reedbed; Intertidal
mudflats; Vascular plants;
Invertebrate assemblages; Grazing
marsh; Aggregations of non-
breeding birds
• Steep Holm SSSI
– Maritime cliff and slope; Vascular
plant
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18. • Whole estuary ecosystem is
designated
– Dynamic natural processes (biological
chemical and physiological)
– Characteristic associated biological
communities (invertebrates, plants,
birds and fish).
• Extensive subtidal sandbanks in outer
estuary
– Specialised communities
– Biogenic reefs of Sabellaria alveolata,
– Only known location of subtidal reefs in
England
Severn’s features
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19. The role of Natural England
• Responsible for advising Government and industry on
marine conservation and seascape issues in England’s
territorial waters (>12 nm offshore).
• Ensuring that our seas are ecologically healthy and that
biodiversity is maintained/recovered
• Advise a range of Government departments
• Ensure that the use and management of the marine
environment outside protected areas, is more sustainable.
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20. The role of Natural England
To ensure delivery of the long-term benefits the government wants and
that the natural environment needs – Natural England’s role is to provide
practical advice, grounded in science, on:
• Designation of MPAs
• MPA conservation objectives and operations that may impact site
features
• Monitoring and reporting on the MPA network
• Issues and legislation supporting implementation of Government policy
and international commitments
• Licensing and consenting of sea uses
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22. Current work areas – Severn (major casework)
Nationally significant projects
• Steart peninsula
realignments (EA, TBPC)
• Hinkley Point C
• Severn Barrage
• The Bristol Port Company
deep water expansion
Deliverables
Statutory advice:
• Liaising with LA’s and
developers
• HRA documents
• EIA’s
• Scoping reports
• Pre application
requests
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23. Current work areas (other casework)
Other casework – locally/regionally
significant
• Maintenance to coastal structures
• Dredging applications
• Fisheries/shellfisheries applications
or licences – advice to regulators
• Coastal redevelopments/defences
• Proposals for new leisure
facilities/activities 23

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25. Our work with other agencies
• EA
• EA Wales
• CCW
• Devon and Severn
IFCA
• Wildlife Trusts
• DECC
• DEFRA
• CEFAS
• MMO
• JNCC
• Local Authorities
• Landowners
• Local businesses and
industries
• Port and Harbour
authorities
• SEP 25

26. Thank you
Dr. Joe Green
Lead Marine Adviser
0300 060 2797
joe.green@naturalengland.org.uk
www.naturalengland.org.uk
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