The Severn Estuary EMS covers the estuary area from Lavernock Point in the Vale of Glamorgan in the north, to the Bullo and Overton areas in Gloucestershire in the east, to the Hinkley Point area in Somerset in the south. It is a cross-border site situated between South-East Wales and the South-West of England. It covers a very large area of nearly 74,000 hectares.
European Marine Sites or EMSs collectively refer to the marine areas of both Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) that protect some of our most valuable marine and coastal species and habitats. Designated under the Habitats Regulations in UK law, they form a network of internationally important sites across Europe. European Marine Sites are not statutory designations but act as a ‘management unit’.
To ensure that the strict protections afforded to sites, habitats and species continue, following the exit of the UK from the European Union, legislation through the Habitats and Birds Directives has been transposed into the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended) in England and Wales via the Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
Competent and Relevant Authorities bordering the Estuary have a statutory duty to manage their activities within the Severn Estuary EMS to minimise impacts and the associated deterioration of the European protected features. ASERA facilitates these Authorities to discharge their statutory duties in the most efficient and cost-effective way possible.
The Severn Estuary EMS is comprised of a Special Area of Conservation, a Special Protection Area and a Ramsar site.
Special Areas of Conservation or SACs are highly protected sites designated for their particular habitats and species. Legislation requires Relevant Authorities to take a variety of measures to maintain and restore protected habitats and species to favourable conservation status. For more information on SAC’s, click here.
The Severn Estuary SAC covers an area of nearly 74,000 ha and incorporates varied protected features including different types of habitats like mudflats, Atlantic salt meadows or saltmarsh and biogenic reefs. The SAC also protects three species of migratory fish.
Special Protection Areas or SPAs are also highly protected sites, but this designation specifically protects rare, vulnerable and regularly occurring migratory bird species and the habitats that support them. The designation aims to safeguard the habitats that support these populations of wild bird species. For more information on SPA’s, click here.
The Severn Estuary SPA covers an area of nearly 25,000 ha and was designated to protect the internationally and nationally important species of breeding, feeding and wintering birds. The designation also covers habitats that support the protected bird species. This includes intertidal mudflats and sandflats, shingle and rocky shore habitats.
Ramsar sites recognise the importance of wetlands for human wellbeing and biodiversity conservation. They were designated to stem the loss and progressive encroachment on wetlands now and into the future. They are named Ramsar sites in recognition of the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971. For more information about Ramsar sites, click here.
The Severn Estuary Ramsar covers nearly 17,000 ha and overlaps with the SPA and SAC. The site is of particular importance for hosting internationally important populations of several species of waterbirds and migratory fish species.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest or SSSIs identify the UK’s most important sites for flora, fauna and geology. They are designated under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000. For more information on SSSIs in Wales, click here and for information on SSSIs in England, click here.
The Severn Estuary and many of the floodplain levels surrounding it are designated as SSSIs. The Severn Estuary SSSI covers nearly 15,000 ha of foreshore and intertidal habitat and forms a network of SSSIs with the Upper Severn Estuary SSSI, the Bridgwater Bay SSSI, the island SSSIs of Sully, Flat Holm and Steep Holm, Aust Cliffs SSSI, Brean Down SSSI, Portishead to Black Nore SSSI, Blue Anchor to Lilstock SSSI and the Gwent Levels SSSI.
