What is a Special Area of Conservation?
Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) are highly protected sites designated under the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (as amended). SACs are designated for their particular habitats and species of wild flora and fauna that are of ‘community interest’, listed within the Annexes of the Directive. The Directive requires Member States to take a variety of measures to maintain and restore protected habitats and species to favourable conservation status.
Please click here for more information on SACs.
The Severn Estuary SAC
The Severn Estuary was designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) in 2009. The Severn Estuary is considered to be one of the best areas in the UK to support a significant number of habitat types and species. The Severn Estuary SAC covers an area of nearly 74,000 ha. Within its overarching “estuaries” feature, subtidal sandbanks, intertidal mudflats and sandflats, Atlantic salt meadows (saltmarsh) and biogenic reefs are included. Furthermore, three species of migratory fish are defined both as features in their own right and as sub-features of the Estuary feature.
Additionally, hard substrate habitats, the assemblage of 114 estuarine and marine fish species and the assemblage of waterfowl species have been identified as notable estuarine assemblages. These are an intrinsic part of the Estuary ecosystem and are therefore covered by the “estuaries” feature.
Qualifying features:
- Estuaries
- Atlantic salt meadow (saltmarsh)
- Intertidal mudflats and sandflats
- Reefs (Sabellaria sp.)
- Subtidal sandbanks
Species:
- River lamprey; Lampetra fluviatilis;
- Sea lamprey; Petromyzon marinus;
- Twaite shad; Alosa fallax;
To view the summary data sheet of the Severn Estuary SPA by the Join Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC), click here. The Severn Estuary Site Improvement plan can be viewed by clicking here.
The diagram below indicates the relationship between the SAC interest features and supporting habitats.
