Special Protection Areas (SPAs) with marine components - September 2011

This dataset displays digital boundaries for a subset of Special Protection Areas (SPAs) that have been submitted  by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) on behalf of the UK Government to the European Commission. 
This subset is specifically SPAs with a marine component and is defined below.

Natura 2000 sites (SAC and SPA) with marine components:

SACs with marine components are those sites which contain qualifying Habitats Directive Annex I marine habitats and/or
qualifying Annex II marine species (where these species are reliant on the marine environment within SAC boundaries).

SPAs with marine components are defined as those sites with qualifying Birds Directive Annex I species or regularly
occurring migratory species that are dependent on the marine environment for all or part of their lifecycle, where
these species are found in association with intertidal or subtidal habitats.

Please note that the definitions of both 'SACs with marine components' and 'SPAs with marine components' are non-statutory,
and do not affect SAC or SPA management (the sites' features are managed regardless of whether they are classed as marine or not).