Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl potential Special Protection Area

Liverpool Bay is being proposed as a Special Protection Area for birds under the 1979 EC Birds Directive.
Together, Special Protection Areas (SPAs) and Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) designated under the 1992 Habitats and Species Directive form a network of sites across the EU which aim to conserve Europe’s rich variety of wildlife and habitats.

Natural England (NE), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Countryside Council for Wales (CCW) are conducting a formal consultation about a number of new proposed marine SACs and SPAs. Ten proposed SACs and two proposed SPAs in English, Welsh and offshore waters are being put forward. One of these sites, the Liverpool Bay/Bae Lerpwl potential SPA, lies partly in Welsh waters.

CCW and Natural England are inviting comments from any interested parties on the scientific case for the proposed SPA in Liverpool Bay and on the likely economic and social impacts of the proposal.

This consultation runs for 3 months from Friday 27th November 2009 to Friday 26th February 2010.

If you wish to find out further information please go to the Natural England Website, where you can find the full details of the proposals and the consultation process.

At the end of the consultation period, Natural England and CCW will consider the comments received and make final recommendations to Government in summer 2010. The Secretary of State and the Welsh Ministers will then decide whether to formally designate the SPA.

If you wish to respond to the consultation, or discuss any aspect of the Liverpool Bay / Bae Lerpwl proposal, please write to Dr Neil Smith, CCW, Glan y Nant, Unit 19, Mold Business Park, Wrexham Road, MOLD CH7 1XP, or send comments by email to enquiries@ccw.gov.uk. You are welcome to respond in English or Welsh.