Carlingford Lough Marine Protected Area

Carlingfords nature conservation importance has been recognised by a host of both national and international designations, which aim to protect the range of important habitats and species.

“These designations place statutory responsibilities on public bodies to conserve the nature conservation interests.”

Conservation Objectives and Responsibilities

The Conservation Objectives for the SAC and SPA were drawn up by the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), but all public bodies have a legal responsibility to help deliver these objectives when they are exercising their functions. This particularly applies to the Marine and Fisheries Division, Northern Ireland Environment Agency and Newry, Mourne and Down District Council.

Guidance

DAERA is required to provide guidance to relevant competent authorities on the management of any activities or issues that might adversely affect the European Marine Site (EMS). This assists those authorities in fulfilling their statutory responsibilities as set out by the Conservation (Natural Habitats, etc.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995, better known as the Habitats Regulations, and other relevant legislation.

Monitoring and Review

A mechanism for monitoring and review enables the DAERA to follow the condition of the MPA and use that information to inform future actions across the authorities.

Management

In 2024 a Carlingford Lough Management Steering Group will provide a mechanism for monitoring and management of the Carlingford Lough MPA. The Management Plan and Action Plan is not a statutory document, but a voluntary agreement between the statutory agencies that will implement the plan and the local communities who use and have a vested interest in the area.

Many local people and landowners are already managing the area’s natural resources to the benefit of the MPA. The Management Action Plan has identified ways to support this and also to work with stakeholders to develop further initiatives and voluntary measures. Many activities are controlled through existing legislation such as ASSI, planning and fisheries legislation. The plan will be kept under review.

Where any action has the potential to have an impact on a designation feature of a designated site, a Habitats Regulations Assessment shall be undertaken to determine whether that impact is potentially damaging, and if so, whether it can be mitigated. Where mitigation is not possible, the action shall not proceed.

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What are MPA

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