Fulmar MPA

Status: Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ)

Fulmar MCZ is an offshore site, 50–100 m deep, located approximately 224 km from the Northumberland coast.

Site

Located approximately 224 km from the Northumberland Coast, Fulmar MCZ is an offshore site, 50–100 m deep. The seabed of Fulmar MCZ is composed of subtidal mud and subtidal sand, with patches of subtidal mixed sediment. The habitats the MCZ protects are important resources for marine animals, providing food, spawning areas and shelter. Burrowing anemones and brittlestars are found at the site as well as slender sea-pens that protrude from the surface of the mud. Ocean quahog, an OSPAR threatened and/or declining species is also present, often entirely buried in the sand with a small tube extending to the surface for breathing and feeding.

More detailed site information can be found in the Summary section.

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Site Timeline

The diagram below is a summary of the key milestones involved in the selection and designation of Fulmar MCZ. More information on the site's milestones can be found within the Relevant Documentation section and in annex three of JNCC's advice on offshore MCZs considered for consultation in 2015.

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Relevant Documentation

The document listed below and any other historical documents relating to Fulmar MCZ were produced during the selection and designation process and therefore may be out of date. This site information centre is the most up-to-date source of information for Fulmar MCZ, and will reflect any additional information gathered since these documents were produced. Further information about the MCZ site selection process and historic MCZ advice is available on JNCC's MCZ webpages.

• Fulmar MCZ Designation Order – The official description of the site designation under the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009. The designation order includes boundary coordinates, conservation objectives and a list of the designated features. More information on the Designation Order, including a designation map and factsheet is available on Defra's website. 
• JNCC's formal conservation advice for this site is available in the Conservation Advice section below.

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Summary

Last updated: October 2017

This site summary was adapted from the MCZ Site Report and incorporates any information gathered since this document was produced. Please refer to this document for further details and information sources.

 

Site overview

Fulmar MCZ is located approximately 224 km offshore of the Northumberland coast in the north-east of England, close to Swallow Sand MCZ and North East of Farnes Deep MCZ. The seabed in the MCZ is predominantly subtidal mud, with small patches of other sediments. Burrowing tube anemones (Cerianthus lloydii), brittlestars (including Amphuria filiformis and Ophiura albida) and sea potatoes (Echinocardium cordatum) are found living on the sediments at Fulmar MCZ. Sea-pens such as the slender sea-pen (Virgularia mirabilis) are also present. Fulmar MCZ is also home to a wide variety of worms that live within the sediment, which are an important food source for many other animals, including commercial fish species.

The MCZ currently has four designated features: subtidal mud, subtidal sand, subtidal mixed sediments and ocean quahog (Arctica islandica). Ocean quahogs are a feature of conservation importance, and are also included on the OSPAR list of Threatened and/or Declining Species & Habitats. This bivalve is a long-lived species (over 500 years) with a very slow growth rate, taking up to 50 years to reach market size. They are thought to reach sexual maturity between 5–7 years, although this is dependent on locality and growth rates. The spawning period can vary also depending on location. Recent studies have found the population of ocean quahog in the North Sea has declined in abundance, which has been linked to the impacts of human activities on the seabed.

Fulmar MCZ was originally recommended by the Net Gain regional project in 2011 to help meet the targets of protecting subtidal coarse sediment and subtidal sand broad-scale habitat features, and for the presence of ocean quahog. The presence of these features in the site was based on a modelled habitat map developed by the UKSeaMap project in 2010 and ground-truthing carried out using data from British Geological Survey (BGS) and historical surveys (1902–2011).

Since the site was recommended, more data for Fulmar MCZ have been collected through additional data analysis and another site survey in 2012. Ground-truthing confirmed the presence of subtidal mud and subtidal mixed sediments broad-scale habitats in the site and formed the basis for a new modelled habitat map to revise the extent of subtidal sand and subtidal coarse sediment at the site. The survey, along with other data sourced confirmed the presence of ocean quahog at the site. Community analysis and biotope identification has also been conducted. Further detail on the evidence for this MCZ can be found in the Evidence section.

Site location:  Co-ordinates for this MCZ can be found in the designation order listed in the Relevant Documentation section.

Site area:  2,437 km², a size similar to the county of Cheshire (2,343 km²).

Site depth range:  50–100 m.

Charting Progress 2 biogeographic region: Northern North Sea.

Site boundary description: The site is a simple polygon with boundary lines running north to south and east to west in line with the guidance provided by the MCZ project's Ecological Network Guidance. The boundary of Fulmar MCZ was developed by the Net Gain regional project and has not changed since it was recommended in 2011. The site boundary was guided by information on fishing intensity from international fishing fleets and infrastructure present on the seabed.

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Evidence

Last updated: October 2017

For a full overview of the data used to support site identification and information on confidence in feature presence and extent see JNCC's Tranche Two MCZ pre-consultation and post-consultation advice. References to the scientific literature consulted during the identification of this site can be found on JNCC's MCZ webpages. 

The data for the Fulmar MCZ were collected primarily through JNCC-funded or collaborative surveys, with other data obtained through other data sourcing.  The data gathered provide direct evidence confirming the presence of the protected features within the site. Additional survey data will be added to JNCC's MPA mapper in due course.

 

Survey and data gathering

• Fulmar MCZ MB0120 survey (2012) – JNCC collaborated with Cefas on an MCZ site verification survey to Fulmar MCZ, funded by the  Defra data collection fund. Video, images, acoustic data and grab samples were collected across the site. For report see Data analysis reports.

 

Data analysis reports

Analyses of data gathered as part of the survey listed above, as well as other relevant data analysis products, are available in the following reports:

• EUSeaMap – Provides supporting information on the presence and extent of Subtidal sand, Subtidal mud and Subtidal mixed sediments from a predictive seabed habitat map of European waters.
• Mapping seabed sediments of the Fulmar rMCZ (2015) – Using the Fulmar MCZ survey data, JNCC contracted British Geological Survey to carry out particle size analysis to identify the sediments within the MCZ. The results verified the presence of Subtidal sand, Subtidal mud and Subtidal mixed sediments within Fulmar MCZ.
• Fulmar rMCZ Post-survey Site Report (2015) – Cefas undertook analysis of the data collected on the Fulmar MCZ survey (2012) to produce a summary report. The data, analysed as part of the MB0120 Defra contract, led to the creation of a revised habitat map that has been used to inform the presence of broad-scale habitats within the MCZ.
• Community analysis of Fulmar MCZ data (2014) – JNCC undertook a community analysis of the grab and video data from the Fulmar MCZ survey (2012) to establish the biotopes present within the MCZ. The results showed that the follow biotopes were present at the site:
  • SS.SMu.OMu.PjefThyAfil (A5.376): Paramphinome jeffreysii, Thyasira spp. and Amphiura filiformis in offshore circalittoral sandy mud;
  • S.SMu.CSaMu.VirOphPmax (A5.354): Virgularia mirabilis and Ophiura spp. with Pecten maximus on circalittoral sandy or shelly mud; and
  • SS.SMx.CMx (A5.44x): Circalittoral mixed sediments, no matching biotope. 

 

Additional relevant literature

References for further supporting scientific literature consulted during the identification of this site can be found in the annexes of our advice. Please be aware that although these sources contain information in relation to this MPA, they do not necessarily represent the views of JNCC.

 

Knowledge gaps

If you are aware of any additional data not listed here or scientific papers relevant to this site, please contact us.

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Conservation Advice

Last updated: February 2018

Updated formal conservation advice is now available for this MPA. Further information on the approach used to develop this advice is available on our 'Conserving MPAs' webpage along with a Glossary of Terms used in JNCC's conservation advice and a short video explaining how to use the conservation advice packages. 

You must refer to this advice if you:

• undertake an MCZ assessment for a plan or project that could impact the site;
• provide information for such an assessment;
• respond to specific measures to further the conservation objectives for the site; and 
• consider the need to put new or additional management measures in place.

You may also find it useful to refer to this advice if you:

• carry out any other activity that could impact the site.

We will engage with stakeholders to identify any lessons to be learned from customers who have used the advice, to ensure the conservation advice remains fit-for-purpose.

The following table provides an overview of the components of the conservation advice, and provides hyperlinks to each of the products for this MPA. These elements together form JNCC’s formal conservation advice for this site and should be read in conjunction with each other. This advice reflects the most up-to-date evidence held by JNCC (correct as of February 2018).

Document	Overview
Background Information	Explains the purpose of the advice and when it must be referred to.
Conservation Objectives   Supplementary Advice on the Conservation Objectives (SACO)	The conservation objectives set out the broad ecological aims for the site. JNCC provides supplementary advice in the Supplementary Advice on the Conservation Objectives (SACO), which is essential reading to support interpretation of these conservation objectives. It provides further detail and site-specific information for each feature within the site including which of the attributes need to be conserved and which ones recovered. You can use these documents to assess the impacts of your planned activity on the important attributes of the site. Please note our current understanding of whether the available evidence indicates that each attribute needs to be recovered or maintained is not provided here. However, links to available evidence for the site are provided and should you require further site-specific information for the site, please contact us.
Conservation Advice Statements	These statements provide a summary of the Supplementary Advice on the Conservation Objectives (SACO). Site condition presents our up-to-date understanding of the condition of features within the site; Conservation benefits which the site can provide, these help you understand what is important about the site and why it needs protecting; and Conservation measures which JNCC considers are needed to support achievement of the conservation objectives. These provide clarity around measures needed to support restoration or maintenance of the feature(s) within the site.
Advice on Operations	Provides information on the activities capable of affecting site integrity and therefore achievement of the site’s conservation objectives. This is a starting point for determining potential management requirements. It does not take into account the intensity, frequency or cumulative impacts from activities taking place. It is simply to advise you of the possible adverse impacts that your activity can have on a MPA’s features. Use the advice on operations to determine those pressures your activity causes that could harm the habitat and/or species features of the site.

These documents are all available on JNCC's Resource Hub.  

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Activities and Management

Last updated: October 2017

Management status: Progressing towards being well managed. Progress is ongoing with fisheries management options being developed. Ongoing site condition monitoring will be required in order to conclude with confidence as to the degree to which the site is moving towards or achieving its conservation objectives.

This site forms part of the UK's contribution to the OSPAR Commission's network of MPAs. As the UK is a contracting party to the OSPAR Commission, JNCC is committed to ensuring that the OSPAR MPA network is well-managed.

JNCC considers well-managed to mean the timely progress of an MPA around the 'MPA management cycle'. This involves:

1. The documentation of appropriate management information – conservation objectives, advice on activities capable of affecting the protected features of a site, and spatial information on the presence and extent of the protected features of a site.
2. The implementation of management measures – management actions considered necessary to achieve the conservation objectives of a site.
3. Site condition monitoring programmes – collecting the information necessary to determine progress towards a site's conservation objectives.
4. Assessment of progress towards conservation objectives – using available information to infer whether or not a site is moving towards or has achieved its conservation objectives.

The sub-sections that follow provide an account of the progress of Fulmar MCZ around each of these four stages in the MPA management cycle:

 

1. The documentation of appropriate management information

• The conservation objectives and advice on activities capable of affecting the conservation status of the protected feature of this site are available in the Conservation Advice section. Further information is available on our 'Conserving MPAs' webpage.
• Spatial information on the presence and extent of the protected feature of this MPA is available via JNCC's MPA mapper.
• JNCC is in the process of developing downloadable MPA data packages with appropriate permissions to share datasets in place.

 

2. The implementation of management measures

This section details progress towards the implementation of management measures for activities considered capable of affecting the conservation status of the protected features of the site. The protected features of the site are considered to be sensitive to pressures associated with fishing, 'licensable' activities and telecommunications cables.

Fisheries

• Vessel monitoring data indicate that there is no fishing activity within the MCZ. If fishing activity takes place in the future, management proposals would need to be developed in line with JNCC's and Natural England's fisheries advice. 
• Further information is available on the Marine Management Organisation's webpages.

Licensable activities

• A considerable number of oil and gas developments take place within this MPA, including many fields, pipelines, wells and associated infrastructure. 
• Licensable activities such as oil and gas exploration and production taking place or that may take place within this MPA are managed in accordance with the clauses set out under Section 127 of The Marine & Coastal Access Act (2009). Under this clause, JNCC has a statutory responsibility to advise the regulator on developments that are capable of affecting (other than insignificantly) the protected features of the MPA and that may hinder the achievement of the site's conservation objectives. JNCC considers the existing marine licensing process is sufficient to ensure the management of licensable activities taking place, or that could take place in the future, on the protected features of this MPA.
• For further information, please see The Marine Management Organisation's guidance on marine conservation zones and marine licensing.
• Further information on JNCC's role in the provision of advice for licensed activities in the UK offshore area is available on JNCC's offshore industry advice webpages.

Telecommunications cables

• One telecommunications cable currently crosses through the MPA.
• Cables are largely an unregulated activity in offshore waters depending upon the type of cable being laid (or maintained), where it is being laid between and whether the cable is part of a larger development (which may be regulated). Any cable not directly associated with an energy installation does not require a marine license beyond the territorial limit.
• JNCC encourages early discussion from operators regarding any plans related to new or existing cables, and encourages the undertaking of non-statutory environmental impact assessments for new or existing cable projects to assess their effect on the protected features of the MPA.

 

3. Site condition monitoring

Site condition monitoring surveys are yet to take place within this MPA. Further information will be made available in the Monitoring section in due course.

 

4. Assessment of progress towards conservation objectives

No long-term condition monitoring data are available to determine whether the MPA is moving towards or has reached its conservation objectives. The site has a ‘maintain’ conservation objective based on the findings of a vulnerability assessment (assessing the exposure to activities associated with pressures to which the protected features of the site are considered sensitive). This suggests the site may already be achieving or moving towards its conservation objectives. Site condition monitoring data would improve our confidence in this assessment. 

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Monitoring

Last updated: October 2017

JNCC is currently leading on the development of a strategy for biodiversity monitoring across all UK waters which includes the monitoring of MPAs. For MPAs, data and evidence collected from monitoring activities will be used with the aim to:

• Enable assessment of condition of the features within sites;
• Enable assessment of the degree to which management measures are effective in achieving the conservation objectives for the protected features;
• Support the identification of priorities for future protection and/or management; and
• Enable the government to fulfil its national and international assessment and reporting commitments in relation to MPAs and help identify where further action may be required.

Information on monitoring of Fulmar MCZ will be provided when it becomes available.

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