Policy paper

Highly Protected Marine Areas: North East of Farnes Deep

Published 5 July 2023

Applies to England

This page outlines why North East of Farnes Deep has been designated as a Highly Protected Marine Area (HPMA). It provides an overview of the ecological importance, where this area is located and our current knowledge of the activities within the area.

HPMAs have the highest levels of protection in our seas. All extractive, destructive and depositional uses are prohibited. This helps the ecosystem to fully recover.

This site became a HPMA on 14 June 2023.

Location

North East of Farnes Deep is an offshore HPMA situated beyond the 12 nautical mile territorial sea limit in the Northern North Sea Region. At its closest, it is approximately 55km from the coast to the east of Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Covering 492 km² and ranging in depths from approximately 50 to 100 metres, this area overlaps entirely with a Marine Conservation Zone (MCZ) of the same name.

Conservation objective

The North East of Farnes Deep Highly Protected Marine Area (Marine Conservation Zone) Designation Order 2023 sets out the protected feature and the conservation objective applicable within the HPMA site boundary.

The conservation objective of North East of Farnes Deep is to:

• achieve full recovery of the protected feature, including its structure and functions, its qualities and the composition of its characteristic biological communities present within the North East of Farnes Deep Highly Protected Marine Area, to a natural state, and
• prevent further degradation and damage to the protected feature, subject to natural change.

Why we have designated this site as a HPMA

The seabed in this HPMA has a mix of highly mosaiced habitats ranging from coarse sediments such as sand, where several species of filter feeding sponges have been identified, through to mixed sediment areas and mud dominated seabed habitats.

These wide-ranging, mostly stable habitats support high levels of biodiversity in comparison to the wider Northern North Sea region, with at least 263 benthic and demersal species recorded. These include the phosphorescent sea pen, common dragonet, and squat lobsters which occur in relatively large numbers across the area, as well as the long-lived ocean quahog, a type of mollusc which is under threat across the broader North-east Atlantic.

Several mobile species have been recorded in this area, including the rare and regionally distinctive European smelt, which is prey for larger fish, seabirds and marine mammals. At least seven nationally important seabird species and five marine mammal species have also been recorded within this area including the harbour porpoise and white beaked dolphin.

Together with high levels of biodiversity and the complex benthic habitats, the area has the potential to contribute to a range of ecosystem services. The large areas of muddy habitats, which cover over 27 km² (over 5% by area), are thought to be an important habitat for the storage of carbon. Overall, in English waters, seabed sediments (such as mud and sand) have been identified to have a large stock of organic carbon, highlighting the importance of protecting this habitat as a nature-based solution to tackling climate change.

Evidence shows the complex sediment dominated seabed habitats in this area are important for the key life cycle for a range of species including birds, marine mammals and fish. This includes spawning and nursery habitats for up to ten commercially important fish species such as haddock, surmullet and whiting. Protecting these areas therefore may help protect stocks of these species

The North East of Farnes Deep HPMA overlaps entirely with an existing MCZ by the same name. It is the only Marine Protected Area (MPA) in the region where all the protected features are in favourable condition. As such, it is the only HPMA in offshore English waters that represents a relatively natural ecosystem. This HPMA can therefore help to safeguard the health of marine biodiversity in this area into the future. As the HPMA overlaps entirely with an existing MCZ, the higher conservation objective for the HPMA will also apply to the protected features of the existing MCZ. Due to the existing designation, survey data is also readily available to evaluate the impact of HPMA designation in a relatively shorter timeframe than newly designated sites not overlying MCZs with previously collected baseline data.

After reviewing the evidence, the Secretary of State designated North East of Farnes Deep as an HPMA. Together with high levels of biodiversity and complex seabed habitats, the area has the potential to contribute to a range of benefits including carbon storage in the large muddy habitats and spawning and nursery habitat provision for commercial species. The pilot site is estimated to provide high ecological benefits and the costs at the site are low, indicating very good net social value (comparing benefits to costs) in designating the site.

Protecting the whole site

HPMAs take a ‘whole site approach’, therefore the entire marine ecosystem within the HPMA boundary is designated for protection.

The protected feature of the North East of Farnes Deep HPMA is defined in the Designation Order as ‘the marine ecosystem of the area.

‘The marine ecosystem’ means all marine flora and fauna, all marine habitats and all geological or geomorphological interests, including all abiotic elements and supporting ecosystem functions and processes, in or on the seabed, water column and the sea surface.

Some of the broadscale habitats are listed below, but the list is not exhaustive.

• sublittoral coarse sediment
• sublittoral sand
• sublittoral mud
• sublittoral mixed sediments

As well as these habitats, a range of mobile species, including birds, marine mammals and multiple species of fish and shellfish are also likely to use this area and form part of the protected feature when within the designated site. For further information, please refer to the ecological narrative developed for the candidate HPMA boundaries ahead of consultation.

Management of the site

A more precautionary approach to the management of activities is advised for HPMAs than is the case for existing MCZs. The government’s vision for HPMAs is that these will be areas of the sea that allow the protection and recovery of marine ecosystems by prohibiting extractive, destructive and depositional uses and allowing only non-damaging levels of other activities to the extent permitted by international law.

North East of Farnes Deep HPMA is designated as an MCZ under the Marine and Coastal Access Act (MCAA). The MCAA Section 125 places a general duty on public authorities to carry out their functions in the manner that they consider best furthers – or least hinders – the conservation objectives set for MCZs. Activities should only be permitted if the public authority is satisfied that there is no significant risk that the activity will hinder the achievement of the conservation objectives or if certain conditions are met (MCAA 126 (5)-(7)).

Regulators, including the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) and Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs), will aim to introduce necessary management measures in due course.

Management can take several different forms, including use of the existing planning and licensing regimes, specific byelaws and orders. Public consultation will be carried out as required for permanent byelaws and orders. For activities that require authorisation, public authorities must consider the site in their decision as soon as the site is consulted on.

High level and site-specific conservation advice by the statutory nature conservation bodies (SNCBs), JNCC and Natural England, will provide further guidance related to management of HPMAs to meet the conservation objective.

Other guidance documents will also be available to support public authorities in their duties in relation to the management of HPMAs under the MCAA.