The Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007

Made: 24th June 2007

Laid before Parliament: 3rd July 2007

Coming into force: 21st August 2007

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PART 1 — INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

Citation and commencement

1

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Interpretation

2

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Application to the Crown

3

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Rights under international law

4

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Meaning of “competent authority”

5

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Duty of competent authorities

6

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PART 2 — CONSERVATION OF NATURAL HABITATS AND HABITATS OF SPECIES

European offshore marine sites

List of sites eligible for identification as of Community importance

7

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Notification of a proposal for a site of Community importance

8

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Modification of list of sites

9

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Consultation as to inclusion of site omitted from the list

10

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Designation of special areas of conservation

11

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Classification of sites as special protection areas

12

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Notification of a proposal to classify a special protection area

13

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Hearings

14

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Meaning of “European offshore marine site” in these Regulations

15

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Duty to compile and maintain a register of European offshore marine sites

16

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Notification of changes to the register

17

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Site protection and management

Establishment of nature conservation objectives

18

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Management schemes for European offshore marine sites

19

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Duty in relation to management schemes

20

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Co-ordinated management of sites

21

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Conservation measures relating to special areas of conservation

22

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Prevention of deterioration of habitats and disturbance of species

23

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Plans and projects

Meaning of “European site” in these Regulations

24

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Protection of European offshore marine sites and European sites

25

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Considerations of overriding public interest

26

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Review of existing decisions and consents

27

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Consideration on review

28

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Co-ordination where more than one competent authority is involved

29

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Compensatory measures

30

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Notification of compensatory measures

31

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Offences

Offences relating to European offshore marine sites

32

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PART 3 — PROTECTION OF SPECIES

Application of offences in Part 3

33

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Protection of birds

Protection of wild birds, their eggs and nests

34

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Defences to the offences in regulation 34

35

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Prohibition of certain methods of capturing or killing wild birds

36

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Sale etc of live or dead wild birds, eggs etc

37

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Penalties

38

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Protection of wild animals

Protection of wild animals listed in Annex IV(a) to the Habitats Directive

39

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Defences to the offences in regulation 39

40

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Prohibition of certain methods of capturing or killing wild animals

41

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Penalties

42

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Protection of plants

Offences relating to wild plants listed in Annex IV(b) to the Habitats Directive

43

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PART 4 — ADDITIONAL PROTECTION OF HABITATS AND WILD ANIMALS AND PLANTS

Duties relating to surveillance and monitoring

Surveillance of conservation status of habitats and species

44

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Protection of certain animals and plants from exploitation

45

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Monitoring incidental capture and killing

46

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Protection from incidental capture and killing

47

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Introduction of new species

Introduction of new species

48

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PART 5 — LICENCES

Power to grant licences

49

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Licences: supplementary provisions

50

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False statements made for obtaining licence

51

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PART 6 — ENFORCEMENT AND SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENCES

Enforcement

Wildlife officers

52

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Powers of boarding, entry and inspection

53

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Additional powers

54

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Powers to make inquiries and examine things

55

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Powers relating to specimens

56

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Powers relating to documents and recording evidence of offences

57

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Further powers in relation to ships

58

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Assistance for wildlife officers

59

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Power to use reasonable force

60

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Liability of wildlife officers

61

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Offences in relation to wildlife officers

62

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Supplementary provision relating to criminal offences

Jurisdiction of courts

63

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Possession of means of committing offence

64

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Offences by bodies corporate, &c.

65

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Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act 1878

66

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PART 7 — MISCELLANEOUS

Research

67

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Nature conservation education

68

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Re-introduction of species

69

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Advisory role of the JNCC

70

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Advice on appropriate assessments

71

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Reports to the Commission

72

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Form of communications

73

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Notices

74

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Amendments to the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001

75

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SCHEDULE 1 — EUROPEAN PROTECTED SPECIES

Common name	Scientific Name
NOTE. Common names are given in the first column of this Schedule by way of guidance only; in the event of any dispute or proceedings, the common name shall not be taken into account.	NOTE. Common names are given in the first column of this Schedule by way of guidance only; in the event of any dispute or proceedings, the common name shall not be taken into account.
Dolphins, porpoises and whales (all species)	Cetacea
Sturgeon, Common	Acipenser sturio
Turtles, Marine	Caretta caretta Chelonia mydas Dermochelys coriacea Eretmochelys imbricata Lepidochelys kempii

SCHEDULE 2 — EXCLUDED POPULATIONS OF CERTAIN SPECIES

Common Name	Scientific Name	Excluded countries and areas
NOTE. Common names are given in the first column of this Schedule by way of guidance only; in the event of any dispute or proceedings, the common name shall not be taken into account.	NOTE. Common names are given in the first column of this Schedule by way of guidance only; in the event of any dispute or proceedings, the common name shall not be taken into account.	NOTE. Common names are given in the first column of this Schedule by way of guidance only; in the event of any dispute or proceedings, the common name shall not be taken into account.
Beaver, Eurasian	Castor fiber	Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, and Sweden
Hamster, European (or Black bellied)	Cricetus cricetus	Hungary
Wolf, Grey	Canis lupus	Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece north of the 39th parallel, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Spain north of the River Duero, and the reindeer management area in Finland as defined in paragraph 2 of Finnish Act No. 848/90 of 14th September 1990 on reindeer management[^f00053]
Lynx, Eurasian	Lynx lynx	Estonia
Viper, Seoane’s	Vipera seoanni	Spain

SCHEDULE 3 — ANIMALS WHICH MAY NOT BE TAKEN OR KILLED IN CERTAIN WAYS

Common name	Scientific name
NOTE. Common names are given in the first column of this Schedule by way of guidance only; in the event of any dispute or proceedings, the common name shall not be taken into account.	NOTE. Common names are given in the first column of this Schedule by way of guidance only; in the event of any dispute or proceedings, the common name shall not be taken into account.
Seals (all species)	Phocidae
Shad, Alis Shad, Twaite	Alosa alosa Alosa fallax
Sturgeon (all species except the common sturgeon)	Acipenseridae (except Acipenser sturio)

Signed

Ben Bradshaw — Minister of State — Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs — 2007-06-24

Explanatory note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

EXPLANATORY NOTE

These Regulations make provision for implementing Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds (O.J. No. L103, 25.4.79, p.1.) and Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora (O.J. No. L206, 22.7.92, p.7) in relation to marine areas where the United Kingdom has jurisdiction beyond its territorial sea. That is to say, the Regulations make provision in relation to the offshore marine area, offshore marine installations and certain ships and aircraft. The “offshore marine area” is defined in regulation 2(1).

Part 1 contains introductory provisions. Regulation 6 imposes a duty on competent authorities exercising functions relevant to marine conservation to do so in such a way as to secure compliance with the requirements of the Directives.

Part 2 makes provision for the conservation of natural habitats and habitats of species. Regulation 5 identifies the competent authorities for the purposes of these Regulations. Regulations 7-17 make provision for the selection, registration and notification of sites in the offshore marine area to be protected under the Habitats and Wild Birds Directives (“European offshore marine sites”, which term is defined in regulation 15). Regulations 18-21 make provision about the management of European offshore marine sites, including provision enabling management schemes to be made for these sites. Regulation 22 makes provision requiring competent authorities to establish conservation measures in respect of special areas of conservation in the offshore marine area that have been designated under regulation 11. Regulation 23 makes provision requiring competent authorities to exercise their functions to secure that steps are taken to avoid the disturbance of species and deterioration of habitat in respect of the offshore marine sites specified in regulation 23(3) and (4). Regulations 25-30 require (amongst other things) the effect of plans and projects in the offshore marine area (or on offshore marine installations) that are likely to have a significant effect on a European offshore marine site or a European site (as defined in regulation 24) to be considered before the plan or project is authorised. Subject to certain exceptions, the authorisation of such plans and projects is prevented where the integrity of the site would be adversely affected. Regulations 27 and 28 also require certain authorisations granted before a site became a European offshore marine site or European site to be reviewed and in certain circumstances revoked where the integrity of the site would be adversely affected. Regulation 32 creates new offences in relation to offshore marine sites, as regards the intentional disturbance of animals for the protection of which the site has been designated or listed; the intentional disturbance of wild birds in a classified site; and the intentional or reckless damage or destruction of habitats.

Part 3 creates offences for the protection of wild birds, animals and plants, which in some instances are subject to defences. In particular, regulations 34 and 39 make it an offence deliberately to kill or take, respectively, wild birds or their eggs, and animals belonging to the species listed in Schedule 1. Protection is also afforded to birds’ nests, and to the breeding sites and resting places of the species of animals specified in Schedule 1. Regulations 36 and 41 create offences prohibiting the use of certain methods of killing and taking wild birds and animals (respectively). Regulations 37, 39(2) and 43 make it an offence, subject to certain exceptions, to trade in or keep wild birds and certain species of wild animals and plants.

Part 4 requires the Secretary of State to make arrangements for surveillance and monitoring of species and habitats in the offshore marine area and to take further action for the protection of species, in the light of that surveillance or monitoring. In certain cases Scottish Ministers and Northern Ireland departments must also take measures to protect species under this Part. Regulation 48 makes it an offence deliberately to introduce a non-native animal or plant.

Part 5 makes provision for the licensing of activities which would otherwise be offences under Part 3 and regulation 48 (in Part 4).

Part 6 gives to the Secretary of State and competent authorities power to appoint or make arrangements for the appointment of persons (“wildlife officers”) to investigate offences under the Regulations. Powers to search and enter and gather evidence are provided to wildlife officers. Part 6 also makes supplementary provision relating to offences under the Regulations.

Part 7 deals with a number of miscellaneous matters including education, research and reporting to the European Commission on the implementation of the Habitats Directive. Under Articles 16 and 17 of the Habitats Directive respectively, member States must provide reports to the Commission on derogations granted under the Directive and on its implementation. Regulation 72 of these Regulations ensures that there is an authority responsible for sending those reports, namely the Secretary of State. Regulation 75 makes amendments to the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001.

A transposition note setting out how the Regulations transpose the two Directives mentioned above has been prepared. A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector has also been prepared. Both of these documents are available from the Wildlife Habitats and Biodiversity Division, Defra, Temple Quay, Bristol, BS1 6EB. In addition, copies of both of these documents have been placed in the libraries of both Houses of Parliament.

Footnotes

[^f00001]: S.I. 1992/2870.

[^f00002]: 1972 c.68.

[^f00003]: In so far as these Regulations deal with matters that are within the devolved competence of Scottish Ministers, the power of the Secretary of State to make regulations in relation to those matters in or as regards Scotland is preserved by section 57(1) of the Scotland Act 1998 (c.46).

[^f00004]: Paragraph 1A was inserted by section 28 of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c.51).

[^f00005]: O.J. No. L206, 22.7.92, p 7.

[^f00006]: The Habitats Directive was last amended by Council Directive 2006/105/EC of 20 November 2006 adapting Directives 79/409/EEC, 92/43/EEC, 97/68/EC, 2001/80/EC and 2001/81/EC in the field of environment, by reason of the accession of Bulgaria and Romania (O.J. No. L363, 20.12.2006, p. 368; and see O.J. L80, 21.3.2007, p. 15, for the Corrigendum amending the original title).

[^f00009]: S.I. 1994/2716, to which relevant amendments have been made by the Environment Act 1995 (c.25), the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 (c.37), the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (asp 2), S.I. 1996/525, 1996/973, 1997/3055, 1999/1820, 2000/192, 2000/1973 and 2007/1843 and S.S.I. 2000/323, and 2004/475.

[^f00010]: 1976 c.86.

[^f00011]: A consolidated version can be found at O.J. No. C321E, 29.12.06.

[^f00013]: 1998 c.47.

[^f00014]: 1964 c.29. Section 1(7) was amended by the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c.23) section 37 and Schedule 3, paragraph 1. Areas have been designated under section 1(7) by S.I. 1987/1265, 2000/3062 and 2001/3670.

[^f00015]: 2004 c.20. An area has been designated under section 84(4) by S.I. 2004/2668.

[^f00016]: 1998 c.17.

[^f00019]: 1998 c.46.

[^f00020]: 1934 c.49.

[^f00021]: 1949 c.74. Section 34 was amended by section 36(1) and (2) of the Merchant Shipping Act 1998 (c.12).

[^f00022]: 1967 c.84.

[^f00023]: 1971 c.60.

[^f00024]: 1976 c.86.

[^f00025]: 1981 c.29.

[^f00026]: 1985 c.48.

[^f00027]: 1993 c.12. An Order in Council under section 11 of the Petroleum Act 1998 (c.17) may make provision for applying the 1993 Act to offshore installations in areas designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964 (c.29).

[^f00028]: 1995 c.21. Section 128 was amended by sections 12 and 29 of, and paragraph 3(2) of Schedule 6 and paragraph 3(3) of Schedule 7 to, the Merchant Shipping and Maritime Security Act 1997 (c.28), and by section 2 of the Merchant Shipping (Pollution) Act 2006 (c.8).

[^f00029]: 1999 c.24.

[^f00030]: S.I. 1996/2154, amended by S.I. 1997/1910, 1999/1957, 2000/483, 2004/303 and 2005/1916.

[^f00031]: S.I. 1998/1056.

[^f00034]: S.I. 2007/1067.

[^f00035]: 1998 c.47.

[^f00036]: 2006 c.32.

[^f00041]: 1981 c.69.

[^f00042]: S.I. 1985/171 (N.I. 2)

[^f00044]: 1964 c. 29. Section 1(7) was amended by the Oil and Gas (Enterprise) Act 1982 (c. 23) section 37 and Schedule 3, paragraph 1. Areas have been designated under section 1(7) by S.I. 1987/1265, 2000/3062 and 2001/3670.

[^f00045]: 1995 c.21. Section 15 has been amended by S.I. 2002/794.

[^f00046]: 1984 c.60. Section 15 was amended by sections 113, 114 and 174 of, and Part 2 of Schedule 17 to, the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005 (c.15), and by S.I. 2005/3496. Section 16 was amended by section 2 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (c.44) and sections 113 and 114 of the Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, and by S.I. 2005/3496.

[^f00047]: S.I. 1989/1341 (N.I. 12).

[^f00048]: 1878 c.73.

[^f00049]: 2000 c.7. The definition of “electronic communication” in section 15(1) was amended by section 406(1) of, and paragraph 158 of Schedule 17 to, the Communications Act 2003 (c.21).

[^f00050]: 1978 c.30.

[^f00051]: 1971 c.80.

[^f00052]: S.I. 2001/1754, amended by S.I. 2007/77.

[^f00053]: A copy of this Finnish Act can be obtained from the Wildlife Species Conservation Division, Defra, Temple Quay House, 2 The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6EB.

Editorial notes

[^key-d5b9454f3b99689115722d3b46118889]: Regulations revoked (30.11.2017) by The Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/1013), regs. 1, 83(a) (with regs. 3, 4(2), 85, 86)

Classification of sites in the Scottish offshore region as special protection areas

12A

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Notification of a proposal to classify a special protection area

Hearings

Hearings conducted by the Scottish Ministers

14A

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Meaning of “European offshore marine site” in these Regulations

Duty to compile and maintain a register of European offshore marine sites

Notification of changes to the register

Enforcement functions of wildlife officers appointed by the Scottish Ministers and competent authorities in Scotland

52A

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Powers of boarding, entry and inspection

Additional powers

Powers to make inquiries and examine things

Powers relating to specimens

Powers relating to documents and recording evidence of offences

Further powers in relation to ships

Assistance for wildlife officers

Power to use reasonable force

Liability of wildlife officers

Offences in relation to wildlife officers

Review

76

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