8.5
The preparation of the pressures-features sensitivity matrix represents the
first step in the process of assisting MCZ regional projects to consider issues
of compatibility during MCZ site selection and in the identification of possible
requirements for management measures within sties proposed for MCZ
designation.
8.6
To support MCZ Regional Projects in applying the study outputs, this report
contains advice on how to use the matrix. For some pressure-feature
combinations, it is likely that the MCZ regional projects will need to do further
assessment to determine sensitivity at a local level.
8.7
To ensure consistency of approach, it may be appropriate for the statutory
agencies (JNCC and Natural England) to provide more specific guidance on
the use of the matrix. This guidance might also usefully identify the
relationships between the different matrices being produced.
8.8
In applying the matrix, it might also be helpful to establish a process through
which new evidence and practical experience could be used to update and
improve existing assessments and their confidence. This should include a
process for quality assuring new information and updating the matrix in a
controlled manner (i.e. version control as part of a wider quality management
system).
41
8.9
More widely the pressures-features sensitivity matrix can provide a resource
to support broader conservation and marine spatial planning initiatives. To
increase its usefulness, the matrix might be extended to include a wider
range of marine features, for example, marine mammals, turtles, birds, fish,
cephalopods. It may also be appropriate to take forward work to develop
benchmarks where these do not currently exist.
42
References
Abram, L.C., Frid, C.L.J., Paramor, O.A.L., Robinson, L.A., Spencer, M. 2009.
Assessment of combined gear effects in Welsh Waters-development of a protocol.
Report for CCW.
Cardoso, A.C., Cochrane, S., Doerner, H., Ferreira, J.G., Galgani, F., Hagebro, C.,
Hanke, G., Hoepffner, N., Keiser, P.D., Law, R., Olenin, S., Piet, G.J., Rice, J.,
Rogers, S.I., Swartenbroux, F., Tasker, M.L. & van de Bund, W., 2010. Scientific
Support to the European Commission on the Marine Strategy Framework Directive.
Management Group Report. Joint Report Prepared under the Administrative
Arrangement between JRC and DG ENV (no 31210 - 2009/2010), the Memorandum
of Understanding between the European Commission and ICES managed by DG
MARE, and JRC’s own institutional funding.
Defra, 2004. Review of Marine Nature Conservation. Working Group report to
Government, Defra, London.
Defra, 2007. Cost Impact of Marine Biodiversity Policies on Business- The Marine
Bill. CRO378: Natural Environment Group Science Division. ABPmer Ltd, Risk and
Policy Analysts and Jan Brooke Environmental Consultants Ltd.
http://randd.defra.gov.uk/Document.aspx?Document=WC0602_6734_FRP.pdf
Defra, 2009. Draft Guidance note on ‘Selection and designation of Marine
Conservation Zones’ (Note 1). Published by the Department for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs and the Welsh Assembly Government, May 2009.
Galgani, F., Fleet, D., Van Franeker, J., Katsanevakis, S., Maes, T., Mouat, J.,
Oosterbaan, L., Poitou, I., Hanke, G., Thompson, R., Amato, E., Birkun, A., &
Janssen, C., 2010. Marine Strategy Framework Directive Task Group 10 Report
Marine litter. Joint Report. Prepared under the Administrative Arrangement between
JRC and DG ENV (no 31210 – 2009/2010), the Memorandum of Understanding
between the European Commission and ICES managed by DG MARE, and JRC’s
own institutional funding.
Gill, A.B., Gloyne-Phillips, I., Neal, K.J. & Kimber, J.A., 2005. COWRIE 1.5
Electromagnetic Fields Review. The potential effects of electromagnetic fields
generated by sub-sea power cables associated with offshore wind farm
developments on electrically and magnetically sensitive marine organisms – a review.
Final Report, July 2005.
Hall, K., Paramor, O.A.L., Robinson, L.A., Winrow-Giffin, A., Frid, C.L.J., Eno, N.C.,
Dernie, K.M., Sharp, R.A.M., Wyn, G.C. and Ramsay, K., (2008). Mapping the
sensitivity of benthic habitats to fishing in Welsh waters-development of a protocol.
Report to Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru / Countryside Council for Wales from the
University of Liverpool. CCW [Policy Research] Report No: [8/12]. 85pp.
43
Hiscock, K., (ed.), 1996. Marine Nature Conservation Review: rationale and methods.
Peterborough: Joint Nature Conservation Committee. [Coasts and seas of the United
Kingdom. MNCR Series].
Hiscock, K. and Tyler-Walters, H. 2006. Assessing the sensitivity of seabed species
and biotopes - the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN). Hydrobiologia, 555,
309-320.
Holling, C.S. 1973. Resilience and stability of ecological systems. Annual Review of
Ecology and Systematics 4: 1-23.
Holt, T.J., Jones, D.R., Hawkins, S.J. & Hartnoll, R.G., 1995. The sensitivity of marine
communities to man-induced change - a scoping report. Countryside Council for
Wales, Bangor, CCW Contract Science Report, no. 65.
Holt TJ, Hartnoll RG, Hawkins SJ, 1997. Sensitivity and vulnerability to man induced
change of selected communities: intertidal brown algal shrubs, Zostera beds and
Sabellaria spinulosa Reefs. English Nature. English Nature Research Report No 234.
HM Government, 2010a. The Government’s strategy for contributing to the delivery of
a UK network of marine protected areas. Published by Defra.
HM Government, 2010b. UK Marine Policy Statement: A draft for consultation.
SG/2010/116. The Stationery Office, July 2010.
JNCC (2009). MB102: Accessing and developing the required biophysical datasets
and datalayers for MPAs network planning and wider marine spatial planning
purposes. Draft Workshop Report 12th May 2009.
Laffoley, D.d'A, Connor, D.W., Tasker, M. L. & Bines, T. 2000. Nationally important
seascapes, habitats and species. A recommended approach to their identification,
conservation and protection. Prepared for the DETR Working Group on the Review of
Marine Nature Conservation by English Nature and the Joint Nature Conservation
Committee. Peterborough, English Nature, 17 pp.
Long, D. 2006. BGS detailed explanation of seabed sediment modified Folk
classification. Available online at:
http://ec.europa.eu/maritimeaffairs/emodnet/documents/standards/mesh_geology.pdf
[Accessed on 16/06/2010].
McLeod, C.R. 1996. Glossary of marine ecological terms, acronyms and
abbreviations used in MNCR work. In Marine Nature Conservation Review: rationale
and methods, (Ed. K.Hiscock), Appendix 1, pp.93-110. Peterborough: Joint Nature
Conservation Committee. [Coasts and seas of the United Kingdom, MNCR Series].
Oakwood Environmental Ltd (2002) Development of a methodology for the
assessment of cumulative effects of marine activities using Liverpool Bay as a case
study. Report to the Countryside Council for Wales.
44
Olenin, S., Alemany, F., Cardoso, A.C., Gollasch, S., Goulletquer, P., Lehtiniemi, M.,
McCollin, T., Minchin, D., Miossec, L., Occhipinti Ambrogi, A., Ojaveer, H., Rose
Jensen, K., Stankiewicz, M., Wallentinus, I. & Aleksandrov, B., 2010. Marine
Strategy Framework Directive Task Group 2 Report Non-indigenous species. Joint
Report. Prepared under the Administrative Arrangement between JRC and DG ENV
(no 31210 – 2009/2010), the Memorandum of Understanding between the European
Commission and ICES managed by DG MARE, and JRC’s own institutional funding.
OSPAR, 2003. Criteria for the Identification of Species and Habitats in need of
protection and their method of application. Convention for the Protection of the
Marine Environment of the Northeast Atlantic. Meeting of the OSPAR Commission,
23-27 June 2003, Bremen. OSPAR 2003-13 Annex 5, ww.ospar.org.
OSPAR 2008. Background document on potential problems associated with power
cables other than those for oil and gas activities. Biodiversity and Ecosystems Series,
Publication Number 370/2008, 50 pp. Available from
http://www.ospar.org/documents/dbase/publications/p00370_Cables%20background
%20doc.pdf
Robinson, L.A., Rogers S. and & Frid, C.L.J. (2008). A marine assessment and
monitoring framework for application by UKMMAS and OSPAR - Assessment of
Pressures and Impacts. Phase II: Application for regional assessments. JNCC
Contract No: C-08-0007-0027. UKMMAS, 2010. Charting Progress 2
Robinson, L.A., Rogers, S., & Frid, C.L.J. 2008. A marine assessment and monitoring
framework for application by UKMMAS and OSPAR – Assessment of Pressures
(Contract No: F90-01-1075 for the Joint Nature Conservation Committee). University
of Liverpool, Liverpool and Centre for the Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture
Science, Lowestoft. 108pp.
Tasker, M.L., Amundin, M., Andre, M., Hawkins, A., Lang, W., Merck, T., Scholik-
Schlomer, A., Teilmann, J., Thomsen, F., Werner, S. & Zakharia, M., 2010 . Marine
Strategy Framework Directive Task Group 11 Report Underwater Noise and Other
Forms of Energy. Joint Report. Prepared under the Administrative Arrangement
between JRC and DG ENV (no 31210 – 2009/2010), the Memorandum of
Understanding between the European Commission and ICES managed by DG
MARE, and JRC’s own institutional funding.
Tyler-Walters, H., Hiscock, K., Lear, D.B. & Jackson, A., 2001. Identifying species
and ecosystem sensitivities. Report to the Department for Environment, Food and
Rural Affairs from the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN), Marine Biological
Association of the United Kingdom, Plymouth.Contract CW0826. [Final Report.]
Tyler-Walters, H., Marshall, C., Hiscock, K., Hill, J.M., Budd, G.C., Rayment, W.J.
and Jackson, A,. 2005. Description, temporal variation, sensitivity and monitoring of
important marine biotopes in Wales. Report to Cyngor Cefn Gwlad Cymru /
Countryside Council for Wales from the Marine Life Information Network (MarLIN).
Marine Biological Association of the UK, Plymouth. [CCW Contract no. FC 73-023-
255G]
45
Tyler-Walters, H., Rogers, S.I., Marshall, C.E. and Hiscock, K. 2009. A method to
assess the sensitivity of sedimentary communities to fishing activities. Aquatic
Conservation: Marine and Freshwater Ecosystems, 19, 285-300, DOI:
10.1002/aqc.965. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/aqc.965
UKMMAS. 2010. Charting Progress 2: Productive Seas Evidence Group Feeder
Report. Published by Defra on behalf of UKMMAS.
Zacharias, M.A. & Gregr, E.J., 2005. Sensitivity and Vulnerability in Marine
Environments: an Approach to Identifying Vulnerable Marine Areas. Conservation
Biology:19(1):86–97.
Annex A. Marine Broadscale Habitats, Habitats and Species for
Which Sensitivity was Assessed
Table A.1: Broad-scale habitats
Broad-scale habitat types
EUNIS Level 3 habitat code
High energy intertidal rock
A1.1
Moderate energy intertidal rock
A1.2
Low energy intertidal rock
A1.3
Intertidal coarse sediment
A2.1
Intertidal sand and muddy sand
A2.2
Intertidal mud
A2.3
Intertidal mixed sediments
A2.4
Coastal saltmarshes and saline reedbeds
A2.5
Intertidal sediments dominated by aquatic angiosperms
A2.6
Intertidal biogenic reefs
A2.7
High energy infralittoral rock
A3.1
Moderate energy infralittoral rock
A3.2
Low energy infralittoral rock
A3.3
High energy circalittoral rock
A4.1
Moderate energy circalittoral rock
§A4.2
Low energy circalittoral rock
§A4.3
Subtidal coarse sediment
A5.1
Subtidal sand
A5.2
Subtidal mud
A5.3
Subtidal mixed sediments
A5.4
Subtidal macrophyte-dominated sediment
A5.5
Subtidal biogenic reefs
A5.6
Deep-sea bed
A6
Deep-sea rock and artificial hard substrata
A6.1
Deep-sea mixed substrata
A6.2
Deep-sea sand
A6.3
Deep-sea muddy sand
A6.4
Deep-sea mud
A6.5
Deep-sea bioherms
A6.6
Raised features of the deep-sea bed
A6.7
Deep-sea trenches and canyons, channels, slope failures and slumps
on the continental slope
A6.8
Table A.2: Rare, threatened or declining habitats
Habitats of conservation importance
Blue Mussel beds (including intertidal beds on mixed and sandy sediments)
Burrowed mud
Carbonate reefs
Coatsal saltmarsh
Cold-water coral reefs
Coral carbonate mounds
Coral Gardens
Deep-sea sponge aggregations
Egg wrack beds
Estuarine rocky habitats
File shell beds
Flame shell beds
Fragile sponge & anthozoan communities on subtidal rocky habitats
Intertidal mudflats
Intertidal underboulder communities
Inshore deep mud with burrowing heart urchins
Kelp and seaweed communities on sublittoral sediment
Littoral chalk communities
Maerl beds
Maerl or coarse shell gravel with burrowing sea cucumbers
Horse mussel(Modiolus modiolus) beds
Mud habitats in deep water
Musculus discors beds
Northern seafan communities
Saline lagoons
Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities
Ostrea edulis beds
Peat and clay exposures
Sabellaria alveolata reefs
Sabellaria spinulosa reefs
Seagrass beds
Seamounts
Serpulid reefs
Shallow tideswept coarse sands with burrowing bivalves
Sheltered muddy gravels
Submarine structures made by leaking gases
Subtidal chalk
Subtidal mixed muddy sediments
Subtidal sands and gravels
Tideswept algal communities
Tide-swept channels
Table A.3: Species
Scientific name
Common name
Taxon group
Anotrichium barbatum
Bearded red seaweed
Algae
Cruoria cruoriaeformis
Red seaweed
Algae
Dermocorynus montagnei
Red seaweed
Algae
Lithothamnion corallioides
Coral maërl
Algae
Padina pavonica
Peacock’s tail
Algae
Phymatolithon calcareum
Common maërl
Algae
Alkmaria romijni
Tentacled lagoon-worm
Annelid (worm)
Armandia cirrhosa
Lagoon sandworm
Annelid (worm)
Gobius cobitis
Giant goby
Bony fish
Gobius couchi
Couch's goby
Bony fish
Hippocampus guttulatus
Long snouted seahorse
Bony fish
Hippocampus hippocampus
Short snouted seahorse
Bony fish
Victorella pavida
Trembling sea mat
Bryozoan (seamat)
Arachnanthus sarsi
Burrowing Sea Anemone
Cnidaria
Alcyonium hibernicum
Pink soft coral
Cnidaria
Amphianthus dohrnii
Sea-fan anemone
Cnidaria
Edwardsia timida
Timid burrowing anemone
Cnidaria
Eunicella verrucosa
Pink sea-fan
Cnidaria
Haliclystus auricula
Stalked jellyfish
Cnidaria
Leptopsammia pruvoti
Sunset cup coral
Cnidaria
Lucernariopsis campanulata
Stalked jellyfish
Cnidaria
Lucernariopsis cruxmelitensis
Stalked jellyfish
Cnidaria
Parazoanthus anguicomus
White cluster anemone
Cnidaria
Nematostella vectensis
Starlet sea anemone
Cnidaria
Gammarus insensibilis
Lagoon sand shrimp
Crustacean
Gitanopsis bispinosa
Amphipod shrimp
Crustacean
Mitella pollicipes
Gooseneck barnacle
Crustacean
Palinurus elephas
Spiny lobster
Crustacean
Leptometra celtica
Feather star
Echinoderm
Arctica islandica
Ocean quahog
Mollusc
Atrina fragilis
Fan mussel
Mollusc
Caecum armoricum
Defolin`s lagoon snail
Mollusc
Glossus humanus
Heart cockle
Mollusc
Ostrea edulis
Native oyster
Mollusc
Paludinella littorina
Sea snail
Mollusc
MB0102 Pressures - MCZ/MPA Features Sensitivity Matrix. Full Version Version 1.0 31st August 2010 Worksheet Codes NA Not Assessed NE Not Exposed NS Not Sensitive L Low Sensitivty M Medium Sensitivity H High Sensitivity
Broadscale habitat assessment based on the range of sensitivity of constituent biotopes/species Multiple and conflicting assessments made for feature/pressure combination.
The sensitivity assessments are based on combined resistance and resilience categories as shown in the table below Resistance categories
Resilience None Low Medium High
Very Low High High Medium Low
Low High High Medium Low
Medium Medium Medium Medium Low
High Medium Low Low Not Sensitive
Resistance Description Resilience Description
None Key functional, structural, characterising species severely decline and/or physico-chemical parameters are also affected e.g. removal of habitat causing change in habitat type.
Very low Negligible or
prolonged recovery possible; at least 25 years to recover structure and function
Low Significant mortality of key and characterising species with some effects on physico- chemical character of habitat.
Low Full recovery within
10-25 years
Medium Some mortality of species (can be significant where these are not keystone structural /functional and characterising species) without change to habitat type.
Medium Full recovery
between 2- 10 years
High No significant effects to the physico-chemical character of habitat and no effect on population viability of key/characterising species but may affect feeding, respiration and reproduction rates.
High Full recovery within 2 years
Step 4 – providing an audit trail (recording in pro-formas supplied separately).
The matrix records the sensitivity assessment with a letter code and a colour code (see tables below). For some broadscale habitats and habitat FOCI, assessments are presented as a range of sensitivity, reflecting variations in the sensitivity of the constituent biotopes
The tabs within this excel file comprise the sensitivity matrix that was developed under Task 3 of Defra Contract MB0102 ' Accessing and developing the required biophysical datasets and data layers for Marine Protected Areas network planning and wider marine spatial planning purposes'. A simplified version of the matrix has also been produced and is available separately. The assessments are supported by more detailed information contained within feature-specific proformas. These are presented in Annex G to the accompanying report and are available as separate Excel files. The matrix contributes to JNCC's features-activities tool which will link the sensitivity of MCZ/MPA features to specific activities based on the linkages between the pressures-features and a seperate pressures-activities matrices.
The matrix assesses the sensitivity of 108 features (which have been grouped into Broadscale Habitats (based on EUNIS Classification Level 3), Habitats of Conservation Interest and Species of Conservation Interest) to 40 pressures that can be linked to human activities in the marine environment. Full details of the methodology are provided in an accomapnying project report: Tillin, H.M., Hull, S.C. & Tyler-Walters, H.T.W., 2010. Accessing and developing the required biophysical datasets and data layers for Marine Protected Areas network planning and wider marine spatial planning purposes. Report No 22 Task 3 Development of a Sensitivity Tool (pressures-MXZ/MPA features).
It should be noted that sensitivity is assessed to a pre-determined benchmark for each pressure. An assessment of not sensitive means that the feature is judged to be not sensitive at the pressure benchmark, it does not mean that the feature would be unaffected by the pressure at different levels of intensity, duration, and magnitude to the benchmark.
The sensitivity assessment methodology has involved the following steps:
Step 1 - Block-filling the sensitivity matrix for those pressure x feature combinations where there is no exposure to the pressure;
Step 2 - Undertaking a sensitivity assessment based on a consideration of the resistance and resilience (see scales below) of the feature, to the pressure benchmark;
Step 3 – Assigning a level of confidence to the sensitivity assessment (recorded in pro-formas supplied separately);
Further advice on the use of the matrix can be obtained from the following members of the Project Steering Group: [email protected]; [email protected] or [email protected]
Pressure theme
Pressure Broadscale Habitats
Atmospheric climate
change pH changes Temperature changes - regional/ national Salinity changes - regional/ national Water flow (tidal&ocean current) changes - regional/ national
Emergence regime changes (sea level) - regional/ national
Wave exposure changes - regional/ national
Temperature changes
- local Salinity changes - local Water flow (tidal current) changes - local
Emergence regime
changes - local Wave exposure changes - local Water clarity changes Non-synthetic compound contamination (inc. heavy metals, hydrocarbons, produced water) Synthetic compound contamination (inc. pesticides, antifoulants, pharmaceuticals) Radionuclide
contamination Introduction of other substances (solid, liquid or gas)
De-oxygenation Nitrogen&phosphoru
s enrichment Organic enrichment Physical change (to another seabed type)Physical loss (to land or freshwater habitat)Siltation rate changes (low) Siltation rate changes (high) Penetration and/or disturbance of the substrate below the surface of the seabed
Shallow abrasion/penetration: damage to seabed surface and penetration Surface abrasion: damage to seabed surface features Physical removal (extraction of substratum) Electromagnetic
changes Litter Introduction of light Underwater noise Barrier to species movement Death or injury by collision Visual disturbance Genetic modification&translo cation of indigenous species
Introduction of microbial pathogensIntroduction or spread of non-
indigenous species Removal of target species Removal of non-target species
Pressure Benchmarks Increases of 3.5-4.6
oC (winter-summer) by 2050s Mean 0.2 pH decrease by 2050 1.5-4 oC increase by 2100 0.2 psu decrease by 2100 Peak mean spring tide flow change
between 0.1m/s to 0.2m/s over an area >1km2 or 50% of width of water body for > 1 year Increased ASL of 21 cm by 2050 in London A change in nearshore significant wave height >3% but <5%.
A 5 oC change in
temp for a one month period, or 2o C for one year
Increasefrom 35 to 38 units for one year or Decrease in salinity by 4-10 units for a year
Peak mean spring tide flow change between 0.1m/s to 0.2m/s over an area >1km2 or 50% of width of water body for > 1 year
Intertidal species (and habitats not uniquely defined by intertidal zone) A 1 hour change in the time covered or not covered by the sea for a period of 1 year.Habitats and landscapes defined by intertidal zone
An increase in relative sea level or