Page 167 - Alderney Regional Environmental Assessment of Renewable Energy: Environmental Report
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Alderney
Regional Environmental Assessment of Renewable Energy:
Environmental Report
A Stakeholder Steering Group (SSG) is to be set up by 2016 that will review ARS2 for the site,
in order to advise on their areas of interest, such as fishing, recreational use or botany. Such
stakeholder participation may alter the focus of management of the Alderney West Coast and
the Burhou Islands Ramsar Site in the future.
The ARS2 also suggests the development of networks of designated sites throughout the
Channel Islands and with similar organisations in France. Due to the fluid nature of the seas
and migratory patterns of many species, ARS2 suggests that the establishment and
management of such networks will allow management organisations to liaise on common
problems and produce more coherent records of sightings of migratory species. Specifically,
ARS2 suggests that:
Strong links between Alderney and the French Normand-Breton Marine Natural Park
programme should be developed; and
The potential for a cooperative network of Ramsar sites throughout the Channel
Islands should be investigated, specifically utilising a shared website.
It is therefore considered that the natural environment in Alderney is likely to receive further
protection in the future such as further designated sites or more protection to specific features.
Furthermore, the potential exists for international nature conservation sites to be designated
within the study area, such as the designation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) within the
Gulf of Normandy and Brittany by the Agence des Aires marines Protegees (
-
marines.fr/L-Agence/Organisation/Missions-d-etude-de-parc/Golfe-normand-breton
) or the
potential designation of new Ramsar sites. It is therefore recommended that at the EIA project
level, the developer confirm the status of existing designated sites and whether any new sites
have been proposed or designated.
5.6.1.2
Limitations and data gaps
Data on the ranges of mobile designated features within nature conservation sites in the wider
study area is currently limited. Reference should be made to specific nature conservation
feature topics (including Fish and Shellfish 5.3.1.2, Ornithology 5.4.1.4, and Marine Mammals
5.5.1.9) for specific limitations and data gaps, as well as specialist surveys potentially required.
5.6.1.3
Study area
The study area will need to encompass any pathways which connect the Draft Plan with
receptors. Given the potential for transboundary effects for qualifying features of Natura 2000
sites moving to and from French waters, but also possibly to English waters, it is important that
any mobile interest features (i.e. marine mammals, birds and migratory fish) that may overlap
with the changes brought about by the Draft Plan be considered as part of the assessment.
The mobile Natura 2000 features study area shown on Figure 2, which incorporates the entire
English Channel and the coastlines of southern England and Northern France, encompasses
these wider-scale boundaries.
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