Register of protected areas
10.—(1) The Department must, for the river basin district and the part of each international river basin district falling within Northern Ireland, maintain, review and keep up to date a register of the protected areas lying (whether wholly or partly) within the district.
(2) The register must include the following protected areas—
(a)a drinking water protected area;
(b)an area or body of water for the time being designated or otherwise identified as requiring special protection in accordance with any EU instrument providing for the protection of surface water and groundwater or for the conservation of habitats or species directly depending on water, or any enactment implementing such an EU instrument, including, in particular—
(i)areas designated for the protection of economically significant aquatic species (including shellfish water protected areas);
(ii)bodies of water designated as recreational waters;
(iii)nutrient-sensitive areas; and
(iv)areas designated for the protection of habitats or species where the maintenance or improvement of the status of water is an important factor in the protection of the habitats or species.