Register of protected areas
8.—(1) The Department shall prepare a register of the protected areas lying (whether wholly or partly) within the river basin district and the part of each international river basin district falling within Northern Ireland.
(2) In this regulation, “protected area” means –
(a)a body of water which has been identified under regulation 7; and
(b)the areas and bodies of water for the time being designated or otherwise identified as requiring special protection under any Community 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 a Community instrument, including, in particular –
(i)areas designated for the protection of economically significant aquatic species;
(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.
(3) The register referred to in paragraph (1) shall –
(a)be completed by 22nd December 2004; and
(b)thereafter be kept under review and up to date.