The Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017

PART 1 INTRODUCTORY PROVISIONS

Citation and commencement

1.  These Regulations may be cited as the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 and come into force on 30th November 2017.

Interpretation

2.—(1) In these Regulations—

“the 1994 Regulations” means the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994(1);

“the 2017 Regulations” means the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017(2);

“a British aircraft” means an aircraft registered in the United Kingdom;

“British fishery limits” has the meaning given by the Fishery Limits Act 1976(3);

“competent authority” has the meaning given in regulation 5;

“competent authority in Scotland” means a competent authority whose functions are exercisable solely in or as regards Scotland or the Scottish offshore region;

“competent authority in Wales” means a competent authority whose functions are exercisable solely in relation to Wales or the Welsh offshore region;

“DAERA” means Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs;

“devolved administrations” means the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers and, in Northern Ireland, the DAERA;

“Energy Act licence” means a licence which is granted (or is to be granted) under Part 1 of the Energy Act 2008(4);

“European offshore marine site” has the meaning given by regulation 18;

“European protected species” means the species of animals listed in Schedule 1;

“European site” has the meaning given by regulation 27;

“functions” includes powers and duties;

“the Habitats Directive” means Council Directive 92/43/EEC(5) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora, and any reference to an Annex to that Directive is a reference to that Annex as amended from time to time;

“installation abandonment measures” means any measures taken in connection with the abandonment of—

(a)

an offshore installation within the meaning of Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998(6), or submarine pipeline within the meaning of that Part; or

(b)

a carbon storage installation, within the meaning of section 30 of the Energy Act 2008(7);

whether or not the measures are taken in pursuance of an abandonment programme, and for this purpose “an abandonment programme” means—

(a)

an abandonment programme under Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998; and

(b)

an abandonment programme under that Part, as it applies by virtue of section 30 of the Energy Act 2008;

“the Joint Committee” means the Joint Nature Conservation Committee(8);

“management scheme” means—

(a)

for the purposes of regulation 22(3)(c), a scheme established under regulation 34 of the 1994 Regulations, regulation 29 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995(9) or regulation 38 of the 2017 Regulations; and

(b)

for all other purposes, a scheme established under regulation 22(1);

“Natura 2000” means the European network of special areas of conservation, and special protection areas under the Wild Birds Directive, provided for by Article 3(1) of the Habitats Directive;

“Northern Ireland department” has the same meaning as in the Northern Ireland Act 1998(10);

“the offshore marine area” means—

(a)

any part of the seabed and subsoil situated in any area designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964(11); and

(b)

any part of the waters within British fishery limits (except the internal waters of, and the territorial sea adjacent to, the United Kingdom, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man);

“offshore marine installation” means any artificial island, installation or structure (other than a ship) which is situated—

(a)

in any part of the waters in any area designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964; or

(b)

in any part of the waters in any area designated under section 84(4) of the Energy Act 2004(12);

“Petroleum Act approval” means an approval of an abandonment programme under section 32 of the Petroleum Act 1998(13);

“Petroleum Act authorisation” means an authorisation granted pursuant to section 14 of the Petroleum Act 1998 relating to the construction or use of a pipe-line;

“Petroleum Act licence” means a licence which is granted under or has effect as if granted under the Petroleum Act 1998, or a licence which is to be granted under that Act;

“Petroleum or Energy Act consent” means—

(a)

a consent granted pursuant to a Petroleum Act licence or an Energy Act licence, including any consent required pursuant to the Offshore Petroleum Productions and Pipe-lines (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1999(14); or

(b)

a consent granted pursuant to regulation 4(1) of the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001(15);

“premises” includes land, buildings, movable structures, ships and vehicles;

“the register” means the register of European offshore marine sites provided for by regulation 19;

“Scotland” has the same meaning as in the Scotland Act 1998(16);

“Scottish inshore region” means the area of sea within the seaward limits of the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland;

“Scottish offshore region” means so much of the offshore marine area as—

(a)

consists of waters within the Scottish zone and the sea bed and subsoil subjacent to those waters;

(b)

areas which lie outside the Scottish zone but which are nearer to any point on the baselines from which the breadth of the territorial sea adjacent to Scotland is measured than to any point on the baselines in any other part of the United Kingdom;

“Scottish zone” has the same meaning as in the Scotland Act 1998(17);

“ship” means any vessel (including hovercraft, submersible craft and other floating craft) other than one which permanently rests on, or is permanently attached to, the seabed;

“statutory undertaker” means a person who is, or is deemed to be, a statutory undertaker for the purposes of any provision of Part 11 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990(18), Part 10 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997(19) or the Planning Act (Northern Ireland) 2011(20);

“territorial sea” means the territorial sea of the United Kingdom;

“third country ship” means a ship which—

(a)

is flying the flag of, or is registered in, any State or territory (other than Gibraltar) which is not a member State; and

(b)

is not registered in a member State;

“Wales” has the same meaning as in the Government of Wales Act 2006(21);

“the Welsh inshore region” means the area of sea within the seaward limits of the territorial sea adjacent to Wales;

“the Welsh offshore region” means so much of the offshore marine area as consists of waters within the Welsh Zone and the sea bed and subsoil subjacent to those waters;

“the Welsh Zone” has the same meaning as in the Government of Wales Act 2006(22);

“wild bird” means a bird which—

(a)

is a member of a species referred to in Article 1 of the Wild Birds Directive; and

(b)

is wild;

“the Wild Birds Directive” means Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds(23) and any reference to an Annex to that Directive is a reference to the Annex as amended from time to time;

“wildlife officer” means a person authorised under regulation 58;

“within devolved competence”—

(a)

in relation to Scotland is to be construed in accordance with section 54 of the Scotland Act 1998; and

(b)

in relation to Wales is to be construed in accordance with section 108 of the Government of Wales Act 2006, or (upon its coming into force) section 108A of that Act(24).

(2) Unless the context suggests otherwise,—

(a) expressions used in these Regulations and in the Habitats Directive have the same meaning as in that Directive; and

(b) expressions used in these Regulations and in the Wild Birds Directive (but not in the Habitats Directive) have the same meaning as in the Wild Birds Directive.

Application to the Crown

3.—(1) These Regulations bind the Crown.

(2) No contravention by the Crown of any provision of these Regulations makes the Crown criminally liable, but the High Court or in Scotland the Court of Session may, on the application of any person appearing to either Court to have an interest, declare unlawful any act or omission of the Crown which constitutes such a contravention.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the provisions of these Regulations apply to persons in the public service of the Crown as they apply to any other person.

Rights under international law

4.—(1) This regulation applies in relation to—

(a) a third country ship;

(b) a warship which is being used by the government of a State other than the United Kingdom (whether or not it is a third country ship); and

(c) any other ship which is being used by the government of a State other than the United Kingdom for any non-commercial purpose.

(2) Nothing in these Regulations is to be taken to interfere or require interference with the right of freedom of navigation or other rights under rules of international law.

(3) A wildlife officer must not exercise any of the powers set out in regulations 60 and 65 in relation to a ship to which this regulation applies unless—

(a) in the case of a third country ship (other than a ship which is being used as mentioned in paragraph (1)(b) or (c)), the United Kingdom is entitled under international law to exercise those powers without the consent of the flag state; or

(b) the Commissioners have given authority to exercise the powers.

(4) The Commissioners must not give their authority under paragraph (3)(b) unless the flag state has consented to the United Kingdom exercising those powers, whether generally or in relation to the ship in question.

(5) In giving their authority under paragraph (3)(b), the Commissioners must impose such conditions or limitations on the exercise of the powers as are necessary to give effect to any conditions or limitations imposed by the flag state.

(6) In this regulation—

“the Commissioners” means the Commissioners for Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs;

“flag state”, in relation to a ship, means the State whose flag that ship is flying or entitled to fly.

Meaning of “competent authority”

5.—(1) In these Regulations, “competent authority” means—

(a) a Minister of the Crown, government department, public or statutory undertaker, or public body of any description or person holding a public office;

(b) the Scottish Ministers;

(c) the Welsh Ministers;

(d) any Northern Ireland department; and

(e) any person exercising any function of a person or body referred to in sub-paragraphs (a) to (d).

(2) In paragraph (1)(a), “public office” means—

(a) an office under Her Majesty;

(b) an office created or continued in existence by a public general Act of Parliament; or

(c) an office the remuneration in respect of which is paid out of public funds.

Duty of competent authorities

6.—(1) In relation to the offshore marine area, any competent authority having functions relevant to marine conservation must exercise those functions so as to secure compliance with the requirements of the Habitats Directive and the Wild Birds Directive.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies, in particular, to functions under the following enactments—

(a) the Whaling Industry (Regulation) Act 1934(25);

(b) section 34 of the Coast Protection Act 1949(26) (restriction of works detrimental to navigation);

(c) the Sea Fish (Conservation) Act 1967(27);

(d) the Prevention of Oil Pollution Act 1971(28);

(e) the Fishery Limits Act 1976(29);

(f) the Fisheries Act 1981(30);

(g) Part 2 of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985(31) (deposits in the sea);

(h) sections 128 and 129 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(32) (prevention of pollution from ships and further provision for prevention of pollution from ships);

(i) the Pollution Prevention and Control Act 1999(33);

(j) the Merchant Shipping (Prevention of Oil Pollution) Regulations 1996(34);

(k) the Merchant Shipping (Oil Pollution Preparedness, Response and Co-operation Convention) Regulations 1998(35);

(l) the Offshore Installations (Emergency Pollution Control) Regulations 2002(36);

(m) the Planning Act 2008(37);

(n) the Marine Act, in particular any functions under Parts 3, 4, 5 and 6 of that Act (marine planning, marine licensing, nature conservation and management of inshore fisheries, respectively); and

(o) these Regulations.

(3) Without prejudice to the generality of paragraph (1), in relation to the offshore marine area a competent authority must take such steps in the exercise of its functions as it considers appropriate to secure the objective in paragraph (4), so far as lies within its powers.

(4) The objective is the preservation, maintenance and re-establishment of a sufficient diversity and area of habitat for wild birds in the United Kingdom, including by means of the upkeep, management and creation of such habitat, as appropriate, having regard to the requirements of Article 2 of the Wild Birds Directive.

(5) In paragraph (4), “the United Kingdom” includes the offshore marine area.

(6) In subsection (3)(a) of section 123 of the Marine Act (creation of network of conservation sites), as it applies in relation to the offshore marine area(38), the reference to “the conservation or improvement of the marine environment” includes the objective in paragraph (4), and accordingly the duty in section 124 of the Marine Act (report) applies in relation to that objective.

(7) In considering which measures may be appropriate for the purpose of securing or contributing to the objective in paragraph (4), appropriate account must be taken of economic and recreational requirements.

(8) In this regulation “the Marine Act” means the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009(39).

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.—(1) The Secretary of State must transmit to the Commission a list of those sites in the offshore marine area which the Secretary of State regards as eligible for selection as sites of Community importance.

(2) The Scottish Ministers must transmit to the Secretary of State a list of those sites in the Scottish offshore region which they regard as eligible for selection as sites of Community importance.

(3) The Welsh Ministers must transmit to the Secretary of State a list of those sites in the Welsh offshore region which they regard as eligible for selection as sites of Community importance.

(4) The Secretary of State must select the sites to be included in the list under paragraph (1) only on the basis of the criteria set out in Annex III (Stage 1) to the Habitats Directive and relevant scientific information.

(5) The Scottish Ministers must select the sites to be included in the list under paragraph (2) only on the basis of the criteria set out in Annex III (Stage 1) to the Habitats Directive and relevant scientific information.

(6) The Welsh Ministers must select the sites to be included in the list under paragraph (3) only on the basis of the criteria set out in Annex III (Stage 1) to the Habitats Directive and relevant scientific information.

(7) A site may only be included in the list under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) if—

(a) it hosts a natural habitat type listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive; or

(b) it hosts a species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive which has a natural range including any part of the offshore marine area.

(8) In respect of an aquatic species which ranges over wide areas, a site is only eligible to be selected if it appears to the Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be), under paragraph (4), (5) and (6) respectively, to constitute a clearly identifiable area which is distinct in providing the physical and biological features essential to that species for life and reproduction.

(9) The list transmitted to the Secretary of State under paragraph (2) or (3) and the list transmitted to the Commission under paragraph (1) must—

(a) in respect of each site indicate which natural habitat types specified in Annex I and species specified in Annex II to the Habitats Directive the site hosts; and

(b) be accompanied with information on each site including—

(i) a chart of the site;

(ii) its name, location and extent; and

(iii) the data resulting from application of the criteria specified in Annex III (Stage 1) to the Habitats Directive.

(10) The information specified in paragraph (9)(b) must be provided in such format as is established by the Commission.

Notification of a proposal for a site of Community importance

8.—(1) If the Secretary of State proposes to include a site in the list to be transmitted under regulation 7(1), the Secretary of State must give to the Joint Committee notice of that proposal and an accompanying statement of reasons.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to any site which—

(a) the Scottish Ministers have included in the list transmitted by them under regulation 7(2); or

(b) the Welsh Ministers have included in the list transmitted by them under regulation 7(3).

(3) If—

(a) the Scottish Ministers propose to include a site in the list to be transmitted by them under regulation 7(2), or

(b) the Welsh Ministers propose to include a site in the listed to be transmitted by them under regulation 7(3),

they must give to the Joint Committee notice of that proposal and an accompanying statement of reasons.

(4) But neither the Scottish Ministers nor the Welsh Minister may give notice of a proposal to the Joint Committee as described in paragraph (3) unless the Secretary of State has agreed to that proposal.

(5) Where, under paragraph (1) or (3), the Joint Committee is given notice of a proposal, the Joint Committee must give notice of that proposal and provide a copy of the accompanying statement of reasons for that proposal to the following—

(a) each of the devolved administrations;

(b) any of the following who in its opinion ought to be notified—

(i) competent authorities which exercise functions in relation to the site;

(ii) competent authorities which exercise functions in relation to a marine area adjacent to the site; and

(iii) persons whose activities are likely to be affected by the inclusion of the site in the list;

(c) such other persons as in its opinion ought to be notified;

(d) such other persons as the Secretary of State directs; and

(e) where the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers have given notice under paragraph (3)—

(i) the Secretary of State; and

(ii) such other persons as the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers respectively direct.

(6) A notice under paragraph (5) must specify the date (being not less than 12 weeks from the date of the giving of the notice) by which representations with respect to the proposal may be made to the Joint Committee.

(7) The Joint Committee must provide to the relevant administration a report describing the representations duly made, if any, that it received about the proposal, or where no such representations have been received, stating that fact.

(8) The relevant administration must consider the report provided by the Joint Committee under paragraph (7).

(9) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to the Joint Committee for the purposes of its functions under this regulation and the Joint Committee must have regard to that guidance in discharging any of those functions.

(10) The Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers may issue guidance to the Joint Committee for the purposes of its functions under this regulation in relation to a proposal under paragraph (3), and the Joint Committee must have regard to that guidance in discharging any of those functions.

(11) The Secretary of State may vary or revoke a direction under paragraph (5)(d), and the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers may vary or revoke a direction under paragraph (5)(e)(ii).

(12) In this regulation, “the relevant administration” means—

(a) in relation to a report concerning a proposal under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State; and

(b) in relation to a report concerning a proposal under paragraph (3) the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers, as the case may be.

Modification of list of sites

9.—(1) Where the Secretary of State considers it appropriate, in the light of the results of the surveillance referred to in Article 11 of the Habitats Directive or otherwise, the Secretary of State must propose to the Commission modifications of the list of sites which has been transmitted under regulation 7(1).

(2) Where either the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers consider it appropriate, in the light of the results of the surveillance referred to in Article 11 of the Habitats Directive or otherwise, they must propose to the Secretary of State modifications of the list of sites in the Scottish offshore region or the Welsh offshore region (as the case may be) which has been transmitted under regulation 7(1).

(3) Before the Secretary of State proposes to the Commission such a modification, the Secretary of State must, if the Secretary of State considers it appropriate, give to the Joint Committee—

(a) notice of that proposal; and

(b) an accompanying statement of reasons for that proposal.

(4) Paragraph (3) does not apply in relation to any modification which has been proposed by either the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers under paragraph (2).

(5) Before either the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers propose a modification under paragraph (2), they must, if they consider it appropriate, give to the Joint Committee—

(a) notice of that proposal; and

(b) an accompanying statement of reasons for that proposal.

(6) But neither the Scottish Ministers nor the Welsh Ministers may give notice of a proposal to the Joint Committee as described in paragraph (5) unless the Secretary of State has agreed to that proposal.

(7) Where the Joint Committee is given notice under paragraph (3) or (5), the Joint Committee must give notice of the proposed modification and provide a copy of the accompanying statement of reasons for it to the following—

(a) each of the devolved administrations;

(b) any of the following who in its opinion ought to be notified—

(i) competent authorities which exercise functions in relation to the site which is the subject of the modification;

(ii) competent authorities which exercise functions in relation to a marine area adjacent to the site; and

(iii) persons whose activities are likely to be affected by the inclusion of the site in the list;

(c) such other persons as in its opinion ought to be notified;

(d) such other persons as the Secretary of State directs; and

(e) where either the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers have given notice under paragraph (5)—

(i) the Secretary of State; and

(ii) such other persons as the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers respectively direct.

(8) A notice under paragraph (7) must specify the date (being not less than 12 weeks from the date of the giving of the notice) by which representations with respect to the proposed modification may be made to the Joint Committee.

(9) The Joint Committee must provide to the relevant administration a report describing the representations duly made, if any, that it received about the proposal, or where no such representations have been received, stating that fact.

(10) The relevant administration must consider the report provided by the Joint Committee under paragraph (9).

(11) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to the Joint Committee for the purposes of its functions under this regulation and the Joint Committee must have regard to that guidance in discharging any of those functions.

(12) The Secretary of State may vary or revoke a direction under paragraph (7)(d), and the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be) may vary or revoke a direction given by them under paragraph (7)(e)(ii).

(13) In this regulation “the relevant administration” means—

(a) in relation to a report concerning a proposal under paragraph (3), the Secretary of State; and

(b) in relation to a report concerning a proposal under paragraph (5), the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers, as the case may be.

Consultation as to inclusion of site omitted from the list

10.—(1) This regulation applies where consultation is initiated by the Commission in accordance with Article 5(1) of the Habitats Directive with respect to a site in the offshore marine area hosting a priority natural habitat type or priority species, and—

(a) the Secretary of State and the Commission agree, within the six-month period mentioned in Article 5(2) of the Habitats Directive, that the site should be selected as a site of Community importance; or

(b) the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission in pursuance of Article 5(2) of the Habitats Directive, decides that the site should be so selected.

(2) Where this regulation applies, the site is to be treated for the purposes of these Regulations as having been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive as from the date of the agreement referred to in paragraph (1)(a) or the decision referred to in paragraph (1)(b).

Designation of special areas of conservation

11.—(1) Once a site located in the offshore marine area has been adopted by the Commission as a site of Community importance in accordance with the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive, the relevant administration must designate that site as a special area of conservation as soon as possible and within six years of such adoption at the most.

(2) The relevant administration must establish priorities for any site which it designates under paragraph (1), in the light of—

(a) the importance of the site—

(i) for the maintenance or restoration at a favourable conservation status of natural habitat types specified in Annex I to the Habitats Directive or species specified in Annex II to that Directive; and

(ii) for the coherence of Natura 2000; and

(b) the threats of degradation or destruction to which the site is exposed.

(3) In this regulation “the relevant administration” means—

(a) in relation to a site within the Scottish offshore region, the Scottish Ministers;

(b) in relation to a site within the Welsh offshore region, the Welsh Ministers; and

(c) in any other case, the Secretary of State.

(4) In relation to a site which before these Regulations come into force has been the subject of a proposal under regulation 8(1) of the Offshore Marine (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007(40), paragraph 3(b) applies for the purpose of paragraph (1) as if for “the Welsh Ministers” there were substituted “the Secretary of State”.

(5) Where in relation to a particular site the relevant administration is for the purposes of paragraph (1) the Secretary of State and for the purposes of paragraph (2) the Welsh Ministers, paragraph (2) applies, after the designation of the site, as if the site had been designated by the Welsh Ministers.

Classification of sites as special protection areas

12.—(1) The Secretary of State must classify as special protection areas such sites in the offshore marine area as the Secretary of State considers necessary to ensure that the objective specified in paragraph (2) is attained.

(2) The objective is that there are classified as special protection areas those sites across the United Kingdom’s territory which are most suitable in number and size for—

(a) the conservation of the species listed in Annex I to the Wild Birds Directive which naturally occur in that territory; and

(b) the conservation of regularly occurring migratory species of birds not listed in Annex I which naturally occur in that territory.

(3) The Secretary of State must make the decision as to the sites to be classified under paragraph (1) only on the basis of relevant scientific information and—

(a) in the case of a site to be classified for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (2)(a), on the basis of the criteria set out in Article 4(1) of the Wild Birds Directive; and

(b) in the case of a site to be classified for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (2)(b), on the basis of the criteria set out in Article 4(2) of the Wild Birds Directive.

(4) Where a site is classified under paragraph (1) or under regulation 13, the Secretary of State must provide information on that site to the Commission including—

(a) a chart of the site;

(b) its name, location and extent; and

(c) the data resulting from application of the criteria set out in Article 4(1) or (2) of the Wild Birds Directive.

(5) The information specified in paragraph (4) must be provided in such format as is established by the Commission.

(6) In this regulation, “the United Kingdom’s territory” means the United Kingdom (including its internal waters), the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom, and the offshore marine area.

(7) Nothing in this regulation requires the Secretary of State to classify as, or as part of, a special protection area any site which is or forms part of a site classified as a special protection area by—

(a) the Scottish Ministers under regulation 13(1); or

(b) the Welsh Ministers under regulation 13(2).

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

13.—(1) The Scottish Ministers must classify as special protection areas such sites in the Scottish offshore region as they consider necessary to ensure that the objective specified in paragraph (3) is attained.

(2) The Welsh Ministers must classify as special protection areas such sites in the Welsh offshore region as they consider necessary to ensure that the objective specified in paragraph (3) is attained.

(3) The objective is that those sites across the United Kingdom’s territory which are most suitable in number and size for—

(a) the conservation of the species listed in Annex I to the Wild Birds Directive which naturally occur in that territory, and

(b) the conservation of regularly occurring migratory species of birds not listed in Annex I which naturally occur in that territory,

are classified as special protection areas, in so far as they consist of sites in the Scottish offshore or Welsh offshore regions (as the case may be).

(4) The Scottish Ministers must make their decision as to the sites to be classified under paragraph (1) only on the basis of relevant scientific information and—

(a) in the case of a site to be classified for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (3)(a), on the basis of the criteria set out in Article 4(1) of the Wild Birds Directive; and

(b) in the case of a site to be classified for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (3)(b), on the basis of the criteria set out in Article 4(2) of the Wild Birds Directive.

(5) But the Scottish Ministers may only classify a site as a special protection area under paragraph (1) if the Secretary of State has agreed that they so classify the site.

(6) The Welsh Ministers must make their decision as to the sites to be classified under paragraph (2) only on the basis of relevant scientific information and—

(a) in the case of a site to be classified for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (3)(a), on the basis of the criteria set out in Article 4(1) of the Wild Birds Directive; and

(b) in the case of a site to be classified for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (3)(b), on the basis of the criteria set out in Article 4(2) of the Wild Birds Directive.

(7) But the Welsh Ministers may only classify a site as a special protection area under paragraph (2) if the Secretary of State has agreed that they so classify the site.

(8) Where a site is classified under paragraph (1) or (2), the Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers respectively must provide information on that site to the Secretary of State, including—

(a) a chart of the site;

(b) its name, location and extent; and

(c) the data resulting from application of the criteria set out in Article 4(1) or (2) of the Wild Birds Directive.

(9) The information specified in paragraph (8) must be provided in the format applicable for the purposes of regulation 12(4) by virtue of regulation 12(5).

(10) In this regulation “the United Kingdom’s territory” means the United Kingdom (including its internal waters), the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom, and the offshore marine area.

Notification of a proposal to classify a special protection area

14.—(1) If the Secretary of State proposes to classify a site as a special protection area under regulation 12, the Secretary of State must give to the Joint Committee—

(a) notice of that proposal; and

(b) an accompanying statement of reasons for that proposal.

(2) Paragraph (1) does not apply in relation to any site in respect of which—

(a) the Scottish Ministers have given notice to the Joint Committee under paragraph (3); or

(b) the Welsh Ministers have given notice to the Joint Committee under paragraph (5).

(3) If the Scottish Ministers propose to classify a site as a special protection area under regulation 13, they must give to the Joint Committee—

(a) notice of that proposal; and

(b) an accompanying statement of reasons for that proposal.

(4) But the Scottish Ministers may not give notice of a proposal to the Joint Committee as described in paragraph (3) unless the Secretary of State has agreed to that proposal.

(5) If the Welsh Ministers propose to classify a site as a special protection area under regulation 13, they must give to the Joint Committee—

(a) notice of that proposal; and

(b) an accompanying statement of reasons for that proposal.

(6) But the Welsh Ministers may not give notice of a proposal to the Joint Committee as described in paragraph (5) unless the Secretary of State has agreed to that proposal.

(7) Where the Joint Committee is given notice of a proposal under paragraph (1), (3) or (5), the Joint Committee must give notice of that proposal and provide a copy of the accompanying statement of reasons for that proposal to—

(a) each of the devolved administrations;

(b) any of the following who in its opinion ought to be notified—

(i) competent authorities which exercise functions in relation to the site;

(ii) competent authorities which exercise functions in relation to a marine area adjacent to the site; and

(iii) persons whose activities are likely to be affected by the classification of the site;

(c) such other persons as in its opinion are to be notified;

(d) such other persons as the Secretary of State directs;

(e) where the Scottish Ministers have given notice under paragraph (3)—

(i) the Secretary of State; and

(ii) such other persons as the Scottish Ministers direct;

(f) where the Welsh Ministers have given notice under paragraph (5)—

(i) the Secretary of State; and

(ii) such other persons as the Welsh Ministers direct.

(8) A notice under paragraph (7) must specify the date (being not less than 12 weeks from the date of the giving of the notice) by which representations with respect to the proposal may be made to the Joint Committee.

(9) The Joint Committee must provide to the relevant administration a report describing the representations, if any, that it received about the proposal, or where no such representations have been received, stating that fact.

(10) The relevant administration must consider the report provided by the Joint Committee under paragraph (9).

(11) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to the Joint Committee for the purposes of its functions under this regulation and the Joint Committee must have regard to that guidance in discharging any of those functions.

(12) The Scottish Ministers may issue guidance to the Joint Committee for the purposes of its functions under this regulation in relation to site proposals under paragraph (3), and the Joint Committee must have regard to that guidance in discharging any of those functions.

(13) The Welsh Ministers may issue guidance to the Joint Committee for the purposes of its functions under this regulation in relation to site proposals under paragraph (5), and the Joint Committee must have regard to that guidance in discharging any of those functions.

(14) The Secretary of State may vary or revoke a direction under paragraph (7)(d), the Scottish Ministers may vary or revoke a direction under paragraph (7)(e)(ii), and the Welsh Ministers may vary or revoke a direction under paragraph (7)(f)(ii).

(15) In this regulation “the relevant administration” means—

(a) in relation to a report concerning a site proposal under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State;

(b) in relation to a report concerning a site proposal under paragraph (3), the Scottish Ministers; and

(c) in relation to a report concerning a site proposal under paragraph (5), the Welsh Ministers.

Hearings

15.—(1) The Secretary of State may give any person the opportunity of appearing before and being heard by, or of providing representations to, a person appointed by the Secretary of State—

(a) for the purpose of deciding whether to include a site in the list to be transmitted under regulation 7(1);

(b) for the purpose of deciding whether to propose to the Commission a modification under regulation 9(1) to the list of sites transmitted under regulation 7(1); or

(c) for the purpose of deciding whether to classify a site as a special protection area under regulation 12.

(2) Any person given the opportunity under paragraph (1) of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Secretary of State may—

(a) be represented by another person;

(b) call persons to give evidence; and

(c) put questions to any person who gives evidence at the hearing, including any person who gives expert evidence.

(3) The Secretary of State must consider any report of a person appointed under paragraph (1).

(4) Where the Secretary of State proposes to exercise any function under this regulation in relation to any matter in relation to which functions are exercisable by the Scottish Ministers under regulation 16, the Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Ministers.

(5) Where the Secretary of State proposes to exercise any function under this regulation in relation to any matter in relation to which functions are exercisable by the Welsh Ministers under regulation 17, the Secretary of State must consult the Welsh Ministers.

Hearings conducted by the Scottish Ministers

16.—(1) The Scottish Ministers may give any person the opportunity of appearing before and being heard by, or of providing representations to, a person appointed by the Scottish Ministers—

(a) for the purpose of deciding whether to include a site in the list to be transmitted under regulation 7(2);

(b) for the purpose of deciding whether to propose to the Secretary of State a modification under regulation 9(2) to the list of sites in the Scottish offshore region transmitted under regulation 7(1); or

(c) for the purpose of deciding whether to classify a site as a special protection area under regulation 13.

(2) Any person given the opportunity under paragraph (1) of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Scottish Ministers may—

(a) be represented by another person;

(b) call persons to give evidence; and

(c) put questions to any person who gives evidence at the hearing, including any person who gives expert evidence.

(3) The Scottish Ministers must consider any report of a person appointed under paragraph (1).

Hearings conducted by the Welsh Ministers

17.—(1) The Welsh Ministers may give any person the opportunity of appearing before and being heard by, or of providing representations to, a person appointed by the Welsh Ministers—

(a) for the purpose of deciding whether to include a site in the list to be transmitted under regulation 7(3);

(b) for the purpose of deciding whether to propose to the Secretary of State a modification under regulation 9(2) to the list of sites in the Welsh offshore region transmitted under regulation 7(1); or

(c) for the purpose of deciding whether to classify a site as a special protection area under regulation 13.

(2) Any person given the opportunity under paragraph (1) of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by the Welsh Ministers may—

(a) be represented by another person;

(b) call persons to give evidence; and

(c) put questions to any person who gives evidence at the hearing, including any person who gives expert evidence.

(3) The Welsh Ministers must consider any report of a person appointed under paragraph (1).

Meaning of “European offshore marine site”

18.  In these Regulations a “European offshore marine site” means any of the following located in the offshore marine area—

(a) a special area of conservation;

(b) a site of Community importance which has been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive;

(c) a site hosting a priority natural habitat type or priority species in respect of which consultation has been initiated under Article 5(1) of the Habitats Directive, during the consultation period mentioned in Article 5(2) or pending a decision of the Council under Article 5(3);

(d) a site classified as a special protection area under regulation 12 or 13; and

(e) a site which has been proposed to the Commission by the Secretary of State as a site eligible for designation as a special area of conservation for the purposes of meeting the United Kingdom’s obligations under Article 4(1) of the Habitats Directive until such time as—

(i) the site is placed on the list of sites of Community importance referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive; or

(ii) agreement is reached or a decision is taken pursuant to Article 4(2) of that Directive that the site is not to be placed on that list.

Register of European offshore marine sites

19.—(1) The Secretary of State must compile and maintain, in such form as the Secretary of State considers appropriate, a register of European offshore marine sites.

(2) The Secretary of State must include European offshore marine sites in the register as follows—

(a) special areas of conservation, as soon as they are designated;

(b) sites of Community importance, as soon as they are placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive, until such time as they are designated as special areas of conservation;

(c) any site hosting a priority natural habitat type or priority species in respect of which consultation has been initiated under Article 5(1) of the Habitats Directive, during the consultation period mentioned in Article 5(2) or pending a Council decision under Article 5(3);

(d) special protection areas as soon as they are classified as such; and

(e) any site which has been proposed to the Commission by the Secretary of State as a site eligible for designation as a special area of conservation for the purposes of meeting the United Kingdom’s obligations under Article 4(1) of the Habitats Directive until such time as is mentioned in regulation 18(e).

(3) The register must—

(a) in relation to each site included in it, provide the site’s co-ordinates and a chart delineating its boundaries;

(b) in relation to a site which is a special area of conservation, specify the natural habitat types listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive and the species listed in Annex II to that Directive for which the site was designated as a special area of conservation;

(c) in relation to a site which has been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive, specify the natural habitat types listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive and the species listed in Annex II to that Directive for which the site was placed on that list;

(d) in relation to a site in respect of which consultation has been initiated under Article 5(1) of the Habitats Directive, specify the priority natural habitat type and priority species which the Secretary of State considers the site hosts;

(e) in relation to a site which is a special protection area, specify the bird species for which the site was so classified; and

(f) in relation to a site which is of the type mentioned in paragraph (2)(e), specify the natural habitat types listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive and the species listed in Annex II to that Directive for which the site was proposed by the Secretary of State to the Commission.

(4) The Secretary of State may amend any entry in the register.

(5) The Secretary of State must remove the relevant entry—

(a) if a special area of conservation is declassified by the Commission pursuant to Article 9 of the Habitats Directive; or

(b) if a site otherwise ceases to fall within any of the categories listed in paragraph (2).

(6) The Secretary of State must keep a copy of the register entries available for public inspection at all reasonable hours and free of charge.

Notification of changes to the register

20.—(1) After including a site in the register, amending an entry in the register or removing an entry from the register, the Secretary of State must give notice of having done so to—

(a) the Joint Committee;

(b) the devolved administrations;

(c) any competent authorities which exercise functions in relation to the site which is affected or a marine area adjacent to the site which is affected, and which in the Secretary of State’s opinion it would be appropriate to notify;

(d) any international organisations which in the Secretary of State’s opinion it would be appropriate to notify; and

(e) such other persons as in the Secretary of State’s opinion it would be appropriate to notify.

(2) Where a site adjoins the territory of another member State, the Secretary of State must, after including such a site in the register, amending an entry relating to such a site in the register, or removing an entry relating to such a site from the register, give notice of having done so to such authorities of that State as the Secretary of State considers appropriate.

(3) Where the Secretary of State gives notice under paragraph (1) or (2) in respect of the inclusion of a site in the register or the amendment of an entry in the register, the notice must be accompanied by a copy of—

(a) in the case of a notice of the inclusion of a site in the register, the register entry;

(b) in the case of a notice of the amendment of an entry in the register, the amended entry.

Site protection and management

Establishment of nature conservation objectives

21.  As soon as is reasonably practicable after a European offshore marine site has been included in the register, the Joint Committee must—

(a) establish conservation objectives for the site and notify those objectives to such competent authorities as it considers appropriate; and

(b) advise such competent authorities as it considers appropriate of any operations which in its opinion may adversely affect the integrity of the site.

Management schemes for European offshore marine sites

22.—(1) Any competent authority which exercises functions in relation to a European offshore marine site may establish a management scheme for that site.

(2) A management scheme—

(a) must set out how a competent authority establishing the scheme proposes to exercise its functions so as to secure in relation to that site compliance with the requirements of the Habitats Directive or the Wild Birds Directive; and

(b) where it relates to a site which has been designated as a special area of conservation, must set out how, for the purposes of securing compliance with the requirements of Article 6(1) of the Habitats Directive, the competent authority establishing it proposes to exercise its functions in order to maintain or restore to a favourable conservation status—

(i) the natural habitat types listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive which are found at the site; and

(ii) the species listed in Annex II to that Directive which are found at the site.

(3) Before establishing a management scheme, the competent authorities concerned must consult—

(a) the Joint Committee;

(b) such other competent authorities having functions in relation to the site as they consider appropriate; and

(c) where the site adjoins a European marine site, such other persons who are parties to a management scheme for that European marine site as they consider appropriate.

(4) Any competent authority consulted under paragraph (3)(b) must be given the opportunity of participating in the establishment of the scheme.

(5) A competent authority may establish a single management scheme for two or more European offshore marine sites.

(6) Only one management scheme may be established for each European offshore marine site.

(7) A competent authority which has established a management scheme must review the scheme periodically, initially by the fifth anniversary of the date of the scheme’s establishment and thereafter by each fifth anniversary of that date.

(8) A management scheme may be amended at any time, but before amending a scheme the competent authority which established it must—

(a) consult the Joint Committee; and

(b) consult such other persons as it considers appropriate.

(9) Before establishing or amending a management scheme for a site, the competent authorities concerned must have regard to—

(a) any conservation objectives established for the site under regulation 21(a); and

(b) any advice provided under regulation 21(b) relating to that site.

(10) As soon as a management scheme has been established or is amended, the competent authorities concerned must ensure that a copy of the scheme, or the amended scheme (as the case may be) is provided to—

(a) the Secretary of State;

(b) the devolved administrations;

(c) those consulted under paragraph (3);

(d) such other persons as the Secretary of State may direct;

(e) in the case of a management scheme entered into by a competent authority in Scotland in relation to a site in the Scottish offshore region, such other persons as the Scottish Ministers may direct; and

(f) in the case of a management scheme entered into by a competent authority in Wales in relation to a site in the Welsh offshore region, such other persons as the Welsh Ministers may direct.

(11) The Secretary of State may vary or revoke a direction under paragraph (10)(d), the Scottish Ministers may vary or revoke a direction under paragraph (10)(e) and the Welsh Ministers may vary or revoke a direction under paragraph (10)(f).

(12) In paragraph (3)(c), “European marine site” means any site which is a European marine site for the purposes of the 1994 Regulations, the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1995(41) or the 2017 Regulations.

Duty in relation to management schemes

23.  Where a management scheme has been established, any competent authority which established that scheme must take reasonable steps to exercise its functions in accordance with that scheme.

Co-ordinated management of sites

24.—(1) Where a European offshore marine site, other than any such site in the Scottish offshore region or the Welsh offshore region, adjoins a special area of conservation or a special protection area which has been (respectively) designated or classified by another member State, the Secretary of State must consult that State in relation to the co-ordinated management of the site and the area in question.

(2) Where a European offshore marine site in the Scottish offshore region adjoins a special area of conservation or a special protection area which has been (respectively) designated or classified by another member State, the Scottish Ministers must, and the Secretary of State may, consult that State in relation to the co-ordinated management of the site and the area in question.

(3) Where a European offshore marine site in the Welsh offshore region adjoins a special area of conservation or a special protection area which has been (respectively) designated or classified by another member State, the Welsh Ministers must, and the Secretary of State may, consult that State in relation to the co-ordinated management of the site and the area in question.

(4) Before the Secretary of State consults under paragraph (2) in relation to a site, or a part of a site, in relation to which the Scottish Ministers must consult under that paragraph, the Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Ministers.

(5) Before the Secretary of State consults under paragraph (3) in relation to a site, or a part of a site, in relation to which the Welsh Ministers must consult under that paragraph, the Secretary of State must consult the Welsh Ministers.

Conservation measures relating to special areas of conservation

25.—(1) In relation to any site designated as a special area of conservation under regulation 11, competent authorities must, in so far as their functions may be so exercised, exercise such of their functions as they consider appropriate for the purpose of giving effect to Article 6(1) of the Habitats Directive by taking conservation measures corresponding to the ecological requirements of—

(a) the natural habitat types listed in Annex I to that Directive present on the site; and

(b) the species listed in Annex II to that Directive which are present on the site.

(2) In considering what conservation measures may be necessary for the purposes of paragraph (1) in relation to a site, competent authorities must have regard to—

(a) the need to maintain at, or restore to, favourable conservation status the natural habitat types and species mentioned in paragraph (1) which are present on the site;

(b) the matters referred to in Article 2(3) of the Habitats Directive; and

(c) any management scheme which has been established for the site.

(3) In so far as the duty in paragraph (1) has been met in respect of a site by any competent authority in Scotland or competent authority in Wales, that paragraph does not apply to any other competent authority in respect of that site.

(4) Before a competent authority (other than a competent authority in Scotland or Wales) exercises any relevant function for the purposes of complying with paragraph (1), it must first consult the Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers.

(5) Where, in relation to any site designated as a special area of conservation under regulation 11, paragraph (1) imposes a duty on more than one competent authority—

(a) where the competent authorities do not include a competent authority in Scotland or Wales, the Secretary of State may give a direction that, in respect of any measure that may be necessary, the duty of the competent authorities in question is to be satisfied by the taking of that measure by such competent authority or authorities as the Secretary of State may specify in the direction, and any such direction has effect in the terms stated in the direction; and

(b) where the competent authorities include one or more competent authorities in Scotland or Wales, the relevant administration may give a direction that, in respect of any measure that may be necessary, the duty of the competent authorities in question is to be satisfied by the taking of that measure by such competent authority or authorities as the relevant administration may specify in the direction, and any such direction has effect in the terms stated in the direction.

(6) A direction under paragraph (5)(b) may not be given unless the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be) and the Secretary of State have agreed that it may.

(7) In this regulation—

“the relevant administration” means—

(a)

in relation to a competent authority in Scotland, the Scottish Ministers;

(b)

in relation to a competent authority in Wales, the Welsh Ministers; and

(c)

in relation to a competent authority other than a competent authority in Scotland or in Wales, the Secretary of State; and

“relevant function” means any function exercisable for the purpose of securing any result which may instead be secured by the exercise of any function of either the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers.

Prevention of deterioration of habitats and disturbance of species

26.—(1) In so far as their functions may be exercised to secure that appropriate steps are taken for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (2), competent authorities must exercise their functions to secure that such steps are taken.

(2) The purpose referred to in paragraph (1) is the avoidance of—

(a) the disturbance of species specified in paragraph (3); and

(b) the deterioration of habitat or habitat types specified in paragraph (4).

(3) The disturbance of species referred to in paragraph (2)(a) is—

(a) in any site designated as a special area of conservation under regulation 11, the disturbance of any of the species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive for which the site was so designated, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of that Directive;

(b) in any site in the offshore marine area which has been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive, the disturbance of any of the species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive for which the site was placed on that list, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of that Directive;

(c) in any site in the offshore marine area hosting a priority natural habitat type or priority species in respect of which consultation has been initiated under Article 5(1) of the Habitats Directive, the disturbance of any priority species, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of that Directive; and

(d) in any site classified as a special protection area under regulation 12 or 13, the disturbance of any of the species of bird for which the site was so classified, in so far as such disturbance could be significant in relation to the objectives of the Habitats Directive or the Wild Birds Directive.

(4) The deterioration of habitat or habitat types referred to in paragraph (2)(b) is—

(a) in any site designated as a special area of conservation under regulation 11—

(i) the deterioration of the habitat of any of the species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive for which the site was so designated; and

(ii) the deterioration of any of the natural habitat types listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive for which the site was so designated;

(b) in any site in the offshore marine area which has been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive—

(i) the deterioration of the habitat of any of the species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive for which the site was placed on that list; and

(ii) the deterioration of any of the natural habitat types listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive for which the site was placed on that list;

(c) in any site in the offshore marine area hosting a priority natural habitat type or priority species in respect of which consultation has been initiated under Article 5(1) of the Habitats Directive—

(i) the deterioration of the habitat of any such species; and

(ii) the deterioration of any priority natural habitat type; and

(d) in any site classified as a special protection area under regulation 12 or 13, the deterioration of the habitats of any of the species of bird for which the site was so classified.

(5) The obligation in paragraph (1) only applies in relation to a site specified in paragraph (3)(c) or (4)(c)—

(a) during the consultation period; or

(b) where the Commission forwards a proposal to the Council regarding the site under Article 5(2) of the Habitats Directive, until such time as the Council makes a decision under Article 5(3) in relation to the site.

(6) In considering the steps (if any) to be taken under paragraph (1), competent authorities must have regard to—

(a) the need to maintain at, or restore to, favourable conservation status the natural habitat types and species specified in paragraphs (3) and (4), and the habitats of those species, which are present on the site concerned;

(b) the matters referred to in Article 2(3) of the Habitats Directive;

(c) any management scheme which has been established for the site concerned; and

(d) the objectives of the Habitats Directive and, where appropriate, the Wild Birds Directive.

(7) In so far as the duty in paragraph (1) has been met in respect of a site by any competent authority in Scotland or competent authority in Wales, that paragraph does not apply to any other competent authority in respect of that site.

(8) Before a competent authority (other than a competent authority in Scotland or competent authority in Wales) exercises any relevant function for the purposes of complying with paragraph (1), it must first consult the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be), and for this purpose, a “relevant function” means any function exercisable for the purpose of securing any result which may instead be secured by the exercise of any function of the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers.

(9) Where, in respect of any site mentioned in paragraph (3) or (4), paragraph (1) imposes a duty on more than one competent authority—

(a) where the competent authorities do not include a competent authority in Scotland or in Wales, the Secretary of State may give a direction that, in respect of any step that may be necessary, the duty of the competent authorities in question is to be satisfied by the taking of that step by such competent authority or authorities as the Secretary of State may specify in the direction, and any such direction has effect in the terms stated in the direction; and

(b) where the competent authorities include one or more competent authorities in Scotland or in Wales, the relevant administration may give a direction that, in respect of any step that may be necessary, the duty of the competent authorities in question is to be satisfied by the taking of that step by such competent authority or authorities as the relevant administration may specify in the direction, and any such direction has effect in the terms stated in the direction.

(10) A direction under paragraph (9)(b) may not be given unless the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be) and the Secretary of State have agreed that it may.

(11) So far as lies within its powers, a competent authority in exercising any function in or in relation to the offshore marine area must use all reasonable endeavours to avoid any pollution or deterioration of habitats of wild birds (except habitats beyond the outer limits of the area to which the Wild Birds Directive applies).

(12) Paragraph (1) does not apply where—

(a) the cause of the disturbance of species or deterioration of habitat or habitat types specified in paragraph (3) or (4) is a plan or project that has been agreed to under regulation 28; or

(b) the disturbance of species specified in paragraph (3) is not a criminal offence under regulation 38 or Part 3.

(13) In this regulation—

“the relevant administration” means—

(a)

in relation to a competent authority in Scotland, the Scottish Ministers;

(b)

in relation to a competent authority in Wales, the Welsh Ministers; and

(c)

in relation to any other competent authority, the Secretary of State.

Plans and projects

Meaning of “European site”

27.—(1) In these Regulations a “European site” means any of the following located in the United Kingdom—

(a) a special area of conservation;

(b) a site of Community importance which has been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive;

(c) a site hosting a priority natural habitat type or priority species in respect of which consultation has been initiated under Article 5(1) of the Habitats Directive, during the consultation period mentioned in Article 5(2) or pending a decision of the Council under Article 5(3);

(d) a site classified as a special protection area pursuant to Article 4(1) or (2) of the Wild Birds Directive; and

(e) a site which has been proposed to the Commission by the Secretary of State or any of the devolved administrations as a site eligible for designation as a special area of conservation for the purposes of meeting the United Kingdom’s obligations under Article 4(1) of the Habitats Directive, until such time as—

(i) it is placed on the list of sites of Community importance referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive, or

(ii) agreement is reached or a decision is taken pursuant to Article 4(2) of that Directive that the site is not to be placed on that list.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), where consultation is initiated by the Commission in accordance with Article 5(1) of the Habitats Directive with respect to a site in the United Kingdom hosting a priority natural habitat type or priority species, the site is to be treated as having been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive as from the date specified in paragraph (3).

(3) The date referred to in paragraph (2) is the date on which—

(a) it is agreed between the Commission and the Secretary of State, within the six-month period mentioned in Article 5(2) of the Habitats Directive, that the site should be selected as a site of Community importance; or

(b) the Council, acting on a proposal from the Commission in pursuance of Article 5(2) of the Habitats Directive, decides that the site should be so selected.

(4) In this regulation “the United Kingdom” means the United Kingdom (including its internal waters) and the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom.

Protection of European offshore marine sites and European sites

28.—(1) Before deciding to undertake, or give any consent, permission or other authorisation for, a relevant plan or project, a competent authority must make an appropriate assessment of the implications of the plan or project for the site in view of that site’s conservation objectives.

(2) In paragraph (1), a “relevant plan or project” is a plan or project which—

(a) is to be carried out on or in any part of the waters or on or in any part of the seabed or subsoil comprising the offshore marine area, or on or in relation to an offshore marine installation;

(b) is likely to have a significant effect on a European offshore marine site or a European site (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects); and

(c) is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site.

(3) A person applying to a competent authority for any consent, permission or other authorisation for a plan or project in the offshore marine area must provide such information as the competent authority may reasonably require—

(a) to enable it to determine whether an assessment under paragraph (1) is required; or

(b) for the purposes of an assessment under paragraph (1).

(4) The competent authority must for the purposes of the assessment—

(a) where it relates to a European offshore marine site, consult the Joint Committee;

(b) where it relates to a European site in England, consult Natural England;

(c) where it relates to a European site in Wales, consult the Natural Resources Body for Wales;

(d) where it relates to a European site in Scotland, consult Scottish Natural Heritage;

(e) where it relates to a European site in Northern Ireland, consult the DAERA; and

(f) if it considers it appropriate, take the opinion of the general public and if it does so, take such steps for that purpose as it considers appropriate.

(5) In the light of the conclusions of the assessment, and subject to regulation 29, the competent authority may agree to the plan or project only if it has ascertained that it will not adversely affect the integrity of the European offshore marine site or European site (as the case may be).

(6) In considering whether a plan or project will adversely affect the integrity of a site, the competent authority must have regard to the manner in which it is proposed to be carried out and to any conditions or restrictions subject to which the competent authority proposes that the consent, permission or other authorisation should be given.

(7) This regulation does not apply in relation to—

(a) a site which is a European offshore marine site by reason of regulation 18(c);

(b) a site which is a European site by reason of regulation 27(1)(c);

(c) the granting by the Secretary of State of any Petroleum Act approval, Petroleum Act authorisation, Petroleum or Energy Act consent, Petroleum Act licence, or Energy Act licence.

(8) Where a plan or project requires an appropriate assessment both under this regulation and under the Conservation Regulations, the assessment so far as relating to that part of it that is to be carried out in the offshore marine area need not identify the extent to which the effects of the plan or project are specifically attributable to that part, provided that an assessment made for the purposes of this regulation and the Conservation Regulations assesses the effects of the plan or project as a whole.

(9) In paragraph (8) “the Conservation Regulations” means the 1994 Regulations or the 2017 Regulations (as the case may be).

(10) In this regulation—

“England” includes so much of the internal waters and territorial sea of the United Kingdom as are not part of Northern Ireland, Scotland or Wales; and

“Northern Ireland” has the same meaning as in the Northern Ireland Act 1998(42).

Considerations of overriding public interest

29.—(1) If it is satisfied that, there being no alternative solutions, the plan or project referred to in regulation 28(1) must be carried out for imperative reasons of overriding public interest (which, subject to paragraph (2), may be of a social or economic nature), the competent authority may agree to the plan or project notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for the site.

(2) Where the site concerned hosts a priority natural habitat type or a priority species, the reasons referred to in paragraph (1) must be either—

(a) reasons relating to human health, public safety or beneficial consequences of primary importance to the environment; or

(b) any other imperative reasons of overriding public interest.

(3) A competent authority may not agree to a plan or project under paragraph (1) for any reason referred to in paragraph (2)(b) unless it has had due regard to the opinion of the Commission in satisfying itself that there are such reasons.

(4) Where a competent authority other than the Secretary of State desires to obtain the opinion of the Commission as to whether reasons are to be considered imperative reasons of overriding public interest, it must submit a request to the Secretary of State—

(a) identifying the matter on which an opinion is sought; and

(b) accompanied by any documents or information that may be required.

(5) Where a competent authority in Scotland other than the Scottish Ministers submits a request to the Secretary of State under paragraph (4), it must notify the Scottish Ministers of that request.

(6) Where a competent authority in Wales other than the Welsh Ministers submits a request to the Secretary of State under paragraph (4), it must notify the Welsh Ministers of that request.

(7) Where a competent authority has submitted a request in accordance with paragraph (4), the Secretary of State may, if the Secretary of State thinks fit, seek the opinion of the Commission, and upon receipt of that opinion the Secretary of State must transmit it to the competent authority.

Agreement to plan or project: England and Northern Ireland

30.—(1) Where a competent authority in England or in Northern Ireland proposes to agree to a plan or project under regulation 29 notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for a European offshore marine site or a European site—

(a) it must notify the Secretary of State; and

(b) it must not agree to the plan or project before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day notified to it by the Secretary of State as that on which the authority’s notification was received by the Secretary of State, unless the Secretary of State authorises the authority to do so under paragraph (2)(b).

(2) In any case within paragraph (1), the Secretary of State may—

(a) at any time before the competent authority has agreed to the plan or project in question, give a direction to the competent authority prohibiting it from agreeing to the plan or project, either indefinitely or during such period as may be specified in the direction; or

(b) authorise the competent authority to agree to the plan or project subject to such conditions or restrictions as may be specified in the authorisation.

(3) The Secretary of State may amend or revoke a direction or authorisation under paragraph (2) at any time before the competent authority has agreed to the plan or project in question.

Agreement to plan or project: Scotland

31.—(1) Where a competent authority in Scotland other than the Scottish Ministers proposes to agree to a plan or project under regulation 29 notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for a European site in Scotland or for a European offshore marine site in the Scottish offshore region—

(a) it must notify the Scottish Ministers; and

(b) it must not agree to the plan or project before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day notified to it by the Scottish Ministers as that on which the authority’s notification was received by them, unless the Scottish Ministers authorise the authority to do so under paragraph (2)(b).

(2) In any case within paragraph (1), the Scottish Ministers may—

(a) at any time before the competent authority has agreed to the plan or project in question, give a direction to the competent authority prohibiting it from agreeing to the plan or project, either indefinitely or during such period as may be specified in the direction; or

(b) authorise the competent authority to agree to the plan or project subject to such conditions or restrictions as may be specified in the authorisation.

(3) The Scottish Ministers may amend or revoke a direction or authorisation under paragraph (2) at any time before the competent authority has agreed to the plan or project in question.

(4) Where a competent authority in Scotland agrees to a plan or project under regulation 29 notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for a European site in Scotland or for a European offshore marine site in the Scottish offshore region, it must notify the Secretary of State as soon as practicable following that agreement.

(5) Where the Scottish Ministers propose to agree to a plan or project under regulation 29 notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for a European site outside Scotland or a European offshore marine site outside the Scottish offshore region—

(a) they must notify the Secretary of State; and

(b) they may agree to the plan or project only after having been notified of the Secretary of State’s agreement, which may be given subject to such conditions or restrictions as the Secretary of State may specify.

(6) Where a competent authority in Scotland other than the Scottish Ministers proposes to agree to a plan or project under regulation 29 notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for a European site outside Scotland or a European offshore marine site outside the Scottish offshore region—

(a) it must notify the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State; and

(b) it may agree to the plan or project only after having received notification from the Scottish Ministers that the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State have agreed that it may do so.

(7) In any case within paragraph (6), the Scottish Ministers may give a direction to the competent authority prohibiting it from agreeing to the plan or project, either indefinitely or during such period as may be specified in the direction, and may amend or revoke any such direction at any time before the competent authority has agreed to the plan or project in question.

(8) Any agreement between the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State that is the subject of a notification under paragraph (6)(b) may be subject to such conditions or restrictions as may be specified in the notification, and where the Scottish Ministers and the Secretary of State so agree, the Scottish Ministers may, at any time before the competent authority has agreed to the plan or project in question, amend or revoke a notification under paragraph (6)(b).

Agreement to plan or project: Wales

32.—(1) Where a competent authority in Wales other than the Welsh Ministers proposes to agree to a plan or project under regulation 29 notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for a European site in Wales or for a European offshore marine site in the Welsh offshore region—

(a) it must notify the Welsh Ministers; and

(b) it must not agree to the plan or project before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the day notified to it by the Welsh Ministers as that on which the authority’s notification was received by them, unless the Welsh Ministers authorise the authority to do so under paragraph (2)(b).

(2) In any case within paragraph (1), the Welsh Ministers may—

(a) at any time before the competent authority has agreed to the plan or project in question, give a direction to the competent authority prohibiting it from agreeing to the plan or project, either indefinitely or during such period as may be specified in the direction; or

(b) authorise the competent authority to agree to the plan or project subject to such conditions or restrictions as may be specified in the authorisation.

(3) The Welsh Ministers may amend or revoke a direction or authorisation under paragraph (2) at any time before the competent authority has agreed to the plan or project in question.

(4) Where a competent authority in Wales agrees to a plan or project under regulation 29 notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for a European site in Wales or for a European offshore marine site in the Welsh offshore region, it must notify the Secretary of State as soon as practicable following that agreement.

(5) Where the Welsh Ministers propose to agree to a plan or project under regulation 29 notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for a European site outside Wales or a European offshore marine site outside the Welsh offshore region—

(a) they must notify the Secretary of State; and

(b) they may agree to the plan or project only after having been notified of the Secretary of State’s agreement, which may be given subject to such conditions or restrictions as the Secretary of State may specify.

(6) Where a competent authority in Wales other than the Welsh Ministers proposes to agree to a plan or project under regulation 29 notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for a European site outside Wales or a European offshore marine site outside the Welsh offshore region—

(a) it must notify the Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State; and

(b) it may agree to the plan or project only after having received notification from the Welsh Ministers that the Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State have agreed that it may do so.

(7) In any case within paragraph (6), the Welsh Ministers may give a direction to the competent authority prohibiting it from agreeing to the plan or project, either indefinitely or during such period as may be specified in the direction, and may amend or revoke any such direction at any time before the competent authority has agreed to the plan or project in question.

(8) Any agreement between the Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State that is the subject of a notification under paragraph (6)(b) may be subject to such conditions or restrictions as may be specified in the notification, and where the Welsh Ministers and the Secretary of State so agree, the Welsh Ministers may, at any time before the competent authority has agreed to the plan or project in question, amend or revoke a notification under paragraph (6)(b).

Review of existing decisions and consents

33.—(1) Where, before the date on which a site becomes a European offshore marine site, a competent authority has decided to undertake, or has given any consent, permission or other authorisation for, a plan or project to which regulation 28(1) would apply if it were to be considered at that date, the authority must as soon as reasonably practicable after that date review its decision, or as the case may be, consent, permission or other authorisation.

(2) Where, before the date on which a site becomes a European site or, if later, the commencement of these Regulations, a competent authority has decided to undertake, or has given any consent, permission or other authorisation for, a plan or project to which regulation 28(1) would apply if it were to be considered at that date, the authority must as soon as reasonably practicable after that date review its decision, or as the case may be, consent, permission or other authorisation.

(3) A competent authority must for the purpose of reviewing a decision, consent, permission or other authorisation under paragraph (1) or (2) make an appropriate assessment of the implications for the site in view of that site’s conservation objectives, and the provisions of regulation 28(3), (4) and (8) apply, with the appropriate modifications, in relation to such a review.

(4) Where a competent authority reviews a decision, consent, permission or other authorisation under this regulation it must affirm, modify or revoke it.

(5) Subject to the following provisions of this Part, any review required by this regulation must be carried out under existing statutory procedures where such procedures exist, and if none exists the competent authority must determine the procedure to be followed, having regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State or, in relation to the Scottish offshore region, by the Scottish Ministers, or in relation to the Welsh offshore region, by the Welsh Ministers.

(6) Nothing in this regulation—

(a) requires a review where a site is a European offshore marine site by reason of regulation 18(c);

(b) requires a review where a site is a European site by reason of regulation 27(1)(c);

(c) requires a review by the Secretary of State of a Petroleum Act approval, Petroleum Act authorisation, Petroleum or Energy Act consent, Petroleum Act licence or Energy Act licence;

(d) requires a review of any plan or project in relation to which a review has been carried out under regulation 27 of the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c. Regulations 2007(43);

(e) affects anything done in pursuance of the decision, or the consent, permission or other authorisation, before the date mentioned in paragraph (1) or (2) (as the case may be).

(7) The Secretary of State may not issue guidance under paragraph (5) which relates to a function within devolved competence without the consent of the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers, as the case may be.

(8) The Scottish Ministers may only issue guidance under paragraph (5)—

(a) to a competent authority in Scotland; or

(b) where guidance is issued to a competent authority other than a competent authority in Scotland, subject to and in accordance with the agreement of the Secretary of State.

(9) The Welsh Ministers may only issue guidance under paragraph (5)—

(a) to a competent authority in Wales; or

(b) where guidance is issued to a competent authority other than a competent authority in Wales, subject to and in accordance with the agreement of the Secretary of State.

(10) Regulations 90 and 91 of the 2017 Regulations (consents under Electricity Act 1989(44): procedure on review and effect of review) apply in relation to any decision under paragraph (4) revoking or modifying a consent granted under section 36(45) or 37(46) of the Electricity Act 1989 as they apply in relation to a decision pursuant to regulation 90 of the 2017 Regulations revoking or varying any such consent, but with the modifications specified in paragraphs (11) and (12).

(11) The modifications to regulation 90 referred to in paragraph (10) are—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) for “89(3), (5) or (6)” substitute “89(3) or (5)”; and

(ii) omit “or a direction deeming planning permission to be granted”;

(b) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in sub-paragraph (a), omit “or, as the case may be, in whose favour the direction was made”; and

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b), omit “in the case of a consent under section 36 of the Electricity Act 1989,”;

(c) omit paragraph (3)(a); and

(d) in paragraph (5)—

(i) omit “, or the relevant planning authority,”; and

(ii) in the words before sub-paragraph (a), omit “or the relevant planning authority (as the case may be)”.

(12) The modifications to regulation 91 referred to in paragraph (10) are—

(a) in paragraph (1)—

(i) for “89(3), (5) or (6)” substitute “89(3) or (5)”; and

(ii) omit “or a direction deeming planning permission to be granted”; and

(b) in paragraphs (2) and (3), omit “or direction” (in each place where it occurs).

Consideration on review

34.—(1) The following provisions apply where a decision, or a consent, permission or other authorisation falls to be reviewed under regulation 33.

(2) Subject as follows, the provisions of regulation 28(4) and (5) and regulations 29 to 32 apply, with the appropriate modifications, in relation to the decision on the review.

(3) The decision, or the consent, permission or other authorisation may be affirmed if it appears to the competent authority reviewing it that other action taken or to be taken by it, or by another competent authority, will secure that the plan or project does not adversely affect the integrity of the site.

(4) Where the avoidance of an adverse effect on the integrity of a site may be secured in a number of ways, the competent authority or authorities concerned must seek to ensure that the action taken is the least onerous to those affected.

(5) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to competent authorities for the purposes of paragraphs (3) and (4) as to the manner of determining which of different ways should be adopted for securing that a plan or project does not adversely affect the integrity of a site, and in particular as to—

(a) the order of application of different controls; and

(b) the extent to which account should be taken of the possible exercise of other powers.

(6) The Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers may issue guidance to competent authorities in Scotland and competent authorities in Wales, respectively, for the purposes of paragraphs (3) and (4) as to the manner of determining which of different ways should be adopted for securing that a plan or project does not adversely affect the integrity of a site, and in particular as to—

(a) the order of application of different controls; and

(b) the extent to which account should be taken of the possible exercise of other powers.

(7) A competent authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State under paragraph (5) in discharging its functions under paragraph (3) or (4).

(8) A competent authority in Scotland must have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers under paragraph (6) in discharging its functions under paragraph (3) or (4).

(9) A competent authority in Wales must have regard to any guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers under paragraph (6) in discharging its functions under paragraph (3) or (4).

(10) Any modification or revocation under regulation 33(4) must be carried out under existing statutory procedures where such procedures exist, or if none exists, the competent authority must determine the procedure to be followed, having regard to any guidance given by the Secretary of State, or, in relation to a competent authority in Scotland, the Scottish Ministers, or in relation to a competent authority in Wales, the Welsh Ministers.

(11) The Secretary of State may not issue guidance under paragraph (5) which relates to a function within devolved competence without the consent of the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be).

Co-ordination where more than one competent authority is involved

35.—(1) The following provisions apply where a plan or project—

(a) is undertaken by more than one competent authority;

(b) requires the consent, permission or other authorisation of more than one competent authority; or

(c) is undertaken by one or more competent authorities and requires the consent, permission or other authorisation of one or more other competent authorities.

(2) Nothing in regulation 28(1) or 33(3) requires a competent authority to assess any implication of a plan or project which would be more appropriately assessed under that provision by another competent authority.

(3) The Secretary of State may issue guidance to competent authorities for the purposes of regulations 28 to 34 as to the circumstances in which an authority may or should adopt the reasoning or conclusions of another competent authority as to whether a plan or project—

(a) is likely to have a significant effect on a European offshore marine site or European site; or

(b) may adversely affect the integrity of a European offshore marine site or European site.

(4) The Scottish Ministers may issue guidance to competent authorities in Scotland for the purposes of regulations 28, 29, 31, 33 and 34 as to the circumstances in which a competent authority in Scotland may or must adopt the reasoning or conclusions of another competent authority as to whether a plan or project—

(a) is likely to have a significant effect on a European offshore marine site or European site; or

(b) may adversely affect the integrity of a European offshore marine site or European site.

(5) The Welsh Ministers may issue guidance to competent authorities in Wales for the purposes of regulations 28, 29, and 32 to 34 as to the circumstances in which a competent authority in Wales may or must adopt the reasoning or conclusions of another competent authority as to whether a plan or project—

(a) is likely to have a significant effect on a European offshore marine site or European site; or

(b) may adversely affect the integrity of a European offshore marine site or European site.

(6) A competent authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State under paragraph (3) in discharging any of its functions under regulations 28 to 34.

(7) A competent authority in Scotland must have regard to any guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers under paragraph (4) in discharging any of its functions under regulations 28, 29, 31, 33 and 34.

(8) A competent authority in Wales must have regard to any guidance issued by the Welsh Ministers under paragraph (5) in discharging any of its functions under regulations 28, 29, and 32 to 34.

(9) In determining whether a plan or project should be agreed to under regulation 29(1), a competent authority other than the Secretary of State must seek and have regard to the views of any other competent authority or authorities involved.

(10) The Secretary of State may not issue any guidance under paragraph (3) which relates to a function within devolved competence without the consent of the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers (as the case may be).

Compensatory measures

36.—(1) This regulation applies where, notwithstanding a negative assessment of the implications for a European offshore marine site or European site—

(a) a plan or project is agreed to in accordance with regulation 29; or

(b) a decision, or a consent, permission or other authorisation, is affirmed on review in accordance with regulations 29 and 34(3).

(2) The appropriate authority must secure that any necessary compensatory measures are taken to ensure that the overall coherence of Natura 2000 is protected.

(3) The appropriate authority is—

(a) where the plan or project is agreed to, or the decision, consent, permission or other authorisation is affirmed, in the exercise of a function within devolved competence in respect of Scotland or by the Scottish Ministers, the Scottish Ministers;

(b) where the plan or project is agreed to, or the decision, consent, permission or other authorisation is affirmed, in the exercise of a function within devolved competence in respect of Wales or by the Welsh Ministers, the Welsh Ministers;

(c) where the plan or project is agreed to, or the decision, consent, permission or other authorisation is affirmed, by a Northern Ireland department, that Northern Ireland department; and

(d) in any other case, the Secretary of State.

Notification of compensatory measures

37.—(1) The appropriate authority must ensure that the Commission is notified of the compensatory measures that are taken pursuant to regulation 36(2).

(2) In this regulation “appropriate authority” is to be construed in accordance with regulation 36(3).

Offences

Offences relating to European offshore marine sites

38.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), paragraphs (4) to (8) apply to any person—

(a) in any part of the waters within British fishery limits;

(b) on any ship in any part of the waters within British fishery limits;

(c) on a British aircraft over any part of the waters within British fishery limits;

(d) on or under an offshore marine installation; or

(e) on any aircraft above an offshore marine installation, in so far as the presence of the aircraft above that installation is for purposes connected with the use of the installation.

(2) Paragraphs (4) to (8) do not apply to—

(a) a competent authority acting in the exercise of its functions; or

(b) any other person exercising such functions on behalf of a competent authority.

(3) Paragraphs (6) to (8) do not apply to any person on a third country ship.

(4) A person is guilty of an offence if—

(a) without reasonable excuse, that person intentionally disturbs animals of any of the species specified in paragraph (9) whilst the animals are in a site which has been designated as a special area of conservation under regulation 11; and

(b) the disturbance is likely significantly to affect—

(i) their ability to survive, breed, or rear or nurture their young; or

(ii) the local distribution or abundance of that species.

(5) A person is guilty of an offence if—

(a) without reasonable excuse, that person intentionally disturbs animals of any of the species specified in paragraph (10) whilst the animals are in a site in the offshore marine area which has been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive; and

(b) the disturbance is likely significantly to affect—

(i) their ability to survive, breed, or rear or nurture their young; or

(ii) the local distribution or abundance of that species.

(6) A person is guilty of an offence if—

(a) without reasonable excuse, that person intentionally disturbs any wild bird whilst it is in a site which has been classified as a special protection area under regulation 12 or 13 and which is of a species of bird for which the site was so classified; and

(b) the disturbance—

(i) is such as is likely to impair the bird’s ability to survive, breed, or rear or nurture its young; or

(ii) significantly affects the local distribution or abundance of the species to which the bird belongs.

(7) A person is guilty of an offence if, without reasonable excuse, that person intentionally or recklessly damages or destroys a natural habitat type listed in Annex I to the Habitats Directive—

(a) in any site—

(i) in the offshore marine area which has been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive; or

(ii) which has been designated as a special area of conservation under regulation 11; and

(b) by reason of which—

(i) in the case of a site placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive, the site in question was placed on that list; or

(ii) in the case of a site designated as a special area of conservation under regulation 11, the site in question was so designated.

(8) A person is guilty of an offence if, without reasonable excuse, that person intentionally or recklessly damages or destroys—

(a) the habitat in any site which has been designated as a special area of conservation under regulation 11 and which supports any animals of the species specified in paragraph (9);

(b) the habitat in any site in the offshore marine area which has been placed on the list referred to in the third sub-paragraph of Article 4(2) of the Habitats Directive and which supports any animals of the species specified in paragraph (10); and

(c) the habitat in any site which has been classified as a special protection area under regulation 12 or 13 which supports any birds of the species for which the site was so classified.

(9) The species referred to in paragraphs (4)(a) and (8)(a) are the species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive for which the site in question was designated as a special area of conservation under regulation 11.

(10) The species referred to in paragraphs (5)(a) and (8)(b) are the species listed in Annex II to the Habitats Directive for which the site in question was placed on the list mentioned in those paragraphs.

(11) For the purpose of paragraphs (4) to (8) (and without prejudice to any other reasonable excuse) it is a reasonable excuse that the action causing the disturbance, damage or destruction in question was carried out pursuant to, and in accordance with the terms of, a consent, permission or other authorisation granted by a competent authority.

(12) In proceedings for an offence under paragraph (7) or (8), where this paragraph applies the defendant (“D”) is not to be taken recklessly to have done anything prohibited by that paragraph merely because—

(a) D’s actions had the result that D did the thing in question; and

(b) D intended those actions and knew that they might have that result.

(13) Paragraph (12) applies where the defendant (“D”) shows that—

(a) the actions in question were for the purpose, and in the course, of sea fishing; and

(b) D had taken any steps that could reasonably be taken to ensure compliance with the requirements or conditions of any relevant EU instrument.

(14) In paragraph (13), “any relevant EU instrument” means any instrument relating to sea fishing which—

(a) regulates such fishing for the purpose (whether or not the sole purpose) of minimising the extent to which it has a result of the kind referred to in paragraph (12) or the risk that it may have a result of that kind; and

(b) is adopted by any EU instrument under—

(i) Article 43 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; or

(ii) Council Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, as amended from time to time(47) or any instrument adopted thereunder.

(15) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable, either on summary conviction or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(16) In determining the amount of any fine to be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under this regulation, the court must in particular have regard to any financial benefit which has accrued or appears likely to accrue to that person in consequence of the offence.

PART 3 PROTECTION OF SPECIES

Application of offences in Part 3

39.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), regulations 40, 42, 43, 45, 47 and 49 (in so far as they are capable of so applying) apply to any person—

(a) in any part of the waters comprised in the offshore marine area;

(b) on a ship in any part of the waters comprised in the offshore marine area;

(c) on a British aircraft over the waters comprised in the offshore marine area;

(d) on or under an offshore marine installation; or

(e) on any aircraft above an offshore marine installation, in so far as the presence of the aircraft above that installation is for purposes connected with the use of the installation.

(2) Regulations 40, 42, 43 and 49 do not apply to any person on a third country ship.

(3) Regulation 45(3) only applies in relation to a person on a third country ship where—

(a) the animal in question is a relevant animal; or

(b) the part in question is from, or the thing in question is derived from, a relevant animal.

(4) In paragraph (3) “a relevant animal” is an animal of a European protected species which was taken or killed in any part of the waters within British fishery limits.

Protection of birds

Protection of wild birds, their eggs and nests

40.—(1) Subject to regulations 41 and 55, a person who deliberately—

(a) captures, injures, or kills any wild bird,

(b) takes, damages or destroys the nest of any wild bird while that nest is in use or being built, or

(c) takes or destroys an egg of any wild bird,

is guilty of an offence.

(2) Subject to regulations 41 and 55, a person who keeps—

(a) any live or dead wild bird or any part of, or anything derived from, such a bird, or

(b) an egg of a wild bird or any part of such an egg,

is guilty of an offence.

(3) In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1)—

(a) in relation to an offence under sub-paragraph (a), the bird in question is to be presumed to have been wild unless the contrary is shown; and

(b) in relation to an offence under sub-paragraph (b) or (c), if the prosecution proves that the nest or egg in question is of a bird which is a member of a species referred to in Article 1 of the Wild Birds Directive, it is to be presumed that the bird was a wild bird unless the contrary is shown.

(4) In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1), where this paragraph applies the defendant (“D”) is not to be taken deliberately to have done anything prohibited by that paragraph merely because—

(a) D’s actions had the result that D did the thing in question; and

(b) D intended those actions and knew that they might have that result.

(5) Paragraph (4) applies where the defendant (“D”) shows that—

(a) the actions in question were for the purpose, and in the course, of sea fishing;

(b) D did not intend those actions to have the result in question; and

(c) D had taken any steps that could reasonably be taken to ensure compliance with the requirements or conditions of any relevant EU instrument.

(6) In paragraph (5), “any relevant EU instrument” means any instrument relating to sea fishing which—

(a) regulates such fishing for the purpose (whether or not the sole purpose) of minimising the extent to which it has a result of the kind referred to in paragraph (4) or the risk that it may have a result of that kind; and

(b) is adopted by any EU instrument under—

(i) Article 43 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union;

(ii) Council Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, as amended from time to time(48) or any instrument adopted thereunder; or

(iii) Regulation (EC) No. 2371/2002 on the conservation and sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources under the Common Fisheries Policy(49) or any instrument adopted thereunder.

(7) In this regulation “destroy”, in relation to an egg, includes doing anything to the egg which is calculated to prevent it from hatching.

Defences to the offences in regulation 40

41.—(1) A person (“P”) is not guilty of the offence under regulation 40(1)(a) of deliberately capturing a wild bird or an offence under regulation 40(2)(a), if P shows that the act in question—

(a) was in relation to a bird that had been disabled otherwise than by P’s unlawful act; and

(b) was done solely for one or both of the purposes of—

(i) tending it and releasing it when no longer disabled, or

(ii) releasing it after it had been tended.

(2) A person (“P”) is not guilty of an offence under regulation 40(1)(a) or (2)(a) if P shows that the act in question—

(a) was in relation to a bird that had been seriously disabled otherwise than by P’s unlawful act and that there was no reasonable chance of its recovering; and

(b) was done solely for one or both of the purposes of—

(i) ending the bird’s life, or

(ii) disposing of it (otherwise than by sale or exchange) as soon as practicable after it was dead.

(3) A person is not guilty of the offence under regulation 40(1) of deliberately injuring a wild bird if that person shows that this was done solely for the purpose of taking a sample by virtue of regulation 63(2).

(4) A person is not guilty of an offence under regulation 40(2) if that person shows that the act in question was done solely for the purpose of investigating whether one or more of the following offences was being or had been committed—

(a) an offence under regulation 40, 42, 43 or 57;

(b) an offence of attempting to commit an offence under regulation 40, 42 or 43; or

(c) an offence under regulation 69 which relates to an offence under regulation 40, 42 or 43.

(5) A person is not guilty of an offence under regulation 40(2) if that person shows—

(a) in the case of a wild bird, or any part of, or anything derived, from any such bird—

(i) where the bird is a dead bird, that the bird had not been killed, or that it had been lawfully killed, by any person; and

(ii) whether the bird is live or dead, that the bird had not been captured or had been lawfully captured;

(b) in the case of an egg of a wild bird, that the egg had not been taken from the wild; and

(c) in the case of part of any such egg, that the egg had not been taken from the wild or destroyed in the wild by any person.

(6) A person (“P”) is not guilty of an offence under regulation 40(2) if P shows that the wild bird, egg, or part of an egg had been lawfully sold (whether to P or to any other person) or had otherwise been lawfully acquired by P.

(7) In paragraphs (5) and (6), “lawfully” means—

(a) without contravention of Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981(50), the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985(51), the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007(52) or these Regulations; or

(b) in the case of a bird, egg or other thing killed, taken or sold in Gibraltar or a member State (other than the United Kingdom), without contravention (as the case may be) of the law of Gibraltar or the law of that State implementing the Wild Birds Directive.

Prohibition of certain methods of capturing or killing wild birds

42.—(1) Subject to regulation 55, a person is guilty of an offence if that person uses for the purpose of capturing or killing any wild bird—

(a) any of the means listed in paragraph (2);

(b) any other means of capturing or killing which is indiscriminate or capable of causing the local disappearance of any species of wild bird; or

(c) any means of capturing or killing from a mechanically propelled vehicle, including a ship or an aircraft, while in immediate pursuit of a wild bird with a view to capturing or killing that bird.

(2) The prohibited means of capturing or killing wild birds are—

(a) snares, limes or hooks;

(b) using blind or mutilated birds as live decoys;

(c) sound recordings;

(d) electrical or electronic devices capable of killing or stunning;

(e) artificial light sources;

(f) mirrors or other dazzling devices;

(g) devices for illuminating targets;

(h) sighting devices for night shooting comprising an electronic image magnifier or image converter;

(i) explosives;

(j) nets or traps;

(k) poisoned or anaesthetic bait; and

(l) automatic or semi-automatic weapons with a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition.

Sale etc. of live or dead wild birds, eggs etc.

43.—(1) Subject to paragraph (3) and regulation 55, it is an offence for a person—

(a) to be in possession of,

(b) to transport for the purpose of sale,

(c) to sell, or

(d) to offer or expose for sale,

anything to which this paragraph applies.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies to—

(a) any live or dead wild bird, or any part of, or anything derived from, such a bird; or

(b) an egg of a wild bird.

(3) A person (“P”) is not guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) in respect of any bird belonging to a species referred to in Part A of Annex III to the Wild Birds Directive, or any egg of such a bird, or anything derived from such a bird, if P shows that—

(a) the bird, egg or other thing had been lawfully killed or taken; or

(b) the bird, egg or other thing had been lawfully sold (whether to P or any other person) or otherwise lawfully acquired by P.

(4) In paragraph (3) “lawfully” means—

(a) without contravention of Part 1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Wildlife (Northern Ireland) Order 1985, the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007(53) or these Regulations; or

(b) in the case of a bird, egg or other thing killed, taken or sold in Gibraltar or a member State (other than the United Kingdom), without contravention (as the case may be) of the law of Gibraltar or the law of that State implementing the Wild Birds Directive.

(5) In any proceedings for an offence under this regulation—

(a) the bird in question is to be presumed to have been wild unless the contrary is shown; and

(b) if the prosecution proves—

(i) that the part of a bird in question, or the egg in question, is of a bird which is a member of a species referred to in Article 1 of the Wild Birds Directive, or

(ii) that the thing in question is derived from such a bird,

it is to be presumed that the bird was a wild bird unless the contrary is shown.

(6) In this regulation—

(a) “egg” includes part of an egg; and

(b) “sale” includes hire, barter and exchange, and cognate expressions are to be construed accordingly.

Penalties

44.  A person guilty of an offence under regulation 40, 42 or 43 is liable, either on summary conviction or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

Protection of wild animals

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

45.—(1) Subject to regulations 46 and 55, a person who—

(a) deliberately captures, injures, or kills any wild animal of a European protected species,

(b) deliberately disturbs wild animals of any such species,

(c) deliberately takes or destroys the eggs of such an animal, or

(d) damages or destroys, or does anything to cause the deterioration of, a breeding site or resting place of such an animal,

is guilty of an offence.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), disturbance of animals includes in particular any disturbance which is likely—

(a) to impair their ability—

(i) to survive, to breed or reproduce, or to rear or nurture their young; or

(ii) in the case of animals of a hibernating or migratory species, to hibernate or migrate; or

(b) to affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species to which they belong.

(3) Subject to regulations 39(3), 46 and 55, it is an offence for a person—

(a) to keep or transport,

(b) to sell or exchange, or

(c) to offer for sale or exchange,

anything to which this paragraph applies.

(4) Paragraph (3) applies to—

(a) any live or dead animal or part of an animal—

(i) which has been taken from the wild; and

(ii) which is of a species or subspecies listed in Annex IV(a) to the Habitats Directive; and

(b) any part of, or anything derived from, such an animal or any such part of an animal.

(5) Paragraphs (1) and (3) apply regardless of the stage of the life of the animal in question.

(6) Unless the contrary is shown, in any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1) the animal in question is to be presumed to have been a wild animal.

(7) In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (3), where it is alleged that an animal or a part of an animal was taken from the wild, it is to be presumed, unless the contrary is shown, that the animal in question or part of it was taken from the wild.

(8) The Secretary of State, or the Joint Committee with the approval of the Secretary of State, may publish guidance as to the application of the offence in paragraph (1)(b) or (d) in relation to particular species of animals or particular activities.

(9) In proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1)(b) or (d), a court must take into account any relevant guidance published under paragraph (8).

(10) In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1), where this paragraph applies the defendant (“D”) is not to be taken deliberately to have done anything mentioned in sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of that paragraph merely because—

(a) D’s actions had the result that D did the thing in question; and

(b) D intended those actions and knew that they might have that result.

(11) Paragraph (10) applies where the defendant (“D”) shows that—

(a) the actions in question were for the purpose, and in the course, of sea fishing;

(b) D did not intend those actions to have the result in question; and

(c) D had taken any steps that could reasonably be taken to ensure compliance with the requirements or conditions of any relevant EU instrument.

(12) In paragraph (11), “any relevant EU instrument” means any instrument relating to sea fishing which—

(a) regulates such fishing for the purpose (whether or not the sole purpose) of minimising the extent to which it has a result of the kind referred to in paragraph (10) or the risk that it may have a result of that kind; and

(b) is adopted by any EU instrument under—

(i) Article 43 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union; or

(ii) Council Regulation (EU) No. 1380/2013 on the Common Fisheries Policy, as amended from time to time(54) or any instrument adopted thereunder.

(13) In determining the amount of any fine to be imposed on a person convicted of an offence under paragraph (1)(d), the court must in particular have regard to whether that person could reasonably have avoided the damage or destruction of the breeding site or resting place concerned.

(14) In this regulation “destroy”, in relation to an egg, includes doing anything to the egg which is calculated to prevent it from hatching.

(15) Regulation 38 does not apply in relation to anything done by a person which is an offence under this regulation.

Defences to the offences in regulation 45

46.—(1) A person (“P”) is not guilty of the offence under regulation 45(1)(a) of deliberately capturing a wild animal of a European protected species, or an offence under regulation 45(3)(a), if P shows that the act in question—

(a) was in relation to an animal that had been disabled otherwise than by P’s unlawful act; and

(b) was done solely for one or both of the purposes of—

(i) tending and releasing it when no longer disabled; or

(ii) releasing it after it had been tended.

(2) A person (“P”) is not guilty of an offence under regulation 45(1)(a) or (3)(a) if P shows that the act in question—

(a) was in relation to an animal that had been seriously disabled otherwise than by P’s unlawful act and that there was no reasonable chance of its recovering; and

(b) was done solely for one or both of the purposes of—

(i) ending the animal’s life; or

(ii) disposing of it (otherwise than by sale or exchange) as soon as practicable after it was dead.

(3) A person is not guilty of the offence under regulation 45(1)(a) of deliberately injuring a wild animal of a European protected species if that person shows that this was done solely for the purpose of taking a sample by virtue of regulation 63(2).

(4) A person is not guilty of an offence under regulation 45(3) if that person shows that the animal or part of the animal in question, or the animal or part of the animal from which the part or thing in question is derived, was lawfully taken from the wild.

(5) A person is not guilty of an offence under regulation 45(3) if that person shows that the animal, or the animal from which the part or thing in question is derived—

(a) is of a species listed in the second column of Schedule 2 and was from a population occurring in a country or area which is specified in respect of that species in the third column of that Schedule;

(b) is of the species Capra aegagrus (wild goat) and was not from a population occurring naturally in any member State;

(c) is of the subspecies Ovis gmelini musimon (European mouflon) and was not from a population occurring naturally in Corsica or Sardinia; or

(d) is of the species Coregonus oxyrhynchus (houting) and was either from Finland or was not from an anadromous population.

(6) A person is not guilty of an offence under regulation 45(3)(a) if that person shows that the act in question was done solely for the purpose of investigating whether one or more of the following offences was being or had been committed—

(a) an offence under regulation 45, 47 or 57;

(b) an offence of attempting to commit an offence under regulation 45 or 47; or

(c) an offence under regulation 71 which relates to an offence under regulation 45 or 47.

(7) The defences in paragraphs (1) to (3) and (6) do not apply where it is shown by the prosecution that the defendant’s action did not satisfy the conditions in paragraph (8).

(8) Those conditions are that—–

(a) there was no satisfactory alternative; and

(b) the action was not detrimental to the maintenance of the population of the species concerned at a favourable conservation status in their natural range.

(9) For the purposes of any proceedings for an offence under regulation 45(3), the common names given in parenthesis in paragraph (5) are to be disregarded.

(10) For the purposes of paragraph (4), an animal, or part of an animal, is to be treated as having been lawfully taken from the wild if—

(a) it was taken from the wild in the European territory of a member State, being territory to which the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union applies, without contravention of the law of that member State and before the implementation date; or

(b) it was taken from the wild elsewhere.

(11) In this regulation—

“the implementation date” means—

(a)

where the relevant State became a member State before 10th June 1994, 10th June 1994, and

(b)

in any other case, the date on which the relevant State became a member State; and

“relevant State” means the State in whose territory the animal, or part of it, was taken from the wild.

Prohibition of certain methods of capturing or killing wild animals

47.—(1) This regulation applies in relation to the capturing or killing of a wild animal—

(a) of any of the species listed in Schedule 3; or

(b) of a European protected species, where the capture or killing is otherwise permitted in accordance with these Regulations.

(2) Subject to regulation 55, a person is guilty of an offence if that person uses for the purpose of capturing or killing any such wild animal—

(a) any of the means listed in paragraph (3) or (4) below;

(b) any other means of capturing or killing which is indiscriminate and capable of causing the local disappearance of, or serious disturbance to, a population of any of the species of animal to which this regulation applies;

(c) any form of capturing or killing from a ship whilst it is being propelled by a motor; or

(d) any form of capturing or killing from an aircraft.

(3) The prohibited means of capturing or killing of mammals are—

(a) using blind or mutilated animals as live decoys;

(b) sound recordings;

(c) electrical or electronic devices capable of killing or stunning;

(d) artificial light sources;

(e) mirrors or other dazzling devices;

(f) devices for illuminating targets;

(g) sighting devices for night shooting comprising an electronic image magnifier or image converter;

(h) explosives;

(i) nets which are non-selective according to their principle or their conditions of use;

(j) traps which are non-selective according to their principle or their conditions of use;

(k) bows or crossbows;

(l) poisons and poisoned or anaesthetic bait;

(m) gassing or smoking out; and

(n) semi-automatic or automatic weapons with a magazine capable of holding more than two rounds of ammunition.

(4) The prohibited means of capturing or killing fish are—

(a) poison; and

(b) explosives.

Penalties

48.  A person guilty of an offence under regulation 45 or 47 is liable, either on summary conviction or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

Protection of plants

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

49.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (4) and (5) and regulation 55, it is an offence for a person—

(a) to keep or transport,

(b) to sell or exchange, or

(c) to offer for sale or exchange,

anything to which this paragraph applies.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies to—

(a) any live or dead plant, or part of a plant—

(i) which has been taken in the wild; and

(ii) which is of a species or subspecies listed in Annex II(b) (other than any bryophyte), or listed in Annex IV(b), to the Habitats Directive; and

(b) any part of, or anything derived from, such a plant or such a part of a plant.

(3) Paragraph (1) applies regardless of the stage of the biological cycle of the plant in question.

(4) A person is not guilty of an offence under paragraph (1) if that person shows that the plant or part of the plant in question, or the plant or part of the plant from which the part or thing in question is derived, was lawfully taken in the wild.

(5) A person is not guilty of an offence under paragraph (1)(a) if that person shows that the act in question was done solely for the purpose of investigating whether one or more of the following offences is being or has been committed—

(a) an offence under this regulation or regulation 57;

(b) an offence of attempting to commit an offence under this regulation; or

(c) an offence under regulation 71 which relates to an offence under this regulation.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (4), a plant, or part of a plant, is to be treated as having been lawfully taken in the wild if—

(a) it was taken in the wild in the European territory of a member State, being territory to which the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union applies, without contravention of the law of that member State and before the implementation date; or

(b) it was taken in the wild elsewhere.

(7) In any proceedings for an offence under this regulation, where it is alleged that a plant or part of a plant was taken in the wild, it is to be presumed, unless the contrary is shown, that that plant or part of a plant was taken in the wild.

(8) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable, either on summary conviction or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(9) In this regulation—

“the implementation date” means—

(a)

where the relevant State became a member State before 10th June 1994, 10th June 1994; and

(b)

in any other case, the date on which the relevant State became a member State; and

“relevant State” means the State in whose territory the plant, or part of it, was taken in the wild.

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

50.—(1) In relation to the offshore marine area, the Secretary of State must make arrangements in accordance with paragraphs (9) to (11) for the surveillance of the conservation status of natural habitats of Community interest and species of wild flora and fauna of Community interest, and in particular priority natural habitat types and priority species.

(2) In relation to the Scottish offshore region, the Scottish Ministers must make arrangements in accordance with paragraphs (9) to (11) for the surveillance of the conservation status of natural habitats of Community interest and species of wild flora and fauna of Community interest, and in particular priority natural habitat types and priority species.

(3) In relation to the Welsh offshore region, the Welsh Ministers must make arrangements in accordance with paragraphs (9) to (11) for the surveillance of the conservation status of natural habitats of Community interest and species of wild flora and fauna of Community interest, and in particular priority natural habitat types and priority species

(4) Before the Secretary of State makes any arrangements under paragraph (1) for surveillance in relation to the Scottish offshore region or the Welsh offshore region, the Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers, respectively.

(5) The Secretary of State must from time to time—

(a) consult the devolved administrations about the arrangements made under paragraph (1);

(b) provide the devolved administrations with such information as the Secretary of State considers appropriate that has been derived from the surveillance arranged under paragraph (1); and

(c) review the arrangements made under paragraph (1) and, if the Secretary of State thinks it appropriate, revise those arrangements.

(6) The Scottish Ministers must from time to time—

(a) consult the other devolved administrations and the Secretary of State about the arrangements made under paragraph (2);

(b) provide the other devolved administrations and the Secretary of State with such information as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate that has been derived from the surveillance arranged under paragraph (2); and

(c) review the arrangements made under paragraph (2) and, if they think it appropriate, revise those arrangements.

(7) The Welsh Ministers must from time to time—

(a) consult the other devolved administrations and the Secretary of State about the arrangements made under paragraph (3);

(b) provide the other devolved administrations and the Secretary of State with such information as the Welsh Ministers consider appropriate that has been derived from the surveillance arranged under paragraph (3); and

(c) review the arrangements made under paragraph (3) and, if they think it appropriate, revise those arrangements.

(8) The Joint Committee must—

(a) assess how and to what extent surveillance of the conservation status of each relevant habitat and species needs to be carried out, having regard to—

(i) whether a habitat or species is a priority natural habitat type or priority species; and

(ii) the conservation status of the habitat or species; and

(b) advise the relevant administration as to the need for such surveillance.

(9) The relevant administration must ensure that the necessary surveillance is carried out on an ongoing basis.

(10) Surveillance for the purposes of this regulation may be carried out by—

(a) the Joint Committee; or

(b) any other person acting pursuant to, and in accordance with, an agreement with the relevant administration or the Joint Committee.

(11) In this regulation—

(a) a “relevant” habitat or species means a habitat or species in the offshore marine area of a type referred to in paragraph (1), (2) or (3);

(b) “the relevant administration” means—

(i) in relation to surveillance under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State;

(ii) in relation to surveillance under paragraph (2), the Scottish Ministers; and

(iii) in relation to surveillance under paragraph (3), the Welsh Ministers.

Protection of certain animals and plants from exploitation

51.—(1) The Secretary of State must, as required in the light of information derived from surveillance carried out under regulation 50 or otherwise arranged for the purposes of Article 11 of the Habitats Directive, ensure that measures are taken for the purpose described in paragraph (2).

(2) The purpose referred to in paragraph (1) is to ensure that—

(a) the taking in the wild of specimens of a species listed in Annex V to the Habitats Directive, and

(b) the exploitation of any such specimens in the waters comprising the offshore marine area,

are compatible with that species being maintained at a favourable conservation status.

(3) Where measures are required under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State must make arrangements for surveillance for the purpose of establishing whether the taking in the wild of specimens of the species concerned, and the exploitation of specimens of that species, are compatible with the maintenance of the species at a favourable conservation status.

(4) In so far as arrangements for measures mentioned in paragraph (1) may be made by either the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers in the exercise of any of their respective functions for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (2), paragraph (1) applies to the Scottish Ministers and the Welsh Ministers as it applies to the Secretary of State.

(5) The obligation of the Secretary of State under paragraph (1) is to be treated as satisfied in so far as it has been met by either the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers.

(6) Insofar as arrangements for measures mentioned in paragraph (1) may be made by any Northern Ireland department in the exercise of any of its functions for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (2), paragraph (1) applies to that department as it applies to the Secretary of State.

(7) The obligation of the Secretary of State under paragraph (1) is to be treated as satisfied insofar as it has been met by any Northern Ireland department.

(8) Before the Secretary of State exercises any relevant function for the purpose of complying with paragraph (1), the Secretary of State must first consult—

(a) the Scottish Ministers, in the case of a relevant function exercisable for the purpose referred to in paragraph (9)(a);

(b) the Welsh Ministers, in the case of a relevant function exercisable for the purpose referred to in paragraph (9)(b); or

(c) the DAERA, in the case of a relevant function exercisable for the purpose referred to in paragraph (9)(c).

(9) In this regulation, “relevant function” means any function of the Secretary of State exercisable for the purpose of—

(a) securing any result which may instead be secured by the exercise of any function of the Scottish Ministers;

(b) securing any result which may instead be secured by the exercise of any function of the Welsh Ministers; or

(c) securing any result which may instead be secured by the exercise of any function of any Northern Ireland department.

Monitoring incidental capture and killing

52.—(1) The relevant administration must make arrangements in accordance with paragraphs (4) and (5) to establish a system for monitoring—

(a) the capture of animals of any species listed in Annex IV(a) to the Habitats Directive, and

(b) the killing of any such animals,

which (in either case) is incidental to any activity that takes place in the waters comprised in the offshore marine area.

(2) The relevant administration must, from time to time—

(a) consult the other administrations about the arrangements made under paragraph (1);

(b) provide the other administrations with such information as it considers appropriate derived from the monitoring arranged under paragraph (1); and

(c) review the arrangements made under paragraph (1) and, if it thinks it appropriate, revise those arrangements.

(3) The Joint Committee must, in relation to the species of animals listed in Annex IV(a) to the Habitats Directive which are found in the offshore marine area—

(a) identify the risks of incidental capture and killing to which those species are subject, and the activities which give rise to such risks;

(b) maintain a record of instances of incidental capture or killing of animals of those species of which the Joint Committee is aware as a result of the surveillance carried out under regulation 50, the monitoring carried out under this regulation, or otherwise;

(c) assess to what extent monitoring of incidental capture and killing is needed, having regard to—

(i) the risks identified under sub-paragraph (a);

(ii) the instances of incidental capture or killing recorded under sub-paragraph (b);

(iii) whether the species is a priority species; and

(iv) the conservation status of the species; and

(d) advise the relevant administration as to the need for such monitoring.

(4) The relevant administration must ensure that the necessary monitoring of incidental capture and killing is carried out.

(5) Monitoring for the purposes of this regulation may be carried out by—

(a) the Joint Committee;

(b) any other competent authority;

(c) any other person acting pursuant to, and in accordance with—

(i) an agreement with the relevant administration or the Joint Committee; or

(ii) a condition of a licence or other authorisation granted by a competent authority.

(6) Before the Secretary of State exercises any functions under this regulation in relation to a matter in relation to which functions are also exercisable by the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers, the Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Ministers or Welsh Ministers, respectively.

(7) The obligations of the Secretary of State under this regulation in relation to the Scottish offshore region or the Welsh offshore region are to be treated as satisfied in so far as corresponding obligations of the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers, respectively, have been met by them.

(8) In this regulation—

(a) “the other administrations” means the administrations other than the relevant administration, and for this purpose “the administrations” means the Secretary of State and the devolved administrations; and

(b) “the relevant administration” means—

(i) in relation to the monitoring of activity taking place in the offshore marine area, the Secretary of State;

(ii) in relation to the monitoring of activity taking place in the Scottish offshore region, the Scottish Ministers; and

(iii) in relation to the monitoring of activity taking place in the Welsh offshore region, the Welsh Ministers.

Protection from incidental capture and killing

53.—(1) The Secretary of State must, as required in the light of information derived from monitoring carried out under regulation 52 or otherwise arranged for the purposes of Article 12(4) of the Habitats Directive, make arrangements for further research, or ensure that conservation measures are taken, for the purpose specified in paragraph (2).

(2) The purpose referred to in paragraph (1) is to ensure that the capture or killing (as the case may be) of animals of a species listed in Annex IV(a) to the Habitats Directive which is incidental to any activity that takes place in the waters comprised in the offshore marine area does not have a significant negative impact on that species.

(3) In so far as arrangements for further research or conservation measures mentioned in paragraph (1) may be made by the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers or any Northern Ireland Department in the exercise of any of their functions for the purpose mentioned in paragraph (2), paragraph (1) applies to the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers and that Northern Ireland Department, as the case may be, as it applies to the Secretary of State.

(4) The obligation of the Secretary of State under paragraph (1) is to be treated as satisfied in so far as it has been met by the Scottish Ministers, the Welsh Ministers or any Northern Ireland Department.

(5) Before the Secretary of State exercises any relevant function for the purpose of complying with paragraph (1), the Secretary of State must first consult—

(a) the Scottish Ministers, in the case of a relevant function exercisable for the purpose referred to in paragraph (6)(a);

(b) the Welsh Ministers in the case of a relevant function exercisable for the purpose referred to in paragraph (6)(b); or

(c) in Northern Ireland, the DAERA in the case of a relevant function exercisable for the purpose referred to in paragraph (6)(c).

(6) In this regulation, “relevant function” means any function of the Secretary of State exercisable for the purpose of—

(a) securing any result which may instead be secured by the exercise of any function of the Scottish Ministers;

(b) securing any result which may instead be secured by the exercise of any function of the Welsh Ministers; or

(c) securing any result which may instead be secured by the exercise of any function of any Northern Ireland department.

Introduction of new species

Introduction of new species

54.—(1) Subject to regulation 55(11)—

(a) a person on an offshore marine installation commits an offence if that person deliberately introduces into any relevant part of the waters in any area designated under section 1(7) of the Continental Shelf Act 1964(55) any live animal or plant of a kind having a natural range that does not include those waters; and

(b) a person in, or on board a ship in, any relevant part of the waters comprised in the offshore marine area commits an offence if, other than in accordance with paragraph (3), that person deliberately introduces into any part of those waters any live animal or plant of a kind having a natural range that does not include those waters.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph (1), “relevant part” means any part where the introduction would give rise to a risk of prejudice to natural habitats within their natural range or a risk of prejudice to wild native flora or fauna (whether in the place of introduction or elsewhere).

(3) An introduction is in accordance with this paragraph if—

(a) it resulted from a discharge of water carried as ballast and the discharge was necessary for the purpose of protecting the safety of any person or ship; and

(b) all reasonably practicable steps were taken—

(i) to avoid its occurring in an area where it would give rise to a risk of prejudice to natural habitats within their natural range or a risk of prejudice to wild native flora or fauna (whether in the place of introduction or elsewhere); and

(ii) to minimise any risk of such prejudice.

(4) In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1)(b), a court must have regard to any guidance about steps which may be taken to avoid committing an offence under paragraph (1)(b) which is issued for the purposes of this paragraph by the Secretary of State, or—

(a) in relation to the Scottish offshore region, by the Scottish Ministers; or

(b) in relation to the Welsh offshore region, by the Welsh Ministers.

(5) The Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers may only issue guidance under paragraph (4) with the agreement of the Secretary of State.

(6) In any proceedings for an offence under paragraph (1)(b), it is for the defendant to show that the introduction in question was in accordance with paragraph (3).

(7) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable, either on summary conviction or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

(8) This regulation does not apply to a person on board a third country ship.

PART 5 LICENCES

Power to grant licences

55.—(1) Regulations 40, 42 and 43 do not apply to anything done under and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted by the relevant administration under this paragraph, and—

(a) in the interests of preserving public health, public safety or air safety;

(b) for the purpose of preventing serious damage to fisheries;

(c) for the purpose of protecting flora or fauna;

(d) for scientific or educational purposes; or

(e) for the purposes of the re-population of an area with, or the re-introduction into an area of, wild birds (including any breeding necessary for those purposes).

(2) The relevant administration must not grant a licence for any purpose mentioned in paragraph (1) unless satisfied that, as regards that purpose, there is no other satisfactory solution.

(3) The relevant administration may grant a licence to permit the capture, keeping or other judicious use of certain wild birds notwithstanding that the licence is not for a purpose within paragraph (1).

(4) The relevant administration must not grant a licence under paragraph (3) unless satisfied that—

(a) there is no other satisfactory solution than granting the licence; and

(b) the grant of the licence would be consistent with the restrictions in Article 9(1)(c) of the Wild Birds Directive (namely “under strictly supervised conditions and on a selective basis” and in respect of a small number of birds).

(5) Regulations 40, 42 and 43 do not apply to anything done under and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted by the relevant administration under paragraph (3).

(6) Regulations 45, 47 and 49 do not apply to anything done under and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted by the relevant administration under this paragraph, and—

(a) in the interests of public health or public safety or for other imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature and beneficial consequences of primary importance for the environment;

(b) for the purpose of preventing serious damage to fisheries;

(c) for the purpose of preventing serious damage to property,

(d) in the interest of protecting wild flora or fauna or conserving natural habitats;

(e) for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease;

(f) for scientific or educational purposes; or

(g) for the purposes of the re-population of an area with, or the re-introduction into an area of, wild animals or wild plants (including any breeding or artificial propagation necessary for those purposes).

(7) The relevant administration must not grant a licence under paragraph (6) unless satisfied—

(a) that there is no satisfactory alternative; and

(b) that the action authorised will not be detrimental to the maintenance of the populations of the species concerned at a favourable conservation status in their natural range.

(8) The relevant administration may grant a licence to permit the taking or keeping of certain specimens of any of the species or subspecies listed in Annex II(b) (other than any bryophyte) or Annex IV to the Habitats Directive notwithstanding that the licence is not for a purpose within paragraph (6).

(9) The relevant administration must not grant a licence under paragraph (8) unless satisfied—

(a) that the grant of the licence would be consistent with the restrictions in Article 16(1)(e) of the Habitats Directive (namely “under strictly supervised conditions, on a selective basis and to a limited extent” and “in limited numbers”);

(b) that there is no satisfactory alternative; and

(c) that the action authorised will not be detrimental to the maintenance of the populations of the species concerned at a favourable conservation status in their natural range.

(10) Regulations 45, 47 and 49 do not apply to anything done under and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted by the relevant administration under paragraph (8).

(11) Regulation 54 does not apply to anything done under and in accordance with the terms of a licence granted by the relevant administration under this paragraph.

(12) The relevant administration must not grant a licence under paragraph (11) unless satisfied that the action authorised by the licence will not prejudice natural habitats within their natural range or wild native fauna or flora.

(13) The relevant administration must not grant a licence for any purpose under this regulation unless it has been advised by the Joint Committee as to the circumstances in which, in the Joint Committee’s opinion, licences should be granted for the purpose in question.

(14) The relevant administration may charge for a licence under this regulation such reasonable sum as it may determine.

(15) In this regulation “the relevant administration” means—

(a) in relation to the licensing of anything done—

(i) in any part of the waters comprising the offshore marine area outside the Scottish offshore region and the Welsh offshore region, or

(ii) in the course of carrying on any activity specified in paragraph (16) in any part of the offshore marine area,

the Secretary of State; and

(b) in relation to the licensing of anything done in the course of carrying out any activity other than one specified in paragraph (16)—

(i) in the Scottish offshore region, the Scottish Ministers; and

(ii) in the Welsh offshore region, the Welsh Ministers.

(16) The activities specified in this paragraph are—

(a) an activity for which a licence under section 3 of the Petroleum Act 1998(56) is required or which is permitted by section 2 of the Petroleum (Production) Act 1934(57) (licences to search for and get petroleum);

(b) constructing or maintaining a pipeline in respect of any part of which an authorisation (within the meaning of Part 3 of the Petroleum Act 1998) is in force;

(c) establishing or maintaining an offshore installation (within the meaning of Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998)(58);

(d) taking any installation abandonment measures;

(e) an activity for which a licence under section 4 or 18 of the Energy Act 2008(59) is required (gas unloading, storage and recovery, and carbon dioxide storage);

(f) any activity other than those specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e), relating to a matter which is a reserved matter by virtue of section D2 (oil and gas) in Part 2 of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998(60);

(g) any activity relating to a matter which is a reserved matter by virtue of paragraph 9 of Part 1 of that Schedule (defence); and

(h) any activity relating to a matter which is a reserved matter by virtue of section E3 (marine transport) in Part 2 of that Schedule.

(17) For the purposes of paragraph (15)(a), a thing is to be treated as done in a part of the waters referred to in paragraph (i) of that paragraph if it is done on any ship in, or any British aircraft flying over, any such part, or on any aircraft flying over an offshore marine installation in any such part, or on or under any such offshore marine installation.

(18) In relation to an application for a licence received by the Secretary of State before these Regulations come into force, paragraph (15)(b)(ii) applies as if for “the Welsh Ministers” there were substituted “the Secretary of State”.

Licences: supplementary provisions

56.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this regulation, a licence under regulation 55—

(a) may be, to any degree, general or specific;

(b) may be granted either to persons of a class or to a particular person; and

(c) may be subject to compliance with any specified conditions.

(2) For the purposes of such a licence the definition of a class of persons may be framed by reference to their being authorised by any other person, or by reference to any other circumstances whatever.

(3) A licence under regulation 55(1) or (3) must specify—

(a) the species of wild birds in respect of which, the circumstances in which, and the conditions subject to which, any action authorised by the licence may be taken; and

(b) the methods, means or arrangements which are authorised or required for the taking of the action.

(4) A licence under regulation 55(6) which authorises any person to kill wild animals must specify the area within which and the means or methods by which the wild animals may be killed.

(5) A licence under regulation 55(8) may only be granted to such persons as are named in the licence.

(6) A licence under regulation 55(8) must specify—

(a) the species of animal or plant specimens which may be taken or kept;

(b) the maximum number of specimens which may be taken or kept or which particular specimens may be taken or kept;

(c) the conditions subject to which the action authorised by the licence may be taken and in particular—

(i) the methods, means or arrangements by which the specimens may be taken or kept;

(ii) when or over what period the action authorised by the licence may be taken; and

(iii) where it authorises any person to take specimens, the area from which they may be taken.

(7) A licence under regulation 55 may be modified or revoked at any time by the relevant administration, but otherwise it is valid for the period stated in the licence.

(8) In paragraph (7), “the relevant administration” is to be construed in accordance with regulation 55(15), (16) and (18).

False statements made for obtaining licence

57.—(1) A person (“P”) is guilty of an offence if, for the purposes of obtaining (whether for P or another) the grant of a licence under regulation 55, P—

(a) makes a statement or representation, or furnishes a document or information, which P knows to be false in a material particular; or

(b) recklessly makes a statement or representation, or furnishes a document or information, which is false in a material particular.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable, either on summary conviction or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

PART 6 ENFORCEMENT AND SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISION RELATING TO CRIMINAL OFFENCES

Enforcement

Wildlife officers

58.—(1) The Secretary of State, the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers may authorise any person to be a wildlife officer.

(2) A competent authority other than a competent authority in Scotland or a competent authority in Wales may authorise any person to be a wildlife officer, subject to and in accordance with the agreement of the Secretary of State.

(3) A competent authority in Scotland (other than the Scottish Ministers) or a competent authority in Wales (other than the Welsh Ministers) may authorise any person to be a wildlife officer, subject to and in accordance with the agreement of the Scottish Ministers or Welsh Ministers respectively.

(4) An authorisation under paragraph (1), (2) or (3) must be in writing and may be subject to any conditions or limitations specified in it.

(5) Payments may be made by way of remuneration, allowances, expenses or otherwise—

(a) by the Secretary of State to any person authorised by the Secretary of State under paragraph (1);

(b) by the Scottish Ministers to any person authorised by them under paragraph (1);

(c) by the Welsh Ministers to any person authorised by them under paragraph (1); and

(d) by a competent authority to any person authorised by it under paragraph (2) or (3).

(6) An agreement under paragraph (2) or (3) may be subject to conditions or limitations and may make provision for payment by the relevant administration to reimburse the competent authority for the expenses it incurs in connection with and for the purposes of the agreement.

(7) In this regulation, “the relevant administration” means—

(a) in relation to an agreement under paragraph (2), the Secretary of State; and

(b) in relation to an agreement under paragraph (3), the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers as the case may be.

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

59.—(1) A wildlife officer appointed by the Scottish Ministers under regulation 58(1) or by a competent authority in Scotland under regulation 58(3)—

(a) may only exercise any function under regulations 60 to 67 for the purposes of ascertaining whether an offence under these Regulations is being or has been committed in the Scottish offshore region; and

(b) in relation to anything done in the course of carrying on an activity falling within paragraph (3), may only exercise any such function subject to and in accordance with the agreement of the Secretary of State.

(2) A wildlife officer appointed by the Welsh Ministers under regulation 58(1) or by a competent authority in Wales under regulation 58(3)—

(a) may only exercise any function under regulations 60 to 67 for the purposes of ascertaining whether an offence under these Regulations is being or has been committed in the Welsh offshore region; and

(b) in relation to anything done in the course of carrying on an activity falling within paragraph (3), may only exercise any such function subject to and in accordance with the agreement of the Secretary of State.

(3) The activities falling within this paragraph are—

(a) an activity for which a licence under section 3 of the Petroleum Act 1998(61) or section 2 of the Petroleum (Production) Act 1934(62) (licences to search for and get petroleum) is required;

(b) constructing or maintaining a pipeline in respect of which, or any part of which, an authorisation (within the meaning of Part 3 of the Petroleum Act 1998) is in force;

(c) establishing or maintaining an offshore installation (within the meaning of Part 4 of the Petroleum Act 1998(63));

(d) taking any installation abandonment measures;

(e) an activity for which a licence under section 4 or 18 of the Energy Act 2008(64) is required (gas unloading, storage and recovery, and carbon dioxide storage);

(f) any activity other than those specified in sub-paragraphs (a) to (e), relating to a matter which is a reserved matter by virtue of section D2 (oil and gas) in Part 2 of Schedule 5 to the Scotland Act 1998(65);

(g) any activity relating to a matter which is a reserved matter by virtue of paragraph 9 of Part 1 of that Schedule (defence); and

(h) any activity relating to a matter which is a reserved matter by virtue of section E3 (marine transport) in Part 2 of that Schedule.

Powers of boarding, entry and inspection

60.—(1) For the purposes of ascertaining whether an offence under these Regulations is being or has been committed on or from a ship to which this paragraph applies or on or from an offshore marine installation, a wildlife officer may at any time, and (if required to do so) upon producing duly authenticated authorisation, board and inspect the ship or offshore marine installation in question.

(2) Paragraph (1) applies to—

(a) a ship, wherever it may be—

(i) which is registered in the United Kingdom under Part 2 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995(66);

(ii) which, as a Government ship, is registered in the United Kingdom in pursuance of an Order in Council under section 308 of that Act;

(iii) which is within section 1(1)(d) of that Act and is not a third country ship; or

(iv) which is registered under the law of Gibraltar;

(b) any other ship within British fishery limits; or

(c) an offshore marine installation.

(3) A wildlife officer may at all reasonable hours, and (if required to do so) upon producing duly authenticated authorisation, enter and inspect any premises, other than any premises referred to in paragraph (2), in the United Kingdom for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence under these Regulations has been committed.

(4) In relation to premises which are a dwelling, the power conferred by paragraph (3) may only be exercised on the grant of a warrant by a justice.

(5) A justice may only issue a warrant under paragraph (4) if, on an application made by a wildlife officer, the justice is satisfied—

(a) that the officer has reasonable grounds for believing that there is material in the dwelling which is likely to be of substantial value (whether in itself or together with other material) to the investigation of an offence under these Regulations; and

(b) that—

(i) it is not practicable to communicate with any person entitled to grant entry to the dwelling;

(ii) a person entitled to grant entry to the dwelling has unreasonably refused a wildlife officer entry;

(iii) entry to the dwelling is unlikely to be granted unless a warrant is produced; or

(iv) the purpose of entry may be frustrated or seriously prejudiced unless a wildlife officer arriving at the dwelling can secure immediate entry to it.

(6) Sections 15 and 16 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984(67) (which respectively relate to safeguards in respect of warrants and the execution of warrants) and articles 17 and 18 of the Police and Criminal Evidence (Northern Ireland) Order 1989(68) (which make provision corresponding to those sections) have effect (in relation to England and Wales and in relation to Northern Ireland respectively) in relation to warrants issued to wildlife officers under this regulation as they have effect in relation to warrants issued to constables.

(7) In this regulation—

a “justice” means—

(a)

in relation to England and Wales and Northern Ireland, a justice of the peace; and

(b)

in relation to Scotland, a sheriff, stipendiary magistrate or justice of the peace;

“the United Kingdom” means the United Kingdom (including its internal waters) and the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom;

“Government Ship” has the meaning given in section 308 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995.

Additional powers

61.  Regulations 62 to 64 apply where a wildlife officer has boarded any ship or offshore marine installation or entered any premises by virtue of regulation 60.

Powers to make inquiries and examine things

62.—(1) A wildlife officer may, for the purposes of ascertaining whether an offence has been or is being committed under these Regulations—

(a) make any inquiry of any person on board the ship or offshore marine installation or at the premises; or

(b) examine anything there.

(2) A wildlife officer may require any person on board the ship or offshore marine installation, or an occupier of the premises, to do anything to facilitate the officer’s examination of anything.

Powers relating to specimens

63.—(1) A wildlife officer may, for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offence has been or is being committed under these Regulations, require any person on board the ship or offshore marine installation, or at the premises, who is in possession or control of a specimen, to make that specimen available for inspection.

(2) A wildlife officer may, subject to paragraph (3), take a sample from any specimen found on the ship or offshore marine installation or at the premises or which is made available under paragraph (1).

(3) No sample may be taken under paragraph (2) from a live bird, other animal or plant except for the purpose of establishing its identity or ancestry.

(4) A wildlife officer may take and remove from the ship, offshore marine installation or premises any specimen which is not a live bird, other animal or plant, if there are reasonable grounds for believing it is evidence of an offence under these Regulations.

(5) In this regulation—

“sample” means a sample of blood, tissue or other biological material; and

“specimen” means—

(a)

any bird, other animal or plant; or

(b)

any part of, or anything derived from, a bird, other animal or plant.

Powers relating to documents and recording evidence of offences

64.—(1) A wildlife officer may, for the purposes of ascertaining whether an offence has been or is being committed under these Regulations, require any person on board the ship or offshore marine installation, or at the premises, to produce any document in that person’s possession or control, and may take copies of any such document.

(2) A wildlife officer may take and remove any document from the ship, offshore marine installation or premises, if there are reasonable grounds for believing it is evidence of an offence under these Regulations.

(3) Nothing in paragraph (2) permits any document to be taken or removed from a ship, offshore marine installation or premises which is required by law to be carried on the ship or offshore marine installation or to be kept at the premises.

(4) A wildlife officer may use any device for the purpose of taking visual images or sound recordings of anything which the officer believes is evidence of an offence under these Regulations.

Further powers in relation to ships

65.—(1) In order to ascertain whether an offence is being or has been committed under these Regulations by a person on board a ship, a wildlife officer may require the ship to stop and do anything which will facilitate the boarding of the ship.

(2) Where a wildlife officer has reasonable grounds for believing that an offence is being or has been committed under these Regulations by a person on board a ship, the officer may—

(a) require the master, or other person for the time being in charge of the ship, to take it and its crew to the port which appears to the officer to be the nearest convenient port; and

(b) detain the ship in port, or require the master, or other person for the time being in charge of the ship, to do so.

(3) A wildlife officer who detains any ship must serve on the person in charge notice in writing stating that it is to be detained until the notice is withdrawn by service of a further notice in writing signed by a wildlife officer.

Assistance for wildlife officers

66.—(1) A wildlife officer may—

(a) be accompanied by any other person the officer considers necessary; and

(b) bring any equipment or materials the officer considers necessary.

(2) A person assisting a wildlife officer may perform any of that officer’s functions but only under that officer’s supervision.

Power to use reasonable force

67.  A wildlife officer, or a person assisting an officer by virtue of regulation 66, may use reasonable force, if necessary, in the exercise of functions under these Regulations.

Liability of wildlife officers

68.  A wildlife officer, or a person assisting an officer by virtue of regulation 66, is not to be personally liable in any civil or criminal proceedings for anything done in the purported exercise of functions under these Regulations if the court is satisfied that the act was done in good faith and there were reasonable grounds for doing it.

Offences in relation to wildlife officers

69.—(1) A person (“P”) is guilty of an offence if P—

(a) intentionally obstructs a wildlife officer, or a person assisting an officer by virtue of regulation 66, in the exercise of functions under these Regulations;

(b) assaults a wildlife officer, or a person assisting an officer by virtue of regulation 66, in the exercise of functions under these Regulations;

(c) fails without reasonable excuse to comply with a requirement under regulation 62(2), 63(1), 64(1) or 65 reasonably made by a wildlife officer or by a person assisting an officer by virtue of regulation 66;

(d) prevents any other person from complying with any such requirement; or

(e) in purporting to give information requested by a wildlife officer, or by a person assisting an officer by virtue of regulation 66, makes a statement which P knows to be false in a material particular.

(2) A person guilty of an offence under this regulation is liable, either on summary conviction or on conviction on indictment, to a fine.

Supplementary provision relating to criminal offences

Jurisdiction of courts

70.  Proceedings for prosecuting an offence under these Regulations may be taken, and the offence may for all incidental purposes be treated as having been committed, in any part of the United Kingdom.

Possession of means of committing offence

71.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), a person who, for the purpose of committing an offence under Part 3, is in possession of anything capable of being used for committing the offence, is guilty of an offence and punishable in the same manner as for that offence.

(2) An offence under paragraph (1) may only be committed by a person—

(a) in the United Kingdom; or

(b) at a place where, or on a ship or aircraft on which and in a place where, the offence under Part 3 could have been committed.

(3) In this regulation “the United Kingdom” means the United Kingdom (including its internal waters) and the territorial sea adjacent to the United Kingdom.

Offences by bodies corporate etc.

72.—(1) If an offence under these Regulations committed by a body corporate is shown—

(a) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of an officer, or

(b) to be attributable to any neglect on the part of an officer,

the officer as well as the body corporate is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(2) If the affairs of a body corporate are managed by its members, paragraph (1) applies in relation to the acts and defaults of a member in connection with the member’s functions of management as if the member were an officer of the body.

(3) If an offence under these Regulations committed by a Scottish partnership is shown—

(a) to have been committed with the consent or connivance of a partner, or

(b) to be attributable to any neglect on the part of a partner,

the partner as well as the partnership is guilty of the offence and liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.

(4) In this regulation—

(a) “officer”, in relation to a body corporate, means a director, member of the committee of management, chief executive, manager, secretary or other similar officer of the body, or a person purporting to act in any such capacity; and

(b) “partner” includes a person purporting to act as a partner.

Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act 1878

73.  Section 3 of the Territorial Waters Jurisdiction Act 1878(69) (consents to prosecutions of offences committed on the open sea by persons who are not British citizens) does not apply to any proceedings for an offence under these Regulations.

PART 7 MISCELLANEOUS

Research

74.—(1) The Secretary of State must take such steps to encourage research and scientific work relating to the offshore marine area as the Secretary of State considers necessary—

(a) having regard to the objectives in Article 2, and the obligation in Article 11, of the Habitats Directive; and

(b) for the purpose of the protection or management, and in relation to the use, of any population of wild birds.

(2) The Secretary of State must supply to the Commission such information relating to the offshore marine area as the Secretary of State considers appropriate and, in the case of information so supplied for the purposes of the Habitats Directive, must supply that information also to member States, to further the proper co-ordination of research carried out by member States or by the Commission for the purposes of the Habitats Directive or the Wild Birds Directive.

(3) In deciding what steps to take under paragraph (1), the Secretary of State must have particular regard to the need for research and scientific work—

(a) on the subjects listed in Annex V to the Wild Birds Directive; or

(b) which may be required to implement Article 4 of the Habitats Directive.

(4) This regulation applies to—

(a) the Scottish Ministers as it applies to the Secretary of State, but as if, in paragraphs (1) and (2), the reference to the offshore marine area were a reference to the Scottish offshore region; and

(b) the Welsh Ministers as it applies to the Secretary of State, but as if, in paragraphs (1) and (2), the reference to the offshore marine area were a reference to the Welsh offshore region.

(5) Before the Secretary of State takes any steps under this regulation in relation to the Scottish offshore region or the Welsh offshore region under this regulation, the Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers (respectively).

Nature conservation education

75.  The Joint Committee must take such steps as it considers appropriate to promote public awareness of, and to disseminate information on—

(a) the need to protect species of wild flora and fauna found in the offshore marine area; and

(b) the need to conserve the habitats of such flora and fauna and natural habitats found in the offshore marine area.

Re-introduction of species

76.—(1) If the relevant administration considers that re-introducing a species to which this regulation applies into any part of the waters comprised in the offshore marine area might contribute to the conservation of that species, the relevant administration—

(a) must make arrangements for a study to be carried out to consider the desirability of doing so; and

(b) may, if the relevant administration considers it appropriate, carry out or cause to be carried out an investigation in accordance with paragraph (5) for the purpose of ascertaining whether the re-introduction of the species would contribute effectively to re-establishing the species at a favourable conservation status.

(2) Paragraph (3) applies if the study under paragraph (1)(a) concludes that any such re-introduction would be desirable—

(a) in the light of an investigation carried out under paragraph (1)(b); or

(b) where no such investigation has been carried out, subject to such an investigation being carried out and reaching a conclusion in the affirmative.

(3) Where this paragraph applies, and subject to paragraph (4), the relevant administration may make arrangements to re-introduce the species into such waters after—

(a) carrying out such an investigation; and

(b) consulting such persons as the relevant administration considers may have an interest in the re-introduction.

(4) The relevant administration must not proceed with the re-introduction unless the conclusion of the investigation carried out under paragraph (1)(b) is in the affirmative.

(5) Any investigation under paragraph (1)(b) must—

(a) consider whether the species concerned has been re-introduced in the territory of other member States or elsewhere; and

(b) take account of any evidence relating to any such re-introductions which is relevant for the purposes of the investigation.

(6) This regulation applies to such species in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive as are native to the offshore marine area.

(7) Before the Secretary of State exercises any functions under this regulation in relation to the waters comprising the Scottish offshore region or the waters comprising the Welsh offshore region under this regulation, the Secretary of State must consult the Scottish Ministers or the Welsh Ministers, respectively.

(8) In this regulation, “the relevant administration” means—

(a) in relation to the re-introduction of species in any part of the waters comprised in the Scottish offshore region, the Scottish Ministers;

(b) in relation to the re-introduction of species in any part of the waters comprised in the Welsh offshore region, the Welsh Ministers; and

(c) in relation to the re-introduction of species in other any part of the waters comprising the offshore marine area, the Secretary of State.

Advisory role of the Joint Committee

77.—(1) The Joint Committee may—

(a) provide advice and assistance, or make representations, to a competent authority on a nature conservation matter which is connected with the discharge of the competent authority’s functions under these Regulations; and

(b) undertake, commission or support (whether by financial means or otherwise) such research and scientific work as the Joint Committee considers is required for the purposes of providing advice or assistance or making representations under sub-paragraph (a).

(2) In this regulation and regulation 78, “research” includes inquiries and investigations.

Advice on appropriate assessments

78.—(1) Natural England may provide advice and may make representations to a competent authority in relation to—

(a) any question as to whether that authority is obliged to carry out an appropriate assessment upon which it must consult Natural England under these Regulations; and

(b) any appropriate assessment upon which that authority must consult Natural England under these Regulations.

(2) The Natural Resources Body for Wales may provide advice or make representations to a competent authority in relation to—

(a) any question as to whether that authority is obliged to carry out an appropriate assessment upon which it must consult the Natural Resources Body for Wales under these Regulations; and

(b) any appropriate assessment upon which that authority must consult the Natural Resources Body for Wales under these Regulations.

(3) Scottish Natural Heritage may provide advice and may make representations to a competent authority in relation to—

(a) any question as to whether that authority is obliged to carry out an appropriate assessment upon which it must consult Scottish Natural Heritage under these Regulations; and

(b) any appropriate assessment upon which that authority must consult Scottish Natural Heritage under these Regulations.

(4) Natural England, the Natural Resources Body for Wales and Scottish Natural Heritage may each undertake, commission or support (whether by financial means or otherwise) such research and scientific work as they think is required for the purposes of providing advice or making representations under this regulation.

Reports to the Commission

79.—(1) In relation to the offshore marine area, the functions of sending to the Commission—

(a) a report pursuant to Article 16(2) of the Habitats Directive (reports on derogations applied under Article 16(1) of the Habitats Directive), and

(b) a report pursuant to Article 17(1) of the Habitats Directive (reports on the implementation of measures taken under the Habitats Directive),

are functions of the Secretary of State.

(2) A report of the kind mentioned in paragraph (1)(a) must be prepared—

(a) for the period beginning with 1st January 2017 and ending with 31st December 2018; and

(b) for every two-year period thereafter.

(3) A report of the kind mentioned in paragraph (1)(b) must be prepared—

(a) for the period beginning with 1st January 2013 and ending on 31st December 2018; and

(b) for every six-year period thereafter.

(4) The Secretary of State must make such arrangements as the Secretary of State considers appropriate for a copy of any report provided to the Commission under paragraph (1)(b) to be made available for inspection by members of the public.

Form of communications

80.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where—

(a) a person is required to give notice to any person of any matter,

(b) a person may make representations on a matter to any person, or

(c) a request must be submitted to the Secretary of State,

the notice, representations or request (together with any accompanying information or documents) must be in writing.

(2) A notice, representations or a request (and any accompanying information or documents) may be given or sent by means of an electronic communication if the intended recipient consents.

(3) In this regulation and in regulation 81, “electronic communication” has the meaning given in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000(70).

Notices

81.—(1) Any notice required under these Regulations may be given to a person by—

(a) leaving it at that person’s proper address;

(b) sending it by post to that person at that address; or

(c) where an address for receipt by electronic communication has been given by that person, sending it by means of electronic communication to that person at that address.

(2) Any such notice may—

(a) in the case of a body corporate (other than a limited liability partnership) be given to the secretary or clerk of that body;

(b) in the case of a limited liability partnership, be given to a member; and

(c) in the case of a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership), be given to a partner or person having control or management of the partnership business.

(3) For the purpose of this regulation and of section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978(71) (reference to service by post) in its application to this regulation, the proper address of any person to whom any such notice is to be given is the person’s last known address, except that—

(a) in the case of a body corporate (other than a limited liability partnership) or its secretary or clerk, it is the address of the registered or principal office of that body;

(b) in the case of a limited liability partnership or a member of a limited liability partnership, it is the registered or principal office of that partnership; and

(c) in the case of a partnership (other than a limited liability partnership) or person having control of the partnership business, it is the principal office of that partnership.

(4) For the purposes of paragraph (3) the principal office of a company registered outside the United Kingdom or of a partnership carrying on business outside the United Kingdom is its principal office within the United Kingdom.

(5) If a person (“P”) to be given any such notice has specified an address in the United Kingdom other than P’s proper address within the meaning of paragraph (3) as the one at which P or another person on P’s behalf will accept notices of the same description as that notice, that address is also to be treated for the purposes of this regulation and section 7 of the Interpretation Act 1978 as P’s proper address.

(6) Where a notice is given by means of an electronic communication, it is deemed to be given by properly addressing and transmitting the electronic communication.

(7) Where a notice given by means of electronic communication is received by the recipient outside that person’s normal office hours, it will be taken to have been received on the next working day.

(8) In this regulation “working day” means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday or a day which is a bank holiday within the meaning of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(72).

Review

82.—(1) The Secretary of State must from time to time—

(a) carry out a review of these Regulations;

(b) set out the conclusions of the review in a report; and

(c) publish the report.

(2) In carrying out the review the Secretary of State must, so far as is reasonable, have regard to how the Habitats Directive and the Wild Birds Directive are implemented in other member States.

(3) The report must in particular—

(a) set out the objectives intended to be achieved by the regulatory system established by these Regulations;

(b) assess the extent to which those objectives are achieved; and

(c) assess whether those objectives remain appropriate and, if so, the extent to which they could be achieved with a system that imposes less regulation.

(4) The first report under this regulation must be published before the end of the period of five years beginning with the coming into force of these Regulations.

(5) Reports under this regulation are afterwards to be published at intervals not exceeding five years.

Revocations

83.  The following are revoked—

(a) the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007(73);

(b) the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2009(74);

(c) the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2010(75);

(d) the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) (Amendment) Regulations 2012(76).

Consequential amendments

84.  Schedule 4 (amendments to legislation) has effect.

Saving

85.  Notwithstanding the revocation of the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007, regulation 75 (amendments to the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Conservation of Habitats) Regulations 2001(77)) continues to have effect.

Transitional provisions

86.—(1) Any licence granted by a relevant administration before 30th November 2017 under regulation 49(1), (3), (6), (8) or (11) of the 2007 Regulations (power to grant licences) has effect from that date as a licence granted under regulation 55(1), (3), (6), (8) or (11), respectively, of these Regulations (power to grant licences).

(2) Any application for a licence under regulation 49(1), (3), (6), (8) or (11) of the 2007 Regulations (power to grant licences) which is made before 30th November 2017, and which is not withdrawn or determined before that date, is to be treated as an application made under regulation 55(1), (3), (6), (8) or (11), respectively, of these Regulations (power to grant licences).

(3) Any management scheme established by a competent authority under regulation 19 of the 2007 Regulations (management schemes for offshore marine sites) which is in force immediately before 30th November 2017 has effect from that date as if it were a management scheme established by the competent authority in question under regulation 22 (management schemes for European offshore marine sites) of these Regulations.

(4) Any authorisation of a wildlife officer under regulation 52 of the 2007 Regulations (wildlife officers) which is in force immediately before 30th November 2017 has effect from that date as if it were an authorisation granted under regulation 58 of these Regulations (wildlife officers).

(5) In this regulation, the “2007 Regulations” means the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007(78).

Thérèse Coffey

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

30th October 2017