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10 September 2010  
   
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Action plan details - Northern Ireland Action Plans

  

Littoral and Sublittoral Chalk
Plan status: Implementation underway

Vision statement
The Northern Ireland Littoral Survey (NILS) recorded the littoral communities present on chalk around Northern Ireland. NILS concluded that Ulster White Limestone is present mainly along the north Antrim coast and Rathlin Island, with occasional outcrops on the east Antrim coast.

Targets
Code Text Status Assessment date Latest progress report  
4.1 Where appropriate, maintain the extent of littoral and sublittoral chalk habitats and associated plant and animal communities in Northern Ireland. No report No report No report More >
4.2 Where appropriate, maintain the condition of littoral and sublittoral chalk habitats and associated plant and animal communities in Northern Ireland. No report No report No report More >
4.3 Improve the condition of as much of the resource as practical by 2020. No report No report No report More >

Actions
Code Text Start/End date Contacts
(lead shown bold)		 Status  
5.1.1 Ensure that policy and legislation governing the use of the marine environment take appropriate accounts of affect on the favourable condition and conservation interest of littoral and sublittoral chalk habitats. 01/03/2005 - ongoing Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.1.10 By 2007, establish a Northern Ireland cross-sectoral steering group, to take forward the requirements of coastal habitat action plans. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2007 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.1.2 Ensure that the importance of littoral and sublittoral chalk habitats is recognised and, where appropriate, included in Development Plans and other strategies including Local Biodiversity Action Plans (LBAPs). 01/03/2005 - ongoing Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.1.3 By 2006, review Planning Policy Statement 2 (PPS2) – Planning and Nature Conservation, to include policies relating to the conservation of priority habitat and species. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.1.4 By 2005, produce a Planning Policy Statement (PPS) on the coast to manage coastal development in a sustainable manner and protect the natural character and landscape of the coast. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2005 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.1.5 By 2007, consider the use of Shoreline Management Plans in the delivery of this plan. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2007 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.1.6 Continue to explore and maximise appropriate options for using statutory measures, additional to those specifically designed for nature conservation, to protect littoral and sublittoral chalk habitats. 01/03/2005 - ongoing Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.1.7 Ensure that littoral and sublittoral chalk habitats are properly recognised within River Basin Management Plans by 2009 as required by the Water Framework Directive. 01/03/2005 - ongoing Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.1.9 By 2006, prepare an Integrated Coastal Zone Management Strategy for Northern Ireland. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.1 By 2010, carry out and publish an up to date record of the extent, quality and distribution of littoral and sublittoral chalk in Northern Ireland. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2010 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.10 By 2007, consider whether the restriction of fisheries activities around sensitive chalk habitats, especially around Rathlin Island, to prevent the degradation of the fragile and rare sponge communities is appropriate. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2007 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland) Not started More >
5.2.2 By 2006, review available data relating to littoral and sublittoral chalk sites identified previously, and attempt to identify natural change and/or sites that may have been damaged or degraded. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.3 By 2010, where feasible, initiate remedial action to restore damaged or degraded littoral and sublittoral chalk to favourable condition. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2010 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.4 By 2006, determine the extent and quality of the littoral and sublittoral chalk resource which falls within protected areas and notify further sites, if required, to fill significant gaps. In particular, ensure that there is adequate representation of the full range of variation in the types of communities found around Northern Ireland. (ACTION: EHS) 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.5 By 2010, ensure littoral and sublittoral chalk in designated sites are subject to site specific management and protection, including designated Research areas, which will ensure conditions for survival and persistence. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2010 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.6 By 2006, ensure appropriate guidance and training is developed and provided to DOE Planning Service in relation to Northern Ireland priority species and habitats to ensure that infrastructure and coastal development plans which may have an impact are effectively brought to the attention of EHS. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.7 By 2006, encourage a presumption against littoral stabilisation works except where human lives, or important natural or man-made assets are at risk. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.8 By 2006, consider non-replacement of coastal cliff defences which have come to the end of their useful life. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.2.9 By 2007, establish, with partners non-statutory initiatives to conserve nationally and Action plan process / Links to other plansly important examples of littoral and sublittoral chalk habitats in North Antrim and Rathlin. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2007 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.3.1 By 2006, publish guidelines on the selection and designation of intertidal ASSIs for their marine biological importance. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.3.2 By 2005, provide advice to key interests involved in the development of the marine environment, on minimising impacts of plans and operations on deep mud habitats. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2005 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.4.1 Further develop links with the Republic of Ireland and other European and Action plan process / Links to other plans organisations and programmes involved in developing the marine environment and promote the awareness of, and exchange of data and information relating to experience gained in research, management techniques, education and conservation strategies for the conservation of deep mud habitats. 01/03/2005 - ongoing Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.5.1 By 2007, commission research to identify coastal defence strategies that incorporate habitat conservation interests. The research should also identify locations where littoral stabilisation works may no longer be necessary in the future. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2007 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.5.2 By 2006, implement a surveying and monitoring programme to provide data on any future changes in extent and quality of littoral and sublittoral chalk resources in Northern Ireland. This will enable progress towards the objectives of this plan to be assessed. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.5.3 By2008, develop and implement monitoring programmes for littoral and sublittoral chalk habitats in line with the statutory reporting requirements for ASSI and SAC management schemes. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2008 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.5.4 By 2007, carry out research into the factors, both natural and anthropogenic, which adversely affect littoral and sublittoral chalk to understand how these may be avoided or minimised. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2007 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.5.5 By 2006, carry out research into the historical variation in extent and distribution of littoral and sublittoral chalk in Northern Ireland. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.5.6 By 2010, carry out research into the “natural” variability of littoral and sublittoral chalk in space and time so that monitoring parameters/standards can be set. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2010 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.5.7 Ensure that all relevant information gathered in surveys is passed to the Centre for Environmental Data and Recording (CEDaR) based at the Ulster Museum and to other relevant centres. Encourage access to, and exchange of these records, by contributing to the National Biodiversity Network www-based catalogue of environmental information. 01/03/2005 - ongoing Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.5.8 By 2007, carry out research into the unique sublittoral chalk communities around Rathlin Island to increase knowledge of the extent and ecology of these habitats, with particular focus on the rare sponge species. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2007 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.6.1 Promote awareness among coastal users of the conservation importance of littoral and sublittoral chalk and how to avoid impact on these habitats. 01/03/2005 - ongoing Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.6.2 By 2006, implement at appropriate venues, such as the Ulster Museum, the Exploris Aquarium and coastal EHS Countryside Centres, 'flagship' programmes for achieving education, increased public awareness and appreciation of priority species and habitats, including littoral and sublittoral chalk in Northern Ireland. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.6.3 By 2006, develop and implement an awareness-raising programme aimed at coastal users highlighting the conservation importance of littoral and sublittoral chalk and how to avoid impact on the reefs. This could include production of codes of conduct and advice to the key impact sectors, regular contact between EHS/local authority ranger staff with users. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.6.4 By 2007, prepare and publish a pamphlet for the general public describing the biodiversity of littoral and sublittoral chalk habitats and of the importance of allowing natural coastal processes such as erosion. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2007 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >


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