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10 September 2010  
   
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Action plan details - Northern Ireland Action Plans

  

Mud Habitats in Deep Water
Plan status: Implementation underway

Vision statement
The largest area of mud deposits in Northern Ireland lies off the east coast and extends across a wide expanse between the Isle of Man and the Irish coast.

Targets
Code Text Status Assessment date Latest progress report  
4.1 Where appropriate, maintain the extent of mud habitats in deep water and associated animal communities. No report No report No report More >
4.2 Maintain representative examples of mud habitats in deep water and their associated animal communities which exhibit minimal anthropogenic influences. No report No report No report More >
4.3 Where appropriate, enhance the extent and condition of nationally important mud habitats in deep water in Northern Ireland. 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 deep mud habitats. 01/03/2005 - ongoing Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.1.2 Assist fisheries ministers in pressing for greater account to be taken of marine biodiversity within the Common Fisheries Policy. 01/03/2005 - ongoing Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.1.3 Ensure that the importance of deep mud habitats is identified and, where appropriate, site protection policies are included in appropriate 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 >
5.1.4 Continue to explore and maximise appropriate options for using statutory measures, additional to those specifically designed for nature conservation, to protect deep mud habitats. 01/03/2005 - ongoing Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.1.5 By 2009, ensure that deep mud habitats are properly recognised within River Basin Management Plans as required by the Water Framework Directive. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2009 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.1 By 2006 carry out and publish an up to date record of the extent, quality and distribution of deep mud habitats in Northern Ireland. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.2.2 By 2006, identify deep mud habitats that have been damaged or degraded and likely contributing factors. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.2.3 Identify by 2006 nationally important areas of mud habitats in deep water and the associated communities within Northern Ireland waters. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.2.4 By 2007, where feasible, initiate remedial action to restore damaged or degraded deep mud habitats to favourable condition. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2007 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.2.5 By 2006, determine the extent and quality of the deep mud habitats resource which falls within protected areas and commence action to notify further sites, if required. In particular, seek to secure adequate representation of the full range of variation in deep mud habitats communities found around Northern Ireland. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.6 By 2006, ensure that appropriate conservation requirements for deep mud habitats are included in the development and implementation of coastal zone management plans and ensure that they are not managed in isolation from other habitats and communities in these areas. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.2.7 By 2006, define water quality objectives for coastal and estuarine waters that meet the requirements of healthy deep mud habitats communities. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.8 By 2006, implement measures to provide appropriate action to protect mud habitats in deep waters through the network of cSACs where such habitats are included within the site as an interest feature. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.2.9 In conjunction with key stakeholders continue to encourage the development and use of viable harvesting methods for Nephrops and other species which contribute to the targets in this plan 01/03/2005 - ongoing Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.3.1 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 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.3.2 By 2005, develop specific guidance to yachting and mooring associations on best practice to avoid damage to high quality and sensitive mud biotopes, and other Northern Ireland biodiversity interests, in deep water such as seapen beds. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2005 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.3.3 By 2005, develop guidance to sectoral managers and fishery managers concerning the importance of deep mud habitats and their ecological requirements. This should form part of an integrated guidance and training programme to relevant regulators concerning the ecological requirements of Northern Ireland biodiversity interests. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2005 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.3.4 By 2005, provide detailed advice and information to planners, oil regulators, fisheries managers and policy-makers on the sensitivity, conservation importance and ecological requirements of mud biotopes in deep water. Particular attention should be drawn to identified sites of national importance in order to raise awareness and promote their protection . 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2005 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 2006, carry out research into the factors, both natural and anthropogenic, which adversely affect deep mud habitats to understand how these may be avoided or minimised. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.5.2 By 2006, carry out research into the “natural” variability of deep mud habitats in space and time so that monitoring parameters/standards can be set. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.5.3 By 2006 carry out research into the historical variation in extent, condition and distribution of deep water mud habitats in Northern Ireland. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.5.4 By 2006 review the network of deep mud habitats monitoring stations to provide a Northern Ireland contribution to the National Marine Monitoring Plan. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.5.5 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 Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.5.6 By 2007, following completion of 5.5.1, review the HAP, identify new actions where appropriate and prioritise existing ones. 01/03/2005 - ongoing Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (Northern Ireland),
Northern Ireland Environment Agency		 Not started More >
5.5.7 By 2006, set in place a reporting and monitoring structure to encourage progress towards the delivery of the targets and the completion of actions identified in this plan. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >
5.6.1 Promote awareness among coastal users of the conservation importance of deep mud habitats 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 deep mud habitats in Northern Ireland. 01/03/2005 - 31/12/2006 Northern Ireland Environment Agency Not started More >


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