Site Overview
The site is a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) first designated in 2000.
The Berwickshire and North Northumberland coast is one of the most biologically diverse marine areas in Europe. It is designated for a range of intertidal and subtidal habitats and for its internationally significant populations of grey seals.
Grey Seal at the Farnes (Photo: Paula Lightfoot)
Download an infographic about this MPA here
Boundary Map and available GIS data
The boundary map for this site can be downloaded from HERE
Boundary maps of all English marine protected areas can be downloaded as Shapefiles at this link This download includes the Scottish section of the Berwickshire and Northumberland Coast SAC
Additional spatial data
The following spatial datasets may also be relevant to this site:
- Large Shallow Inlets and Bays (1160) Special Areas of Conservation Marine Complex features Polygons (England)
- SAC Mudflats and sandflats not covered by seawater at low tide (H1140) (England)
- SAC Reefs (H1170) (England)
- SAC Submerged or partially submerged seacaves (H8330) (England)
- Map of Grey Seal breeding habitat on the Farne Islands (PDF map)
- Location of interest features within the Berwickshire and North Northumberland SAC (PDF map)
- SEPA water classification data
- EA Catchment Data Explorer
Additional spatial information, including the location of marine priority habitats, can be viewed and downloaded at the MAGIC website
Download an infographic about this MPA HERE
Conservation Objectives
The conservation objectives for the sites are:
Ensure that the integrity of the site is maintained or restored as appropriate, and ensure that the site contributes to achieving the Favourable Conservation Status of its Qualifying Features, by maintaining or restoring:
- The extent and distribution of qualifying natural habitats and habitats of qualifying species
- The structure and function (including typical species) of qualifying natural habitats
- The structure and function of the habitats of qualifying species
- The supporting processes on which qualifying natural habitats and the habitats of qualifying species rely
- The populations of qualifying species
- The distribution of qualifying species within the site
Draft conservation advice has been published by Natural England and SNH and should be referred to. This gives guidance on how to further the conservation objectives for the site, identifies the activities that are capable of affecting the qualifying features and the processes which the qualifying features are dependent upon.
The draft conservation advice can be viewed HERE
Natural England and SNH have also produced Supplementary Guidance on the Conservation Objectives for site which aim to describe the range of ecological attributes that are most likely to contribute to a site’s overall integrity.
Organisations with responsibility for MPA
● NatureScot
● Natural England
● Marine Scotland
● Marine Management Organisation
● Environment Agency
● Scottish Environment Protection Agency
● Northumberland Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authority
● River Tweed Commission
● Northumberland County Council
● Scottish Borders Council
● North Tyneside Council
● St Abbs Harbour Trust
● Eyemouth Harbour Trust
● Berwick Harbour Commission
● North Sunderland Harbour Commission
● Warkworth Harbour Commission
● Blyth Harbour Commission
● Maritime and Coastguard Agency
● Northern Lighthouse Board
● Trinity House
● Historic England
● Northumbrian Water Ltd.
● Ministry of Defence
● National Trust
● Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
● National Trust for Scotland