12.—(1) The Secretary of State must classify as special protection areas such sites in the offshore marine area as he considers necessary to ensure that the objective specified in paragraph (2) is attained.
(2) The objective referred to in paragraph (1) 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.
(3) The Secretary of State must make his 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), 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 Article 4(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.