PART 2CONSERVATION OF NATURAL HABITATS AND HABITATS OF SPECIES
European offshore marine sites
Classification of sites as special protection areas12
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.
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In applying the criteria referred to in sub-paragraphs (3)(a) and (b), references in Articles 4(1) and (4(2) of the Wild Birds Directive to classifying the most suitable territories “in the geographical sea and land area where this Directive applies” are to be construed as referring to the most suitable sites in the offshore marine area, having regard to the importance of such territories for ensuring the survival and reproduction of that species in their area of distribution.
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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).