PART 2 CONSERVATION OF NATURAL HABITATS AND HABITATS OF SPECIES

European offshore marine sites

7A Priorities for designating special areas of conservation
The relevant administration must establish priorities for the designation of sites in the light of—
(a) the importance of the sites for the maintenance or restoration at a favourable conservation status of—
(i) a natural habitat type specified in Annex I to the Habitats Directive; or
(ii) a species specified in Annex II to the Habitats Directive;
(b) the importance of the sites for the coherence of national site network; and
(c) the threats of degradation or destruction to which the sites are exposed.
Reg. 7A inserted (31.12.2020) by The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/579), regs. 1, 36; 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)