Natural England - England’s European marine sites

England’s European marine sites

The term ‘European marine sites’ is the collective term for Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) that are covered by tidal water and protect some of our most special marine and coastal habitats and species of European importance.

SACs contain animals, plants and habitats that are considered rare, special or threatened within Europe while SPAs protect important bird species.

European marine sites form part of the Marine Protected Area (MPA) network.

England currently has 45 European marine sites. The sites stretch from the Isles of Scilly in the southwest to the Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast in the north east.

The full suite of SACs and SPAs form part of the European-wide Natura 2000 network of internationally important sites.

List of England’s European marine sites

1. Alde, Ore and Butley: 2SAC, 1SPA
2. Benacre to Easton Bavents:  1SPA
3. Benfleet and Southend Marshes:  1SPA
4. Berwickshire and North Northumberland Coast: 1SAC, 1SPA - Management website
5. Braunton Burrows: 1SAC
6. Breydon Water:  1SPA
7. Chesil and the Fleet: 1SAC, 1SPA
8. Coquet Island:  1SPA
9. Deben estuary:  1SPA
10. Dee Estuary/ Aber Dyfrdwy: 1SAC, 1SPA - Regulation 33 advice
11. Drigg Coast: 1SAC
12. Duddon Estuary:  1SPA - Management website
13. Dungeness: SAC, SPA
14. Essex Estuaries: 1SAC, 5SPA - Management website
15. Exe Estuary:  1SPA
16. Fal and Helford: 1SAC
17. Flamborough Head: 1SAC - Management website
18. Hamford Water:  1SPA
19. Great Yarmouth and North Denes:  1SPA
20. Humber Estuary: 1SAC, 1SPA - Management website
21. Isle of Portland to Studland Cliffs: 1SAC
22. Isles of Scilly Complex: 1SAC
23. Lundy: 1SAC - Management website
24. Mersey Estuary:  1SPA - Management website
25. Minsmere-Walberswick heaths and marshes: 1SAC, 1SPA
26. Morecambe Bay: 1SAC, 1SPA - Management website
27. North Norfolk Coast: 1SAC
28. Northumbria Coast:  1SPA
29. Pagham Harbour:  1SPA
30. Plymouth Sound and Estuaries: 1SAC, 1SPA - Management website
31. Poole Harbour:  1SPA
32. Ribble and Alt Estuaries:  1SPA
33. Severn Estuary: SAC, 1SPA - Regulation 33 advice Management website
34. Sidmouth to West Bay: 1SAC
35. Solent and Isle of Wight Lagoons: 1SAC
36. Solent Maritime: 1SAC, 3SPA - Management website
37. Solway Firth: 1SAC 1SPA
38. South Wight Maritime: 1SAC - Management website
39. Stour and Orwell Estuaries:  1SPA - Management website
40. Swale & Medway:  1SPA - Management website
41. Teesmouth and Cleveland Coast:  1SPA
42. Thames Estuary and Marshes:  1SPA - Management website
43. North East Kent (Thanet): 1SAC, 1SPA - Management website
44. The Wash and North Norfolk Coast: 2SAC, 3SPA - Management website
45. Tweed Estuary: 1SAC - Management website

Details refer to the number of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) or Special Protection Areas (SPA) in each European Marine Sites (EMS)

Completing the suite of European marine sites

Some habitats and species of European importance in English waters are currently under-represented in the existing suite of SACs and SPAs. Natural England is working to identify new SACs and SPAs. Further information on these new sites and how we are consulting stakeholders about them can be viewed on the Natura 2000 page.