HRA Assessment for the remaining Marine Plans

Tender description

The aim of this project is to undertake the Likely Significant Effect Screening phase and Appropriate Assessment Information Review (AAIR) to inform the Habitat Regulations Assessment (HRA) for the developing North West (inshore and offshore), South West (inshore and offshore), North East (inshore and offshore), and South East (inshore) Marine Plans (herein ‘current plans’). The HRA Screening process follows on from the initial Pre-Screening Review for the current plans and will screen in more detail the designated European (Natura 2000) and Ramsar sites that need to be assessed for potential likely significant effects (LSE). The output of this process will be a final list of European and Ramsar sites and the marine plan policies for which there may be a LSE that can be used to complete the AAIR. The draft methodology for this screening and appropriate assessment project is laid out in Part 4 of the Pre-Screening Review Report. The HRA Screening Report and AAIR will facilitate future digital online delivery of content via a searchable and filterable database. The outputs will sit alongside the sustainability appraisal (SA) process for the respective marine plans. The HRA Screening Report and AAIR should be developed in consultation with the MMO and relevant advisors including Natural England (for European sites in England or English territorial waters), Joint Nature Conservation Committee (for European offshore marine sites), Scottish Natural Heritage (for Scotland), Natural Resources Wales (for Wales) and The Department of the Environment, Northern Ireland (for Northern Ireland). Consultation should be undertaken with appropriate member states for transboundary sites.