Sea Fisheries in Natura Areas
Article 6.2 of the EU Habitats Directive requires that member states take appropriate steps to avoid deterioration of natural habitats as well as disturbance of the species for which the areas have been designated (Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protected Areas which are commonly known as Natura 2000 sites)
Article 6.3 of the EU Habitats Directive requires that any plan or project (in combination with any other activity) likely to have a significant impact on a Natura 2000 site shall be subjected to Appropriate Assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site’s conservation objectives.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is responsible for ensuring sea-fishing activities are conducted in a manner that avoids the deterioration of designated features of Natura 2000 sites and the significant disturbance of protected species within those sites.
These pages provide information on the assessment and management of the sea-fisheries in Natura 2000 sites.