Water Quality Action Group: 8th October 2003

Date: 08 Oct 2003

Habitats Directive and Water Quality in theThames Estuary
Summary of special event Wednesday 8th October 2003

Attendees
Mike Costaras (Port of London Authority), Paul Hickey (Anglian Water), Brenda Alvares (Southern Water) John Dann (CEFAS), Chris Strachan (Water Vole Project, London Wildlife Trust) Dave Lowthion, Steve Cook, Steve Colclough, Carolyn Francis (Environment Agency), Keith Wilson and Michael Blackburn (London Port Health Authority). From the Thames Estuary Partnership: Kate Baker, Tim Chapple

Welcome

Tim Chapple welcome attendees and explained the TEP's role and activities in managing the Thames estaury.

The following presentations will be made by Environment Agency staff at this special meeting of the Thames Estuary Partnership Water Quality Action Group.

'The Habitats Directive - introduction and obligations' Steve Cook, Principal Officer Strategic Environmental Planning, Southern Region, Environment Agency.

The European Directive on the "Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna", commonly known as "The Habitats Directive", 1992, aims to ensure the long term conservation of biodiversity through the protection of natural habitats and of wild plants and animals, particularly in a network of protected areas across the European Union to be known as "Natura 2000". The Natura 2000 network includes Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) designated under the Habitats Directive and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) classified under the Birds Directive The Habitats Directive was implemented in British law through the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994, building on existing domestic law and imposing a number of duties on a wide range of individuals and organisations whose activities may affect sites designated under the Directive.

The Environment Agency, as the principal statutory regulator of pollution and water management, is required to ensure that the operations it authorises or undertakes do not have an adverse effect on Natura 2000 sites. This includes assessing new authorisations as well as reviewing existing ones to help maintain and improve the condition of the Region's Natura 2000 sites. This duty is facilitated by referring to the site conservation objectives that have been produced by English Nature, contained in Regulation 33 advice.

'Investigations into the impacts of effluent discharges to the north Kent Marshes' Dave Lowthion, Supra-Area Marine Team Leader, Southern Region, Environment Agency.

In the outer Thames three separate SPAs have been identified under the EU Birds Directive comprising the Thames Estuary and Marshes, Medway Estuary and Marshes and The Swale. The scale of environmental emissions in the London area certainly affect these sites to the east and so the Environment Agency is undertaking a range of investigations to establish if such impacts adversely affect the overall structure and functioning of these sites. Existing licenses and permits may be revoked or modified as a consequence of these new obligations.

Steve Colclough from the Environment Agency also gave a brief outline of the rapid ecological recovery of the Thames Estuary over the past 40 years.

Date of next meeting: January, TBA