Although the Marine Reserve is voluntary and has no legal protection, its value is enhanced by the fact that it lies within several other nature conservation designations. The largest of these is the Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast European Marine Site (EMS).
The EMS was designated in 2000 for its internationally important examples of marine habitats and species, and comprises two separate European designations that are managed as one. The first designation is the Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which was designated under the 1992 EC Habitats Directive for its outstanding examples of rocky reefs, sea caves, intertidal sand and mud, large inlets and bays and an important breeding colony of grey seal. The SAC stretches along 115km of coastline from Alnmouth in Northumberland, up to Fast Castle Head in Berwickshire, encompassing 635 square kilometers of shore and sea including Holy Island, the Farne Islands and the St Abbs & Eyemouth Voluntary Marine Reserve. The second designation is the Lindisfarne Special Protection Area (SPA) which wasdesignated under the 1979 EC Birds Directive for supporting internationally important populations of birds and waterfowl. The SPA covers Holy Island and its surrounding intertidal habitat including areas that are protected under the SAC. Although the abundance of marine life living within the intertidal rocky reefs, sands and muds is important in its own right, it also provides a rich food source for visiting birds and there are very close ecological relationships between the two designations.
The Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast is a very popular place to work, live and visit and lots of activities take place within this very large site. It is the aim of those involved in managing the EMS to ensure that activities are sustainable and avoid damage to the special features.
To learn more about the Berwickshire & North Northumberland Coast European Marine Site, its special features, as well as how the site is managed, please visit the website.
