Briefing 1: Site integrity and reefs

The briefing explains that under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive, 'site integrity' necessitates achieving a favourable conservation status for both designated Annex I reef habitats and their associated 'typical species'. It advocates for the creation of buffer zones around reefs to prevent accidental damage and support population expansion, citing a case study from Lyme Bay where restricting dredging allowed reef-associated species to expand into adjacent sandy and cobble grounds.

• To avoid adverse effects on 'site integrity' under the Habitats Directive, Member States must ensure that 'typical species' associated with Annex 1 habitats are maintained or restored to a favourable conservation status, meaning management must consider the wider ecological context beyond the designated feature itself.
• Typical species associated with reef habitats include seaweeds, fish, and invertebrates, and can encompass permanent residents as well as species that use the habitat sporadically for breeding, feeding, or as nurseries, such as dolphins, seals, cod, and certain shark species.
• The document recommends prohibiting trawling over reefs and within significant buffer areas to prevent accidental damage and enable the surrounding seabed to recover its natural 'reef-like' assemblage of species.
• A case study of Lyme Bay in southern England demonstrates that stopping dredging and trawling in over 200km2 of rocky and adjacent sand/cobble habitat allowed reef-associated species, including corals and bryozoans, to expand hundreds of metres beyond the rocky pavement reef.

APA

ClientEarth (2017). Briefing 1: Site integrity and reefs. https://www.clientearth.org/media/1z2hmw0l/site-integrity-briefing-series-reefs-coll-en.pdf

Chicago

ClientEarth. Briefing 1: Site integrity and reefs. 2017. https://www.clientearth.org/media/1z2hmw0l/site-integrity-briefing-series-reefs-coll-en.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=ClientEarth |title=Briefing 1: Site integrity and reefs |date=January 2017 |url=https://www.clientearth.org/media/1z2hmw0l/site-integrity-briefing-series-reefs-coll-en.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{clientearth2017briefing, author = {{ClientEarth}}, title = {{Briefing 1: Site integrity and reefs}}, institution = {ClientEarth}, year = {2017}, month = jan, url = {https://www.clientearth.org/media/1z2hmw0l/site-integrity-briefing-series-reefs-coll-en.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }