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MCZ Project Advice Protocols

To promote openness and transparency, we invited comment on the draft protocols that set out the standards against which we will produce our advice. The recent independent review of candidate Special Areas of Conservation (cSAC) recommended that for evidence based processes protocols should be developed and shared.

We received comments from the Defra commissioned Independent Expert Review Group and a variety of stakeholders. The comments have been welcomed and have now been considered by Natural England and JNCC. The final versions of the protocols are available to view along with details of the comments and how they have been taken into account. These protocols are now being used by Natural England and JNCC in the production of the MCZ advice package, due to be delivered to Defra in July 2012.

A. Strategic protocol: (299kb) – the principles underpinning our statutory nature conservation body on Marine Conservation Zone designation. Analysis of comments: (128kb)

B. Quality control, assurance and peer review: (229kb). Analysis of comments (available to view soon)

E. Assessing the scientific confidence in the presence and extent of features recommended Marine Conservation Zones: (839kb). Analysis of comments: (295kb)

F. Assessment of the scientific certainty of conservation objectives: (559kb). Analysis of comments: (223kb)

G. Assessing Marine Conservation Zones most at risk. Analysis of comments (available to view soon)

H. Assessing the contribution of existing sites to the network: (313kb). Analysis of comments: (144kb)

An additional two protocols covering the following areas have not been shared due to their non-technical nature:

C. Document style and language: (331kb)

D. Audit trail: (205kb) – version control and record keeping

If you have any questions regarding the protocols please send them to mczproject@jncc.gov.uk.

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