Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC)
JNCC is the statutory adviser to Government on UK and
international nature conservation. Its work contributes to
maintaining and enriching biological diversity, conserving
geological features and sustaining natural systems. JNCC delivers
the UK and international responsibilities of the four country
nature conservation agencies - Council for Nature
Conservation and the Countryside, the Countryside Council for
Wales, Natural England and Scottish Natural
Heritage.
Photos from offshore SACs
The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) welcomes the
announcement in the Queen’s Speech that the Marine and Coastal
Access Bill is in the legislative programme for the next session of
Parliament.
JNCC considers the Bill to be a very significant legislative
opportunity to improve the protection of the UK’ s marine
environment. For JNCC, a particularly important aspect is that the
proposed Act will apply to the whole of the UK’s offshore waters,
including areas of continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles from
the coast. Further information on Marine Protected Sites.
Prolonged periods of cold weather are stressful for
over-wintering waterbirds, reducing feeding opportunities and
increasing energy demands. At such times, normally benign levels of
disturbance can be detrimental. For these reasons shooting
organisations co-operate with statutory and voluntary conservation
organisations to minimise disturbance. JNCC operates a national
alerting system that identifies severe weather periods and allows
temporary cessation of shooting and other disturbances.