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JNCC clarifications on the habitat definition of the English MCZ Feature of Conservation Importance ‘Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities’ 2025

Abstract

This document has been prepared as updated advice to the 2014 Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) clarifications on the definition of the habitat Feature of Conservation Importance (FOCI) ‘sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities’ (JNCC 2014). Since 2014, monitoring of this habitat has improved available evidence and understanding of the biological communities that make up this habitat FOCI.

Marine Conservation Zones (MCZs) are a type of Marine Protected Area (MPA) which protect nationally important and unique marine habitats and species in England, Northern Ireland and Wales. The original list of MCZ FOCI was developed in 2010 and outlined in the Ecological Network Guidance (Natural England & JNCC 2010).

The list of MCZ FOCI was reviewed in 2016 after several legislative and policy changes. While the ‘sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities’ FOCI remains, our understanding of the habitat continues to evolve as more evidence is collected, and this updated clarification on the habitat definition has therefore been produced.

This resource may not be fully accessible for all users. If you need a copy in a different or more accessible format, please contact Communications@jncc.gov.uk.

Resource type Publication

Topic category Environment

Reference date 2025·11·01

Citation
JNCC. 2025. JNCC clarifications on the habitat definition of the English MCZ Feature of Conservation Importance ‘Sea-pen and burrowing megafauna communities’. JNCC, Peterborough.

Lineage
This resource provides...

Responsible organisation
Communications, JNCC author

Limitations on public access No limitations

Use constraints Available under the Open Government Licence 3.0

Metadata date 2026·04·20

Metadata point of contact
Communications, JNCC

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