Species Conservation & Marine Team
The Species Conservation and Marine Team's role is to implement the wildlife protection provisions of relevant European Union Directives, plus other relevant international agreements and conventions, by means of domestic legislation for the protection of species.
The team provides policy advice on species conservation issues ensuring that endangered species are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation (Natural Habitats and c.) Regulations 1994. The 1981 Act and the 1994 Regulations implement two European Union Directives in Great Britain, the Wild Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive respectively. The team seeks a wide consensus of conservation, hunting, farming and landowning interests on issues relating to the conservation of all species. In doing so, they take advice from the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and from Natural England . The team also attempts to ensure a co-ordinated and improved approach to marine conservation in both inshore and offshore waters. In addition, it acts as a focal point for implementation of the cetacean and turtle species action plans. Copies of these plans can be found at: www.ukbap.org.uk
The team also gives policy advice on International and European species conservation agreements, including:
- ASCOBANS (Agreement on the Conservation of Small Cetaceans of the Baltic and North Seas) which aims to protect small whales, dolphins and porpoises who are threatened by marine pollution, accidental entanglement in fishing gear and human disturbance. You will find their website at: www.ascobans.org/
- EUROBATS (Agreement on the Conservation of Bats in Europe) which aims to protect all species of bats identified in Europe, through legislation, education, conservation measures and international co-operation. You will find their website at: www.eurobats.org/
- ANNEX V of OSPAR (Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North East Atlantic) which requires Contracting Parties to take measures to protect and conserve ecosystems and biodiversity, and to restore (where practicable) adversely affected areas. It also requires the OSPAR Commission (in cooperation with Contracting Parties) to adopt programmes and measures to control human activities that can have an adverse impact on the marine environment. The OSPAR Convention website can be found at www.ospar.org/
The team also has lead responsibility for the Government's response to the Marine Wildlife Conservation Bill, a private Member's Bill proposed by John Randall MP. The Bill provides for the identification and designation of nationally important marine sites in English and Welsh territorial waters which do not qualify for designation under the European Union's Habitats and Birds Directives. It is currently being considered by the House of Lords. A copy of the Bill can be found on the Stationery Office's website at: www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld200102/ldbills/066/2002066.pdf
The team is responsible for policy issues relating to non-native species,
a review of which has been completed and the working
group report is available, and runs the control programme of North
American ruddy duck, as a part of its policy to save the white-headed
duck from extinction. The general licence for
the ruddy duck 
(25kb) is valid from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2004.
The team includes a licensing section who are responsible for processing of applications to derogate from the provisions of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and the Conservation (Natural Habitats and c.) Regulations 1994. The licensing team are responsible for licensing in England.
For advice on wildlife in England, the relevant legal considerations, and guidance on how to apply for licences under wildlife legislation please access the Natural England website
Defra's Wildlife Management branch and our statutory scientific advisers, English Nature, are also licensing authorities for certain purposes. Wildlife licensing in other areas of the United Kingdom has been devolved and is the responsibility of the devolved administrations. Further licensing information is available on our Wildlife Management pages.
The team is currently leading the Review of Marine Nature Conservation. The aim of the Review is to: evaluate the success of previous statutory and voluntary marine nature conservation measures and identify examples of current best practice and existing barriers to successful marine conservation objectives; and, put forward practical and proportionate proposals for improving marine nature conservation. To find out more information about the Review of marine nature conservation and the Irish Sea Pilot, please see our review of marine nature conservation pages.
The team are also in the process of consulting upon draft Regulations to extend the application of the Habitats and Birds Directive beyond 12 nautical miles. In 1999, the UK Courts ruled that the UK should apply the Habitats Directive out to the limits of all waters over which the UK exercised sovereign rights (i.e. to 200 nautical miles). This consultation period is 6 August 2003 to 29 October 2003.
Species Conservation and Marine Team
Tel: 0117 372 8903
Email: species@defra.gov.uk
Contact address:
Wildlife habitats & biodiversity
DEFRA
Zone 1/08a
Temple Quay House
2 The Square
Temple Quay
Bristol BS1 6EB
Page last modified: 11 June 2008
Page published: 11 August 2000