Introduction

This site provides information on why part of Pembrokeshire is a European Marine Site, what marine life can be found here and how you can become involved in the site's future management.

To see management scheme for the site, the SAC video and other downloads click here

The origins of Special Areas of Conservation

The 1992 Rio Earth Summit put biodiversity firmly on the global political agenda. Closer to home the European Communities produced the Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora). The main aim of the Habitats Directive is to help to conserve the diversity of habitats and species across the European Union. This it aims to deliver through the designation of Special Areas of Conservation (SAC's).

Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation

Possible Special Area of Conservation sites were identified, followed by public consultation, in March 1995. The Pembrokeshire Islands possible SAC was submitted by the UK Government to the European Commission as a candidate SAC in October 1997. The site was designated in December 2004.

NOTE: The Pembrokeshire Islands SAC was renamed during the moderation process in 2000 as the Pembrokeshire Marine SAC.