The Shellfish Waters Directive was subsumed into the Water Framework Directive (2000/60/EC) in December 2013. Since then all shellfish waters are protected under the Water Framework Directive (WFD) and are hereafter referred to as Shellfish Water Protected Areas. Shellfish Water Protected Areas are afforded the same level of protection under WFD as they were under the Shellfish Waters Directive. The Department will continue to work to deliver effective management of Shellfish Water Protected Areas through the UK’s post Brexit Marine Strategy.
Pollution Reduction Programmes (now Shellfish Action Plans) were established under Article 5 of the Shellfish Waters Directive (2006/113/EC) which stated that all Member States should establish programmes in order to reduce pollution in designated shellfish waters. Shellfish Action Plans will next be reviewed on a priority basis starting in 2021 which is in line with the third River Basin Cycle under the Water Framework Directive.
Strangford Lough (Skate Rock, Marlfield bay & Paddy’s Point/Reagh Bay)