Who are ASERA (Association of Severn Estuary Relevant Authorities)?
ASERA (the Association of Severn Estuary Relevant Authorities) are the statutory organisations (Relevant Authorities) around the Severn Estuary that came together to collectively manage their activities on the Severn Estuary European Marine Site. In addition to general management and regulatory functions, many relevant authorities are also competent authorities and have statutory functions to make decisions on applications for consents, authorisations, licences and permits as governed by statute for European sites.
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ASERA Members
ABOUT ASERA (Association of Severn Estuary Relevant Authorities)
The Severn Estuary has two European site designations: a Special Protection Area and also a Special Conservation Area. Competent and Relevant authorities have a statutory duty to ensure that they carry out their functions to comply with the Habitats Regulations. One of the duties of relevant authorities for the Severn Estuary is to prepare a management scheme for the SPA and SAC European marine sites. Due to the large size and complexity of the Severn Estuary European marine sites, the relevant authorities recognised that a co-ordinated inter-agency approach would be the most practical and economic method of producing a management scheme. In line with Government guidance, the relevant authorities on the Severn formed the Association of Severn Estuary Relevant Authorities (ASERA) to produce a scheme for the management of the sites.
What is being done for the management of the site?
In September 2004 ASERA launched the management scheme for the Severn Estuary SPA European Marine Site. All ASERA member statutory organisations annually review their activities and the potential for them to impact on the designated birds and habitats of the estuary. They work collectively and with user groups to raise awareness of the nature conservation designations, and how users can help minimise their impact on the birds and habitats. The Severn Estuary was confirmed as a SAC in December 2009. CCW and NE have produced Conservation Objectives for the Severn Estuary SPA, the SAC and also the Ramsar site. It should be noted that the Ramsar site is an international not an EU site, but under English and Welsh policy is that it must be treated as an EU site. ASERA have agreed to update the existing management plan for the SPA to include these two additional designations.
Who should I contact for more information?
If you want to find out more about the Severn Estuary European Marine Site, have a look around this website. Alternatively contact the ASERA Officer, based at the Severn Estuary Partnership Office.
