Benfleet and Southend Marshes Conservation Objectives

The conservation objectives for the site are detailed in the Regulation 33 advice for the Benfleet and Southend Marshes Marine Site published in 2001. The conservation objectives for the nationally and internationally important populations of the regularly occurring migratory species are:

Subject to natural change, maintain in favourable condition the habitats for the internationally important populations of regularly occurring migratory species, under the Birds Directive, in particular:

Shell banks;
Saltmarsh;
Intertidal Sandflat and Mudflat communities; and
Eelgrass beds

And;

Subject to natural change, maintain in favourable condition the habitats for the internationally important assemblages of waterfowl, under the Birds Directive, in particular:

Shell banks;
Saltmarsh;
Intertidal Sandflat and Mudflat communities; and
Eelgrass beds

Numbers of bird species using these habitats within the Benfleet and Southend Marshes SPA are given below (average peak counts for the five year period 1986/87 to 1990/91). It should be noted that the SPA conservation objectives focus on habitat condition (rather than bird numbers) in recognition of the fact that bird populations may change as a reflection of national or international trends or events. However, annual counts for qualifying species will be used by Natural England, in the context of five year peak means, together with available information on UK population and distribution trends, to assess whether the SPA is continuing to make an appropriate contribution to the favourable conservation status of the SPAs across Europe.

Internationally important populations of regularly occurring migratory species
Species	Population (5yr Peak mean)
Dark-bellied brent goose	7,200l birds (4 % of World population)
Knot	8,400 birds (2% of East Atlantic flyway)
Grey Plover	2,500,birds (1% of East flyway)
Nationally important populations of regularly occurring migratory species
Importance	Population (5yr Peak mean)
Benfleet and Southend Marshes supports large populations of wintering waterfowl	30,400 individual birds.
Nationally important populations of regularly occurring migratory species within the internationally important assemblage of waterfowl
Ringed Plover	430 birds (2% of British Population)
Dunlin	11,100 birds (31 % of British population)

The Regulation 33 advice provides favourable condition tables for the Benfleet and Southend Marshes European Marine Sites. The relevant favourable condition targets for the Benfleet and Southend Marshes SPA are shown below.

Favourable Condition Tables for the Benfleet and Southend Marshes European Marine Site

Feature	Sub-Feature	Attribute	Measure	Target	Comments
Internationally important assemblages of waterfowl and internationally and nationally important populations of regularly occurring migratory species.	All sub-features	Disturbance	Reduction or displacement of wintering birds	No significant reduction in numbers or displacement of wintering birds attributed to disturbance from an established baseline, subject to natural change.	Significant disturbance attributable to human activities can result in reduced food intake and/or increased energy expenditure. Five year peak mean information on populations will be used as the basis for assessing whether disturbance is damaging
	All sub-features	Absence of obstruction to view lines.	Openness of terrain unrestricted by obstructions	No increase in obstructions to existing views lines, subject to natural change.	Waders require over >200 m and dark-bellied brent geese require unrestricted views over >500 m to allow early detection of predators when feeding and roosting.
	Shell Banks	Extent	Area (ha), measured once per reporting cycle	No decrease in extent from an established baseline, subject to natural change.	Shell banks are important roosting areas.
	Intertidal mudflat and sandflat communities	Extent	Area (ha), measured once per reporting cycle	No decrease in extent of intertidal sediment from an established baseline, subject to natural change.	Intertidal sediments and their communities provide important feeding areas for the migratory species of birds
Internationally important assemblage of waterfowl and internationally and nationally important populations of regularly occurring migratory species	Intertidal mudflat and sandflat communities	Food availability	Presence and abundance of invertebrates measured periodically (frequency to be determined).	Presence and abundance of prey species should not deviate from an established baseline, subject to natural change	These species are important food supply for birds. This food source is also important for a nationally important breeding population of ringed plover. For specialist feeders it may be necessary to record to species level for important prey items. Food availability will be affected by freezing conditions.
	Intertidal mudflat and sandflat communities	Food availability	Presence and abundance of green algae	Presence and abundance of prey species should not deviate from an established baseline, subject to natural change.	Enteromorpha is important for dark-bellied brent geese.
	Saltmarsh	Extent	Area (ha) measured once per reporting cycle.	No decrease in extent of Atlantic salt meadows from an established baseline, subject to natural change.	Important roosting and feeding areas.
	Saltmarsh	Food availability	Presence and abundance of soft-leaved and seed-bearing plants.	Presence and abundance of food species should not deviate from an established baseline, subject to natural change.	Important for feeding bark-bellied brent geese
Internationally important assemblage of waterfowl and internationally and nationally important populations of regularly occurring migratory species	Saltmarsh	Vegetation characteristics	Short vegetation predominating (roosting)	Vegetation height throughout areas used for roosting should not deviate significantly from an established baseline, subject to natural change.	Vegetation of <10 cm is required throughout area used by roosting waders
	Eel grass bed communities	Extent	Area (ha) ,measured once per reporting cycle	No decrease in extent and distribution of Zostera from an established baseline, subject to natural change.	Eelgrass beds are an important feeding area for dark-bellied brent geese.
	Eel grass bed communities	Food availability	Presence and abundance of eelgrass.	Presence and abundance of food species should not deviate from an established baseline, subject to natural change.	Eelgrass beds are an important food source for dark-bellied brent geese.

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