In accordance with the requirements of the Water Framework Directive and the associated Northern Ireland Regulations (SR 2003/544), the Northern Ireland Environment Agency (NIEA) have compiled a Register of Protected Areas. NIEA are further required to maintain and update the register as needed.
The protected areas are identified as those requiring special protection under existing national or European legislation, either to protect their surface water or groundwater, or to conserve habitats or species that directly depend on those waters.
The register consists of an inventory of protected area sites.
Click here to view summary list of protected areas (Excel Spreadsheet 184 KB) [Last updated May 2008].
A series of maps representing the protected area categories was produced in 2005 under Article 5 of the Water Framework Directive. These can be viewed by following the links show below. The maps are currently being updated and will be available to view through a web mapping facility by the end of 2008.
This is a new category of protected area (replacing the Surface Water Abstraction Directive (75/440/EEC) at end 2007) that also incorporates groundwaters.
This information is available for Public viewing by appointment at Water Management Unit
These are protected areas established under earlier EC directives aimed at protecting shellfish (79/923/EEC) and freshwater fish (78/659/EEC).
These are bathing waters designated under the Bathing Water Directive (76/160/EEC).
These comprise nitrate vulnerable zones designated under the Nitrates Directive (91/676/EEC) and areas designated as sensitive under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC).
These are areas designated for the protection of habitats or species where the maintenance or improvement of the status of water is an important factor in their protection. These are designated under the Birds Directive (79/409/EEC) and the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC).
More details on the Register of Protected Areas are included in the WFD Article 5 Technical Report