Areas of Special Protection (ASP’s) are areas of land that are designated under the Wildlife (Jersey) Law 2021 to provide legal protection for wild animals, birds or plants from disturbance or harm during critical phases of their life cycle.
Areas of Special Protection at Les Ecréhous and Les Minquiers
The Wildlife (Areas of Special Protection) (Jersey) Order 2022 and the Wildlife (Areas of Special Protection) (Amendment) (Jersey) Order 2023 designate 4 ASP's at Les
Ecréhous and 2 ASP’s at Les Minquiers in order to protect the breeding activities, nesting and young of protected wild birds such as:
- Common Tern
- Roseate Tern
- Oystercatcher
- European Shag
- Great Cormorant
Nesting season at les Ecréhous is from 1 February to 31 August on Maître Île, and on the other islands from 1 April to 31 August. At Les Minquiers the nesting season is from 1 February to 31 August.
During the nesting seasons only authorised people are permitted to enter a designated breeding area.
A range of activities that risk causing disturbance to the nesting birds are restricted throughout the ASP’s. These activities include:
-
operating a vessel at a speed of 5 knots or more, except in the case of an emergency
-
bringing a dog onto land, unless authorised in writing by the Minister
-
using or operating an unmanned aerial vehicle, unless authorised in writing by the Minister
-
using or operating a laser
-
discharging a firearm or ceremonial gun
-
lighting fireworks
-
lighting fires, except barbecues
-
playing any recordings of bird songs and calls or other sounds which may attract, alarm or otherwise disturb a protected wild bird
-
playing music at a volume which may alarm or otherwise disturb a protected wild bird
- moving a cordon or sign marking the boundary of a breeding area or placing additional boundary markers, unless authorised in writing by the Minister
Les Ecréhous Areas of Special Protection Maps
The maps below show the location of the 4 ASP's designated at Les Ecréhous. The white dashed lines show the boundary of each ASP. The solid red lines show the boundaries of seabird breeding areas.
Maîtr’île and the surrounding area
La Blanche île and the surrounding area
La Grande Brecque and the surrounding area
La Marmotière and the surrounding area
.png)
Les Minquiers Areas of Special Protection Maps
The maps below show the location of the 2 ASP's designated at Les Minquiers. The white dashed lines show the boundary of each ASP. The solid red lines show the boundaries of seabird breeding areas.
Maîtresse Île and the surrounding area
Les Maisons and the surrounding area
Guidance for owners, occupiers and boat operators
Article 5 of the Wildlife (Areas of Special
Protection) (Jersey) Order 2022 places a duty on all owners or occupiers within an ASP authorising a person to enter the area, and on all vessel operators that bring people on to land within an ASP, to inform that person of the requirements of the Order relating to the Area, before entering.
It is recommended that a written record is kept showing the information has been provided to the person before entering into the area, as evidence may be required if an individual does not comply with the guidance.
gov.je